Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-11
By Eta w. PIERCE.

through the dirt and cobwebs for ar
instant, and then vanished.
The driver stopped at the door
sprang down from his box. and called:
"An right, sir!-this Is our house!"
! Out from the carriage stepped Signor
animate figure Of Mercy Dill.
Where Is Eat female, SallyG" he
cried. kicking impatiently at the grim
old door. "Halloo there! Joseph, man
of music. make haste, or sacre! 1t will
be the worse for YOU"
| The thud Of a crutch was heard in
side. A rusty bolt was drawn back
and Joseph, the 'gan-grinder, the
wretch from whom Z. scordo had bought
his first knowledge Of Mercy, appeared
greasy, unkempt and leering, on the
threshold.
'Ha! you've caught your bird, mas
teri" said he, at the sight Of the bur-
den Discordo bore.
Hold your tongue, idiot" replied
Discordo, ungraciously. Where's Eat
witch Sally, I say? Ze girl Is dead
with re chloroform, and !, pah! am
half f-smothered, too-ze cursed stuff!
Bring me glass Of brandy.
In great haste Joseph produced a
flask and glass, and poured the de-
sired stimulant for his employer. AS
L IOSSeu OII tie O
| woman's voice, somewhere from above
the two, called shrilly:
"This way, master-the room is
| ready"
With the senseless girl in his arms.
Discordo mounted the stair. 1t was
thick with dirt and mold, and rickety
with age. Strips Of discolored paper
hung from the wall, and at its head
stood an old woman in cotton gown
much the worse for wear-an ill-favor-
Cd hag, with stiff, bristling gray hair,
a wizened, leatherly face. and long,
sharp nose that came down to meet a
cruel, pointed chin-Joseph's wife, Sal
ly. ...,
Led by this creature, Discordo en-
tered a square, dreary chamber, parti-
ally supplied with old-fashioned wood
en- furniture. In one corner stood a
huge, four-posted bed, upon which
Discordo laid the rigid figure Of Mercy
Dill. At the sight of her the woman,
Sally. started back in dismay.
"Eh, what! You've killed her, mas
teri"
KILLED her!" cried Discordo; God
forbid! Pour some brandy down her
throat, woman! Would / Kill one
whom I adore? Peste! do as bid you,
and be lively"
Sally set about restoring the uncon-
scious girl. 1t was no easy matter.
Mercy came back to life as reluctant
| ly as II she knew the trouble which
awaited her~the frightfui net in which
she was shared. Finally. however, a
thrill ran over her PROSTATE figure, the
lids lifted from her violet eyes; she
sprang up on the four-posted bed, and
with a cry, looked around the unfamil-
lar room.
It's two windows were draped in cob
webs, and darkened by clump Of rag
ged fir trees that grew close up to their
narrow frames. The floor was deep In
dust. A few old, rickety chairs and a
chest Of drawers leaned against the
moldy, discolored wall A ragged patch
work counterpane covered the high
fire. place, in which stood pair OF
rusty andirons. upholding a half-con-
sumed back-log-relic Of some fire
kindled there twenty years before.
In wild bewilderment the girl gazed
at all these things. What had happen
ed to her? This was not her lodging
| room at Seedy Court. And then her
eyes fell on old Sally, who stepped for
ward from the foot Of the four-poster.
nodding and grinning in a way that
was meant to be reassurtng.'
How dye do, Mercy?" she said.
/ You remember me, don't you? Sour
Sally. you used to call me, when you
were a little brat. Many a good turn
glass I've emptied with her in my day.
Come, amt you glad to see an old
friend, my dear?"
Mercy stood in the center Of the dusty
floor and stared hard at the wo-
man. Yes, she remembered her only too
well-a wicked hag, fierce Of tongue,
hard of hand-Moll Dills boon COM
panion and neighbor in the reeking
tenement house where the girls un-
happy childhood had been passed.
you are no friend Of mine!" cried
Where is Val?-is he sick is he dy-
ing? as that man said. This is not the
banking house"
well, no, not exactly, my pretty
answered Sally, with g. hideous grin
wal Is all right, l dare say, but you
won't see him tonight. You're in nice
Quiet place, with old acquaintances
Here's a gentleman thatll explain the
whole matter better than l can
dearie."
Discordo advanced from a corner
where he had been hiding, and salutec
her with a low bow. At sign from
leaving the kidnapper alone with his
At sight of that swarthy. SCARED
: face, the truth burst like lightning upor
Mercy. She saw at once the trap into
which she had fallen-comprehendet
. his cruel ruse which had placed her II
!, the power Of the man whom she feared
and hated above all mortal beings.
MY dear Mees Dill," began Discor-
| 40 rryith o. a
usual, for something in the girls ap.
pearance struck confusion to his very
soul. I hope you are better. 1t desc.
lates me to use harsh measures witt
one so dear, so lovely; but consider
You haf driven me to it yourself"
u She stood like statue, her great, di'
lating eyes fixed upon him In unquali'
fed horror.
"Then 1t was a lie-the story which
! you sent that man to tell me?' she sale
=, slowly.
Alas, yes!" answered Discordo, light
lly. "a necessity-an imperative lie
nv beautiful. I would 1t were not
, would zat Mr.. Black were at death!
door this very minute; but dame! 1t II
scarcely probable. / give you my wore
Eat. so far as I know, he Is alive an'
we'll"
what place is this? Why have yol
brought me hefe7" demanded Nero!
: Dill.
Discordo rubbed his jeweled hands
softly.
{ This place, my beautiful, is retir
J ed villa zat / hat hired expressly Il
!, give you a taste of country life. Wh!
. haf I brought you here? To save yo'
from a marriage Eat is abhorrent to m.
T very soul. Sacre! For two whole day
: haf watched Eat house In Seedy Cour
{ to find you one minute alone. When
saw zs old ghoul, Mees Airy, depart II
haste this afternoon, l says to myself
l ze hour Is come! And call ze carriag'
l haf kept at great expense in ze mex
r street, and, bravo! bag my game witt
] not ze smallest trouble In the world
, Did you think would leave you t
; Black-Zat clown, Eat clod! Mon Dieu
2 No. Such beauty as yours deserves
better fate. You shall never marry tn
bankers clerk-not this night, or an!
: other-I swear it,"
I'll A two edged sword seemed drivin,
l through Mercy's heart. The hour TO
; her marriage with Val Black was clos
at hand. What would he say at he
! disappearanee?-hew would he accoun
] for It? She had left no word, no clu
e behind her. The thought of her lover