Year: 1875

hands, and II never return, L nave mon
ey enough to live away from England
pack up everything we need, and in tn
meantime l will 90 and see Barton, tn
agent, who rooms above"


The young girl listened to the conver
sation eagerly, and u cold chill OF horro
pervaded her being as she heard the coolll
diabolical plan which had Just been dis
cussed by her two captors. To be thu
abducted, to be SO utterly helpless, to b
taken to some remote place and IN tn,
power of such man as her captor, Eu
gene Forest she shuddered st the thought
ct she was in his power, and mentally
resolving to watch her chance and escape
she awaited the return Of the ex-secre
tary.


He was not long in coming back to the
room.


:" have made all the arrangements,
he SAID, simply, "and can 90 without any
fear as to my business, for the agent Bar
ton, will attend to it faithfully. Unlock
the door leading into the room she occupies
and -"


The remainder of the sentence was lost
to Eveline, being spoken in a low and to
her ears inaudible whisper. Whatever
its import wrs it sufficed to cause a clink-
ing as Of bottles in a medicine chest, and
then the door was unlocked, and as the
young girl arose from her seat she was
confronted by Eugene Faber.


What, no lights g. he said in feigned
surprise.


She did not reply, but stood gazing at
him dehantly.


You should have endeavored to make
yourself comfortable" he continued with
mock pQllteness. "You are still determ-
ined to adhere to your resolution to re-
fuse all my overtures.


You have heard my decision" she
said, with quiet dignity


And you refuse to pledge secrecy, or
to be my wife T.


Yes. | will do neither


Then | must beg leave to inform you
that you will never again have an oppcr-
tunity to rescind your present resolve, at
least in England


- Indeed"


Her cool indifference and unapproach-
able hauteur chilled and nettled him.


Yes, madam. When love may not be
the motive, inhexible will carries out my
resolutions. Be my wife you shall if
sacrifice all to secure you"


She trembled slightly at his terrible
earnestness.


g am at your mercy, she said quietly
and simply, but your punishment viii
come for the indignity you have offered
me-"


She screamed slightly as she saw form
spring up beside her and strong arm
hold her, while a handkerchief saturated
with chlOrOform was pressed to her nos
trels. All unseen by her. Bill Forest had
crept into the room, and as he had agreed
with Eugene Faber, applied the anaesthe-
tic.


The next minute she was insensible,
having succumbed to the powerful and
subtitle influence Of the drug.


Their object gained, the two men hur-
riedly wrapped her inanimate form i'll
long, dark mantle, and together they bore
her from the room down the stairway and
into a closed carriage which was waiting at
the door.


They laid her insensible form on a seat,
and then Faber turned to Forest.


:" Send all the things to the vessel as
soon as possible. We must endeavor to
get away to night. You have all our bag
gage brought to the Tybee docks, where
the Diana lays. The vessel sails at five in
the morning. Do not leave any necessary
articles behind. can depend upon you
to fulfill my instructions to the letter y


You can.


He closed the door and the driver drove
on.


1t was just past midnight, and the car
riage went rapidly through the deserted
streets.


At last the dock was reached.


The vessel, the Diana, lay few yards
out in the stream, but man in a boat
stood on the dock.


Eugene Faber handed the coachman so
liberal fee that he muttered his thanks
greatfully.


Not a word as to this affair, he said


"No, sir.


"This lady is a friend who has been
overcome by excitement-an elopement
No word, and when | return I'll line your
purse with bank notes Do you under
stand n


81 understand, and NUNS the word
with me, sir.


He drove away as Eugene Faber lifted
the inanimate Eveline from the carriage,
and with the aid Of the boatman, con-
veyed her TO the boat.


A few moments later the unconscious
Eveline returned to sensibility to find her
self close prisoner in the cabin Of the
Diana, the low swash Of tle waves
against the vessel, and the unsteady mo
ton Of the boat indicating the fact that
she was upon the water. And she now
knew that she was helpless, powerless, in
the power of her enemy, and with a low
cry Of despair and woe, she fell fainting
to the floor Of the cabin.