Year: 1878

Edward"


"Why, Smith, what is troubling youg'
! 81 hardly know how to tell you, Mr..
Edward, but the master is up to some
villainy, and is think that it concerns
you, want to give you a hint about 1t,
so that maybe you will be able to upset
this plot OF his"


''What plot dO you mean, Smith, for l
do not know what you are talking about?"


"Hush, sir, and do not interrupt me, as
I have only few minutes to spare; he
does not like me to be away from him
long for think he does not more than
half trust nae; and if he saw me speaking
to you he would be sure to suspect me,
and would most likely turn me away
The master has planed to carry off Miss
Carroll and marry her by force. Some of
his good for nothing comrades are COM
ing to help him, aud must be there too,
Though God knows would rather hinder
than help him, especially as l know that
you are after the girl yourself, SIR"


Astonishment almost took away the
breath of Edward O'Hara, and he stag
gered like one who had received blow,
for, reckless and unscrupulous as he
knew William Bassett to be, he would
never have imagined him capable Of an
act like this.


"Great heavens" he exclaimed" can
this be true? Or am dreaming? Can
such villiany be possible2" Then with a
strong effort mastering his feelings, he
turned to the man.


"Never mind about me. Smith, tell me
all that you know abo ut the plot, please
God we shall be able to circumvent him
vet, unless he means to carry it out i'm
mediately. When was this nefarious-
business to come off, Smith!'


'.As far as l could learn, tomorrow
night, sir; but, as l was telling you, he
does not more than half trust ne, so he
only told me not to be out the way, as
might be wanted at any minute"
Glow many people are likely to be
employed In this outrage:" asked Ed
ward, with wonderful calnness.
"About half a dozen, Think" said the
man: "but l must go now. If find out
anything more l will try and take some
means of informing you"


"Thalk you, Smith," said the young
man, warmly; land if we are able to dis
appoint him, you shall have no cause to
to regret the generous warning"


81 never thought of that, sir, said the
man, turning aw"y as spoke; "but |
should be sorry to see the poor girl thrown
away upon the like of him."


AS soon as the man was gone, Edward
O'Hara turned his steps toward Mr.. Car
T.,
assuring himself Of Mary's safety, and he
wished to inform her father of tie threat
ened danger, and to consult with him
what steps were to be taken to meet it..
To his dismay he found Mr. Carroll
absent; he had gone to distant fair, and
would not be home till next morning


Uneasy as he was himself. he could not
bear to brighten Marry by HAT of her
danger considering that the attempt would
not be made until the next night, there
would still be time enough to avert It,
So, with a laughing warning to Mary and
the servants to be sure that all the doors
wer@ well secured, he departed, determin-
ing TO intercept Mr.. Carroll op his way
hOmeWard.


Early next morning, he was walking
along the road by which Mr. Carroll was
to come, and had not long to wait. As
snon As he perceived him. he proceeded
to inform him Of the warning which he
had received.


Mr.. Carroll was terribly shocked, but
never questioned the truth OF the story, as.
unfortunately, abductiops were only tco
common at that period, and william Bas
set WAS Just the kind of man to be en-
gagged in one; reckless and Off-handed as
he was, and so lavish in spending his
money. he would not have much difficulty
in securing the assistance of men as reck-
less as himself, to whom the very danger
and dash Of the undertaking would be
sure to prove strong incentive.


God help US, Edward" he said, as
soon AS he could speak. "What is to be-
come Of US! The time is SO fearfully
short. Come home with me AZ once-nay
stay until can collect my senses, for the
shock has almost crazed me; but we must
see about gathering help to meet them"


So Edward returned with him, but
terrible reception awaited them; every
thing in and about the house bore traces
OF an awful struggle. Every door was
lying wide open, and some of them torn
from their hinges; furniture everywhere
overturned and broken, while articles of
female wearing apparel lay scattered
here and there through the house IN con-
fusion: but not living creature was any
where visible.


Mr.. Carroll sank helpless into chair
and covered his face with his hands.
while poor Edward, himself almost heart
broken. tried in vain to rouse him.


At last faint. stif'ed moan drew their
attention to the kitchen, and there, Sc
curely bound to the foot Of the table, and
closely gagged, lay the female servant


As soon IS the girl was released, she
informed them that late the preceding
night. she and her mistress we're sitting
by the fire before getting ready for bed,
when a loud knock at the door startled
them. Too much frightened to answer it,
the girls sat in silence, when the man
servant. who had already retired to rest
in the room above the kitchen, heard If
repeated, and, hastily throwing on some
clothing, came down to see what was the
matter.