Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-29
CHAPTER XIN.
Continued.

Il cannot say us 10 llial, l-ihe. She
does not seem to notice me when ]
20 about her; but once or twice l nave
detected her eyeing me slyly, with y
glance that has more in it than like
"Ha, If she does that, she suspects.
We must attend to her ere long.
ATTEND to her-what do you mean"'
Nonsense: don't stare at me, Nancy.
II it comes to point where Luke
Hammond must swing by his neck, OF
old Fan die quickly in her bed--welh
We shall see.'
"You would do it, Luke said Nancy,
trembling.
$50 would you, Nancy. Don't put
on the squeamish with me. An enemy
Is an enemy, and you know 1t. Rh'
time enough to think of Fans case
after other and more important things.
/ wonder how it Is with our gallant
young friend, James Greene:'
A tapping at the door startled him.
"Who can that be-" he said, and eau
dously opened the door
Old Fan, ghastly and shaking, stood
before him.
II want to go away" said Fan,
creeping in and looking over her shoul.
der into the dark behind her.
go away. Go where:" cried Ham.
mond.
"Anywhere-anywhcre out Of this
house, whined the old creature, sit.
ting down by the blazing crate, and
drawing herself into heap. Il can't
get warm I'm coid--COld! and such
noises"
"Noiscs! you old fool:" said Luke.
"Yes-noises. I'm old, Luke Ham.
mond, but amt deaf nor blind. Some.
thing amazing awful is going to happen
in this house. Down in my room ]
hear the Evil One at work, pounding
and hammering and humping. | know
he's coming for you. or Mrs. liarier OF
me. Then ] see James Greene, al
muddy and bloody, running AL over
warm"
Last night. Fan" said Luke. "you
tainted with fright, and called out that
Nicholas Dunn was your husband"
"Eh! said Fan, and Hammond
turned his back to avoid her terrible
glance.
"Yes, Fan, you said that continued
Luke, with paper before his face
Nov l knew man named Roland
Dunn-he was hanged twenty years
ago for murder
WAS he" screamed old Fan. al
alive with glee. "Ia. he was hanged
hanged for murder! Thank God fol
1t! I feel better now! feel warm al
over He was hanged. Good. | wish
l had been there to see it, And yer,
she continued, in moulnful voice, he
must hare been my boy-a very had
son--hc murdered his father same
thing. Put me in madhouse. S.
he's hanged. Good. Now IL | couli
hear what became Of the girl-my gill
Roland Dunn's sster-she ran away
With John Marks-wild John Marks
that robbed his father
"She was drowned at seal hearC
the dying confession OF Roland Dunn.
said Luke, turning and speaking tc
Nancy, as II old Fan was absent
"Roland Dunn said he drowned bi:
sister Ellen, Nancy
did he. Good" cried Fan. in per
feet ecstasy. II knew they'd come to /;
bad end
But they were your children. ole
woman" said Hammond, while Name!
pretended to be absorbed in a news
paper
my children! Were they? l won
der If they were,' moaned old Fan
, shaking her shattered brain to and frt
with melancholy motion. IF they
were my children l ought to cry ant
! feel bad about It," said she vacantly
Then fercely-"No! they We're not IN!
children, Luke Hammond. They wcr,
q pair of mps. know it--I know it
don't say no-for old Fan knows il
And If they weren't dead, and shoult
meet thcm-what do you think IL
do"'
Tell me; I'd like to know" sale
Hammond, care!essly.
Fan put her hand in her bosom ant
drew out great, broad-bladed knife
long, and curving to point.
"I'd cut their throats" she cried
fourishing the knife. Il would, IL i
hanged me. For they murdered III!
husband, my Nj i:holas-whelps! whelps
I've carried this knife for it for years
Tor years.
Luke and Nancy exchanged glances.
"Fan," Said Luke, you are crazy"
~ know It'll know it!' moaned Fan
hidlns her knife. "I wish wasn't O
wish I was stark raving mad-then
could not feel my misery. I'll go bacl
| to the kitchen now. feel better sine
I've heard such good news. They'r'
1ead and feel better"
"Nyell, give Inc the knife. Fan. 1o'
will not need 1t now" said Luke, yer.
coaxingly.
"No-I want the knife-thc knife,
said Fan, fiercely. II saw DAME
creeping about last night-he wants t
rob me. My gold is here now-m,
Dirdies.
She showed the little sack tie
around her wrlnkled throat.