The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-08-05

O a wild, mufaed wall, as startling
as the night scream Of a peacock.
"Helloi" said Yarker, stopping,
where did that come FROM"
AS if to set the point beyond dis
pute the horrible thing inside the
wrappings began to howl and roar
with renewed vigor, and Yarker
stepped back to the ratings and
turned his lantern full upon the bum
die. Whats those stains?" he said.
Paint" said Ronald, for the stuff
still retained the color that had been
wiped from the idols face.
Hal" cried Yarker, and he undid
the gate and stalked round to where
Campion sat helpless on the worn
turf, wondering if he was going mad.
Now I'm not going to have any
more nonsense about this" he said,
with a complete change Of manner
the butler was merged into the con-
stable with a yearning for distinction
honorable Endorsement on the
charge sheet and promotion-"that's
blood, that is, and you know it. Open
that bundle, Mr.. Campion."
With a grim anticipation of Var
ker's establishment when he saw the
IDOL Campion unfolded the drapery,
and, as he did So, rose to his feet
with a hoarse cry.
The rays of Yarker's lantern fell
directly upon the bundle, revealing a
sight at which Campion felt his brain
swim. The idol was alive-or rather,
in it's place was a changeling which
in some %grotesque fashion resembled
it. AS Campion stared, fascinated,
into it's smooth, yellowish face, the
eyelids slowly went up and two cold,
CLASSY eyes returned his gaze with a
steady malevolence, and then the
whole face worked, and the thing
broke out anew into a sounding bel
low.
so that's what you were after,
eh?" said Yarker. "Oh, d~epraVity,
d~epravity!"
"You can't be more surprised than
I am" said poor Campion; II don't
know what makes it go on like this.
Enough to make it, I should
think, when in another five minutes
it would have been all over with 1t.
Mr.. Campion, I couldn't have believed
it of you-what harm did that pore
innocent ever do to you?"
Campion kept an obstinate silence;
he was the innocent one of the two,
but of what use would it be to tell a
policeman so? He began to realize
that, at last, the idol was reused
that he was on the brink Of a terrible
scrape.
"It's a mistake, I tell you-a mis-.
take" he faltered.
you're right" said Yarker. "You
see what comes of leading a nasty
idle life. There'd have been murder
done if I hadn't happened, by a lucky
Providence, to be passing-if you
haven't been jabbing at it with that
knife already, as it Is. This Is a bad
business, but I must do my duty! l
arrest you on a charge Of attempting
child-murder, and anything you may
say now Is liable to be took down and
used against you. Now, sir, come
along with me quiet"
"Yarker, my good fellow" he pro-
tested, you're all wrong-do you
hear? It's not what you think--you
can't mean to get me locked up"
Now, am l to sound my whistle
and bring my mate from Marlborough
Road, or will you come pleasantly
like a gentleman, arm in arm along OF
met"
LET me go in and leave 4 message
with my man." urged Campion.
Not if / know it-you can send
messages to-morrow-once more, do
you want m to whistler"
Campion had to submit. Escape
was ;ladness, where he was known
and would be tracked at once; besides
escape would be an admission of his
guilt.
"Yarker," he said, impressiVely,
81 give you my word you will not be
defeating the ends of justice in any
way; you will not harm a living soul
if you let yourself be persuaded by
me now to take a sovereign-I mean
a fve-pound-or rather, a ten-pound
Newfoundland go away and think
no more of this little incident"
you were not quite so proficient
with your tips at Sussex Place." said
Yarker. "No, sir, there's things as
can't be squared not at no price. Ex-
cuse me, while I make a note Of what
you said; incident was the term you
employed, 1 think? Thank you, sir.
Now I'm ready, and we'll be jogging
alcng."
III come quietly" said Campion,
with a groan. Spare me as much as
you can"
To be Continued.