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

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CHAPTER ~.
Continued.
"Rats?' said the invalid, as he poised
his weapon for the attack. "Yes-they
have haunted my bedside. I remember
them even in those dark days OF In
sanity."
He was talking to himself. and not
30 them.
Luke Hammond was . man OF ex'
treme caution, and not content with
Mrs. Harker's assertion, stole softly
from the room. saying. as he went:
Keep your eye on him. Daniel II
he makes o rush. fell him AZ gently as
possible"
The words were spoken in too sub
dued q tone to reach the invalid'G ear.
Out In the hall again, Hammond
listened. scarcely drawing his breath
Cor several moments.
"A false alarm" he muttered. rs he
returned to the crimson chamber. ind
Ing the parties a. he had left them.
"Now, then" he continued. a. he raised
q chair, and held It breast high. the
leRs towards the invalid. "be ready
to rush when I cry-charge! Daniel,
creep cautiously along the wall at his
right; You, Nancy Harker, the same on
his left. Measure your advance with
mine. He win strike at me. When he
strikes. pin him to the corner. and
each seize an arm. Adyance?'
Hammond's directions were unheard
BY the invalid; but. an the three asssfl-
snts began to approach the corner.
the sick man raised his Ratchet and
nxed his steady. fiery look upon Ham
mord-
They advanced more and more near
until less than i've feet separated them
from their victim.
Charger cried Hammond, springing
forward.
But the Invalid, strong and aca. e
In his hour Of peril, darted from his
corner at the same instant; and a.
Daniels chair crashed against Nancy
Harker's. where the invalid had been
the Ratchet came down like q thunder.
bolt, shattering Hanimond's chair to
fragments. and beating that villain
backward to the earth.
The glittering weapon was rising
again, and Hammond glared upward
I'm all the agony Of fear. when q WON.
ans voice, shrill, clear and piercing.
was heard. and Catharine Elgin sprang
into the crimson chamber. and into
the arms Of the invalid. crying:
Father! My father"
She swooned the instant after. for
the shock Of finding her father alive.
whom she had for twelve mourning
months thought dead and buried. was
too much for her nature to sustain.
az him, Daniel" cried Hammond,
regaining his feet. and seeing that
Henry Elgin-for the invalid was none
other-was absorbed In Q fond fathers
tenderness.
Daniel and Nancy Harker sprans
upon Henry Elgln, forced him from
his unconscious daughter. and, aided
BY Hammond. bound him to his bed.
The struggle had been too severe and
protracted for the temporary strength
Of the sick man. and he had tainted
ere he was bound. hand and foot.
What shall we do with herr" said
Nancy Harker. pointing to Hates pal
lid face and corpse-like form.
Bear her to the white and gold
chamber" said Luke Hammond. "She
win be our destruction II we let her
20 free before"
He paused.
"Before what, Luke Hammond"
cried Nancy.
Before she 10 the wife OF my son.
Charles Hammond" said he. Garry
her away before she r~evives."
"Ah. that's the game. IL 1t. ! sus.
pected AZ much" said Nancy Harker,
a. she raised the unconscious girl In
her powerful arms, as q nurse lifts q
sleeping child.
take the lamp. Daniel, and 60 with
Mrs. Harker," said Hammond. Trouble
and danger! all In n storm" he NUT
tered, as his aceomplices bore poor
Kate away to the apartment 50 long
occupied by her father.
"She must have been on the watch"
ruminated Hammond. picking up the
hatchet. "She must have taken the
hint from that shrewd young carpen'
ter. James Greene. and watched me
But how did she find an entrance to
p this yart Of the house? The doors arc
locked. barred and nailed on this side
Daniel Is too cautious not to have
fastened the trap-door in the cellar
OF the main house-even II Catharine
Elgin could have found that entrance,
concealed as 1t Ii. Strange. very
strange" he muttered, rs he paced
from wall TO wall.
Suddenly pausing and shifting bis
forehead In anger with himself. he ex.
claimed:
"Dolt! Idiot that I am! Fool tina,
I was! In my haste I did not close
either the closet In my library MOI
the. door In the partition! She may
not have purposely tracked ine. Per
haps she went into my library to See
me. 70 get q book-anything. There
not finding me. she saw the secre,
closet open. and roamed hither-fol
abe In n bold and fearless girl. Perish