The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-11


T his pale face; his lips. purplish white
and quiyering. muttered incoherenuy.
In vain be drew out the drawer and
emptied the contents upon the table,
and scattered the papers about. The
package he sought was not there.
1T ID gone! he finally exclaimed,
shoveling the disordered mass OF let
tiers into the drawer with trembling
hands. "she has It! She intimated her
suspicious Of me this night. Coming In
here, finding the drawer open. she. AZ
any woman would. especially q
whose interest prompted her. exam
ined my papers and found the will
But she may net have concealed It
she could not have been certain what
It was-I had enclosed It In blank
paper. I must hasten to her and have
her searched by Nancy Harker."
He then locked the library door.
locked his desk. and entered the closet
which concealed the secret door. Com
Ing tack Immediately, he FASTENED to
the small closet he had opened once
before that night, and filed q goblet
half full Of spirits.
Brandy! ! thirst for It "a once l
did for water" BE swallowed It at Q
gulp. "After water I used wine. Wine
grew i~nsipid-then I 1onged for brandy.
and now v e that cannot Quench this
pnawine craving for stimulants when
I am excited"
He replaced the goblet and entered
the hall Of the eastern wing; this time
he was careful to leave no open doors
behind him.
he then hurried to the room to which
| Catharine Elgin had been carried BY
Nancy Harker. There he found the
Door girl Just In possession Of her con-
sciousuess. and sitting In q large arm.
chair.
"Catharine Elgin." said Hammond.
In a quick, harsh tone. totally unlike
any in which he had ever addressed
her before, ut Ia useless now to at
tempt to deceive you. Your father
lives"
my eyes have told me that. Mr..
| Hammond" said Kate. rising the In
slant he appeared. my ears have
heard his voice calling me by name
I have been pressed to his living bosom.
Traitorous william! why have you done
this evil thingT
THAT ID my affair. Miss Elgin." said
Hammond, land Of that we shall speak
hereafter. At present my business ID
with o You have been In my L.
brary-"
"Your libraryw exclaimed Kate.
slave you the audacity. sir. to call
anything in this house yours while
Henry Elgin lives"
"Henry Elgin IL dead to the world
dead to you" said Hammond. but.
as I remarked. more Of that hereafter.
You have been in my library within
the half hour. While there You stole
I say stole. Catharine Elgin. that you
may know I am In earnest-you stole
a package enclosed In q blank envelope.
but sealed with three seals. ! demand
It's instant restoration"
II have been In the library" said
Kate. II did take q package from an
open drawer. I know not why ! for
rot or rather trampled upon all scru"
ples, unless II was because the hand OF
Providence moved me. The package
was before me. I took It In my hand.
and something whispered-'Tear OF the
envelope l had sought the library to
tell you that your stories Of ghosts
were nonsense. for I heard the groans
Of my father even in my room. Little
did I think. Luke Hammond. he was
alive! tore OF the envelope. for l
believed my father had left a Will;
and because I knew you kept your
most important secrets In that drawer.
l read upon the package these words:
1.-THE last win and testament Of
Henry Elgin. To be delivered to James
Greene
"Then. heating a noise in this part
Of the house. and seeing q closet open
In which the library lamp showed nm
open door, I determined to investigate
the affair. I arrived In time to save
your life."
do you now bitterly regret having
arrived SO soon, Miss Elgln?' said
Hammond. with q sneer.
mo" replied the noble girl; II do
not desire your death. You are too
wicked, and have too many fearful
sins on your soul However much !
may loathe and despise You. sir. l
should shudder to think that death
had claimed you u~nrepentent."
"Ah! you are very pious, very hu-
mime. Miss Elgin." sneered Ham.
mond.
Neither could I WISH" continued
Kate. that my dear fathers hand
should be stained with human blood;
and that. the blood of my mothers
brother"
II am inclined to value your last
reason for this commendable amiabll.
ity more than any other. Miss Elgin.
But now / demand the package"
II shall not restore to You what
rightfully belongs to James Greene"
said Kate. firmly.
Then. though I dislike the alterha-
tive. I must take II by force"
"WM you dare place your hand 'p-
on my person." cried Kate. indig-
nantly.
"Ha! you admit you have the pack.
49, xAt. sotl Hammond
with sparkling eyes.