Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-29
CHAPTER XXX-Continued.
The night was dark.

enough" said the man who had JUS
forced open one Of the windows of the
mansion at Jahnway Park, and who
now sat on the the windOw-ledge, one
leg outside and one leg in, waiting II
much the way we may imagine caesar
waited Gin a purely figurative sense
my dear reader. in a purely figuratiVe
sense,) ere he crossed the Rubicon.
Then he swung his other leg over q
refer to Patsy Gullens and the win
dow ledge, not to Caesar and the Ru-
bicOn), and entered the room.
He walked briskly, but noiselessly
across the room to the dressing table
He picked up Miss Rannottie's watch
absent -mindedly He examined it, with
a preoccupied air. One could scarcely
have been certain, when he placed the
watch in his pocket, whether 1t was
the result Of purpose or forgetfulness
Perhaps we had better compromise
and call 1t Habit!
Mr.. Gullens looked over the other
articles on Miss Bannottie's dressing
which he knew neither the names mol
the uses: he did not wait to examine
them very closely; he felt that ne
scarcely had time. Mr., Gullens lei
nothing go unexamined; but he took
nothing else than the watch there
Ito quote from the lady on whom
he was oalling-it was not remorse! II
was simply because he didn't see any
thing else he wanted, Miss Rannottte
was usually wonderfully beautiful
woman; do you remember the after
noon she slept with her door alar, the
Sunday of her return from meeting
Samuel Lyman at Rarron's Boomville
Bank? Do you remember how she
looked at that time?
Tonight, she had locked her door
She had fastened down her window
She had felt as secure from Intrusion
or danger-well, let us say as secure
as Constance Craig had felt the even
ing before she died. Perhaps, had she
started up from her slumberS, as Con-
stance Craig had done
But we needn't dwell upon the sug-
gestive topic. Lurline Rannottie slept
on; she slept soundly.
Gullens turned toward the bed, He
looked on the face Of the sleeping Wo-
man. He drew back, greatly startled
and not a little frightened,
"Merciful God" he said, not aloud
for he was man Of two many and toe
varied experiences to allow himself
to be- surprised into making too mucf
noise in a place where his discovered
presence would have been unpleasantly
compromising; lis it possible the devi
is a woman? Or is she his sister,
Lurline Bannottie had felt herself
too secure. She had gone to SLEEP
without leaving some wakeful faculty
of her mind on guard. Patsy GullenS
had seen her when her face truly in
dexed her. That was all,
Gullens didn't remain in the room
long after that. He would have liked
to examine several other tables, sug-
gestive looking desk, and bureau
which appeared promising. But, so ne
reasoned, there We're, perhaps, as gooc
chances for plunder elsewhere in the
house: and-he should hate to wake
up that slumberlng fend yOnder; anC
he shuddered at the thought.
He went out from Miss Bannottie'S
room. He went through a number OF
In, Nlrhin hE
secured several valuable little keep
sakes, and into several rooms occu'
pied by servants, in which he got moth
Ing. He opened another door. HI
stepped into another room. He noise
lessly closed the door behind him.
A woman, a weary and wOrn-look
ing woman, but a beautiful one, nev
crtheless. opened her eyes. sat up IL
bed, faced him, spoke to him.
"Oh. sir she cried, have you come
to help me! Help me, my good man
help me and save me-
Il amt a good man." growled Gul
lens. and as for helping and saving
YOU, don't know what you mean
and keep still shall have to kill you
Lie down and shut your eyes, like {
clever little woman, or I'll put bulle
through you in just five seconds b!
this watch I've just purchased"
And he took out Lurline Bannottie'
watch and gravely looked at it. Oh
the whole, am afraid that Gullens ha'
been drinking a little.
Il wish you would" said the woman
quietly.
Wish l would do WHAT"
XIII me-"
You don't mean it. ma'am?"
Il do"
Then sha'n't do it,"
At which she forgot herself enough t
smile. and he followed her smile wit
a gruff laugh After which, she wa
undoubtedly much safer than she woul
have been if Miss BannOttie, instead q
Mr.. GullenS. had been her past
night visitor
1T would be a quick way out of
all, and easier than the weary waiting,
said the woman.
What would? Being killed."
Yes"
Il don't much wonder you think 81
You must find it hard living here a
alone with her. She looks like the-th
like the Evil One, begging your par
don. ma'am-dOn't She?'
Il don't know" said Elsie. so hon
estly and candidly that GullenS laugh
ed again.
no more do l." he said. lightly
..maybe | shall. one of these days.
she much care?"
Whom do you mean"
why. the woman down stairs; tn
insane woman"
she isn't insane. She is in charg
here"
The keeper"
Il suppose she calls herself that"
Patsy now drew back a little fro'
where ne had been standing.
"You-yOu don't mean that you al
..c,pa ,t.nnnan do yoD ."