Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-09-30

walls. She stumbled over something.
stopped and picked II up. 1t was the {
same Ratchet her father had lately \
held-cast aside the night before by /
Hammond Its possession nerved her +
arm TO strike. and finding a window
she dashed out the glass. shattered the
sash. and was cutting through the
shutters when she heard the wrathful
shout OF Daniel and the clamor OF the
savage dogs.
'sOh, cruel fate: What shall 1 do7''
she cried In woeful despair. but hack
Ing away for dear life at the stubborn
wood.
Daniel. returning TO the eastern
wing heard the sound OF crashing shat
tiers. and bounded toward the spot.
with lantern advanced In one hand and
his bludgeon in the other.
''Rufianl would you strike a WON
amp cried Kate.
Aver he roared. leaping forward
and sweeping around his club. But his
foot slipped as he sprung and be fell
Aeadlong at Hates feet
Grasping club and lantern he was
about TO rise. and bitter curse was on
his lips when Kate cried out: May
God forgive mew and struck him full
upon his bare head with the blunt OF
the Ratchet letting fan the weapon as
she struck. he groaned. fell forward
upon his face and lay fearfully still.
Kate stared at him for a moment as
II appalled, at her act. and then snatch
ing I'D the lantern fed along the hall.
hoping 10 End some entrance into the
main house. and thence TO effect an es-
cape or alarm. But all the doors were
barred and nailed up. Again she ira
versed the deserted halls and found
herself In Hammonds library. Here
the door leading into the main house
was locked and the key gone. While
, she searched for something with which
! TO shattcr the bolt she heard a crash
3 and yell IN the eastern wing
Luke had broken his way out OF the
e ante-room by furious springs agains,
the doorl Kate's despairing eye fell
T upon the strong. heavy steel poker
near the CRATE She seized II and
shOwered rapid blows upon the lock
1t bent. IL yielded. the door Jew open
wide. and Kate darted away just a.
Luke sprang through the closet pas
@ sage into the library.
S stop he yelled But Kate fed on
2 and was descending the main staircas,
: when her foot tripped on loose stall
rod and she fell headlong 10 the bot
= tom. sorely bruised and half stunned
!! As she struggled TO rise the sinewy
s arms OF Luke cncircled her shrinkin.
u limbs.
e Caught again. he laughed. as h
tore or his cravat and bound he
m wrists.
o. Kate rose TO her feet. half dead wit
he fear and exhaustion, but made 10 fur
Their effort to escape.
O. "Ha, What device VIII YOU next al
n tempt?' said Hammond. as he pickle
le up the lantern lying near her and le
her 10 his library.
10 Whatever God shall give me wit an
re strength to do. monster" was her VI
dauntedTeply.
ht You are cunning - very cunning.
IT. said Luke. retaining his grasp upo
n her with one hand and searching In
ID drawer with the other.
he 81 am sorry 10 do il. Catharine +
ap gin" said he as he produced n pair {
~ handouts. but my safety demand
Id that you shall wear a pair Of iro
as bracelets FOR a few hours"
err Kate made no struggle as he slippe
nd the handouts over her tender wris
and snapped them fast with a tiny ke
As this degradation was complete
II Daniel made his appearance with
bloody crown and an infamed visage.
ct Good" said he. as he saw the han
cuffs. THAT should have been dol
az yesterday. She is as tricky as co
or Luck was with me. for if Il had be,
he the edge. and not the blunt. OF II
ed Ratchet that struck me I'm bowed
He there hadn't been u murder"
he 1T Is not murder TO XIII brutes VI
a assail u.s. said Kate.
om "Sman difference 10 me whut nan
IN. you'd a-given It, Miss" said Dani
ed grinning. Il wouldn't have struck
Il only meant 10 scare ye. Miss"
t. 'No matter" said Hammond. "Da
lei. go place Elgin on his bed, and r
av- it back into the crimson chamb
old When L crashed my war out fou
zed him lying senseless in the hall. ]
linn had tainted"
ing Daniel hurried on his errand. a
md Hammond led poor Kate back to /
z. prison. where she found Daniel rolf
sr' away the bed. MY poor. dear fathel
Tin- said Kate. sobbing for the first time.
Henry Elgin opened his eyes at I
md sound OF her voice and as ne saw |
he said:
H." Take heart my child. God Is j.
and and the right win prevail"