The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-11-24

ION with your hat and Jacket
MISS" whispered Vic, I'VE must gel
out of this! Twas Peter locked you
in the room. He's in love with you
the fool! and he's bound you shan't
leave Deadman's. Mr.. Trevor is still
in bed. so at present, Peter has full
swing here"
ooh, Vic!" gasped Jacqueline, "all
the afternoon I ! heard the noise in the
wall, but never dreamed you were at.
tempting my release. Strange the
odious Peter has not discovered you!'
Peter has other fish to fry to-day
replied Vic. Hes busy guarding
Mrs. Trevor. No man can watch
two women at once-not ven If his
eyes are as crooked as Peters,"
II am glad Mrs. Trevor had moth
ing to do with locking my door," re-
fiected %Jacqueline.
"Lor', miss, she wouldn't care who
stayed or who went in this place, II
she could only get off herself. But
she'll never evade Peter. I needn't
tell you Deadman's is no place for you
any longer. Well try to slip out by
the back stair. Mrs. Trevor is in the
front of the house, and I'll bet Peter
amt far from her, so our best chance
Is from the back. Cooks at her din
ner. She won't see anything till she's
finished it,"
Vic drew Jacqueline into the room
to which the closet belonged-an un-
occupied chamber, stored with house
hold stuff.
This part Of the house is seldom
used" she explained, SO I had a rare
opportunity to pick away at the wall
without hindrance. Follow me, miss,
and if we're stopped we must show
fight, for you understand there can
be no backing out now-get off we
must, at any ccst!"
Jacqueline nodded assent. The
two tip-toed across the unoccupied
chamber into a passage and down a
dark stair. They had almost reached
the bottom when a voice near at hand
was heard shouting:
Where is that girl, Vic? Why are
not the lamps lighted here?"
1t was Peter. BY a sudden vigor-
Gus movement, Vic fattened her COM
panion against the wall and stepped
before her like a shield.
Coming, Peter!!" she answered,
briskly. Dear me! There's Mrs.
Trevor calling. too! She's going out,
and I must help her dress"
"The deuce you must" growled
Peter. He had struck a lucifer, but
the blue fame instantly disappeared.
Course the .wonsen!" he muttered,
and banged through some neighbor-
ing door and was gone.
Didn't I tell you he couldn't
watch two of the sex at once?"
chuckled Vic, as she caught Jacque-
lines hand. Quick! the darkness
will hide us. Here We are, miss"
She drew Jacqueline into a porch.
The fresh night wind famed their
faces. They darted around a corner
of the stone house, and in a moment
were among the rocks.
well have to sleep on Deadman's
tonight" said Vic, land you must
wait for me till I can go back to the
house and fetch a few supplies"
ooh, don't venture into that dread
full place again." gasped J%acqueline.
Peter may shut you up as he did
me. Never mind supplies-we will
do without them"
"You can't sleep out of doors with
out blankets, MISS" persisted Vic.
Peter won't shut me up-not till
I've cracked his ugly head, anyway.
Can you find the little beach where
Mr.. Trevor fell in a fit?"
EYES," said J%acqueline.
"Then go there and stay till /
come. Mind you stay out OF sight
and make no sound, for the coast amt
clear yet. I won't be long?".
ooh, Vic; don't leave me-"
81 must, Miss Hatton, dear! Go
| straight to the bit of beach. and let
NOBODY see you, and in half an hour,
at farthest, you'll hear me whistlirg
on the rocks"
She turned and ran back to the
house. Jacqueline, ashamed Of her
momentary c~owardice, went on to the
strip of sand which she had discov-
cred the previous night.
Thank heaven! Her escape was an
accomplished fact. She was out
under the great friendly sky, with
the free, sheltering darkness falling
upon her. The rocks afforded plenty
of hiding places. She espied a cleft
betwixt two granite boulders, and
slipping into it. she waited. with such
patience as she possessed, for Vic.
A movement on the low, black
water! Oars dipped, a keel grated
against the strip of sand and mussel
shells. She saw the dim outline of a
boat, and the figure Of a man rising
in ia stranger, altogether unlike
any inhabitant of Deadman's. He
beached his little craft, and advanc-
ing toward the rocks where JacQue-
line crouched, he looked around with
an air of expectation. No living
| thing was in sight. He listened. ST.
lence reigned everywhere. Then he
drew forth a cigar case and struck
a match. BY this time he was very
near ~Jacqueline's hiding place, and
the flash of light showed her a blond
face, with masterful gray eyes and a
profile like a Roman medal. The
mar was George st. George.
AS though unaccustomed to wait
ing he began TO move up and down