The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-12-25

| the opening Oh tnls II uS sloi1- IL
was market day.
The stables were full of strong,
serviceable nags, worthy of the shire
which bred them, and the busy host
lers had scarce time to attend to the
demand of stranger, who had been
staying for the last two days at the
inn, that ore or other of them should
saddle the horse he Lad ridden each
| day since he arrived.
Hand it over to me, and III sad
die him myself" he said at length.
II am no fool about horse, and can
| generally manage all l wart with my
own hands" So saying, he proceeded
| to saddle The steed he had selected,
and soon trotted out of the yard.
A stranger was novelty at Earls-
hall, and several inquiries were ad-
dressed to mine host who mixed on
pleasant, easy terms with his guests.
The visitor was from 'Lunnon' or
from furrin parts. But he knew a
| horse when he saw one; he had been
over to Denham all day long; the
landlords opinion was that likely he
came from newspaper, and he
hoped as how he would write up the
| BLACK Horse" There was letter
| for him that morning from Denham.
Il know the paper and. the crest
stamped outside added the host;
II dare say he's an electioneering
chap"
Unconscious of these comments
Lambert rode on with grey, set
face, and firmly closed mouth. The
letter he had received that morning
| had been brief-"I will hear what
y1u have to say, but I do not wish a
criminal to cross my threshold. You
must meet me by the Deer's Barn in
the Beech Wood, about mile from
the village. Any one will direct you"
This had no signature and was ad-
dressed to Mr.. Smith" Lambert
took it out and read it. gnashing his
teeth as he did So
THE insolent, daring villain," he
muttered; can I dc nothing to turn
his flank? If he had a CLEAN of con-
science he would be less daringly un-
scrupulous, but he hasn't enough to
make a coward of him. Glynn is my
best card, but Deering knows his
strength; he has only to lie boldly,
and am at his mercy.
Il must keep my brain clear" he
muttered. Il wish l could get quit of
this mad desire to shoot Deering-it
wouldn't dot wouldn't do could
never stroll through cool country
lanes with my Elsie again; I never
could stroke her bright hair with this
right hand if it had committed MUIR
der. That I have never done. No,
Deering, you Internal liar!-only in
fair fight have I killed my man.
When he reached the very humble
little hostelry distinguished by the
sign of the "Saracen's Head" the
crest of the Deerings, which stood be-
side the village green of Denham,
Lambert was cool and collected
enough. He dismounted, and desired
that his horse should be given feed
! of oats, that the girths should be
loosened, but the saddle was not to
be removed for" said he very de-
| liberately, Il want to finish sketch
of the Deer's Barn, and get back to
catch the up-train at Earlshall about
6, so may want the horse all in a
hurry"
So saying. he walked quietly
through the great old wrought-iron
gates, and up the stately avenue fer.
few hundred yards. Then striking
to the left, he quicKened his pace,
and plunged into the beautiful woods
And all these grand woods, this
beautiful sweep of hills, these groups
of dappled deer, that murmuring
brown stream. the solemn, stately
beeches that clustered round the barn
which stood at the verge of the deer
park-;all these were Elsie's; an; as
he thought. Travers Deering came
out from the shadow Of the rough,
| picturesque edifce and advanced to
meet him.
The two men came face to face a
| little N the rear of the barn, and
stood in silence for a few seconds,
eyeing each other with deadly hatred;
nor was the gaze of the unscrupulous
villain a shade less steady or un-
finching than that of the man he in
tended to make his victim.
Pray, why have you taken the
| trouble to come down here, when you
might have seen me in town next
week." asked Deering coolly.
For various reasons, chiefly he
, cause ] could not wait.
Then you have something I'M
portant, something favorable for
yourself to propose. First, wher. is
| Elsie? You know"
Il do
''Is she in Ergland?'
No"
will you tell ne where she is?'
Il will .urther on.
Very good; let me hear what you
have to say taking out cigar, and
striking a fusee he lit it with elab-
crate composure.
u succeeded in hiding myself and
my child from YOU and your devilish
designs" began Lambert in a voice
that vibrated with tn, anger he could
hardly control However,, l couldn't
carry out my plans, and I know one
cannot keep out Of sight forever, SO
] made up my mind to see if we can't
come to an agreement. Let us go,
and I'll never say word against you,
or meddle in any way
is that all YOU have to say for