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‘‘I told you if you refused me I was lost to you forever！ Do you
understand？''
Diotti returned slowly to the center of the stage and remained
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The Fifth String
motionless until the audience subsided。 Facing Mildred； whose color was
heightened by the in… tensity of her emotion； he began softly to play。 His
fingers sought the string of Death。 The audience listened with breathless
interest。 The composition was weirdly and strangely fascinating。
The player told with wondrous power of despair；of hope； of faith；
sunshine crept into the hearts of all as he pictured the promise of an eternal
day； higher and higher； softer and softer grew the theme until it echoed as
if it were afar in the realms of light and floating o'er the waves of a golden
sea。
Suddenly the audience was startled by the snapping of a string； the
violin and bow dropped from the nerveless hands of the player。 He fell
helpless to the stage。
Mildred rushed to him； crying； ‘‘Angelo； Angelo； what is it？ What has
happened？'' Bending over him she gently raised his head and showered un…
restrained kisses upon his lips； oblivious of all save her lover。
‘‘Speak！ Speak！'' she implored。
A faint smile illumined his face； he gazed with ineffable tenderness
into her weeping eyes； then slowly closed his own as if in slumber。
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The Fifth String
The Conspirators
Arriving opposite the Franklin house； Tom Foley took position in a
near…by alley； where he could keep close watch on the front gate。 After
hours of nervous waiting； little Lillian Franklin came out； and Tom's heart
gave a jump。 She was alone； and began to roll a hoop； which her friend
Sandy had given her that morning。 Down the street she tripped； all smiles
and happiness。
Tom watched her until she had turned a corner； then he rushed up the
alley to intercept her。 When he emerged into the street； he saw her resting
on a rustic bench； and hastened to join her。 As he came up； he was greeted
with：
‘‘Why； Tom； I thought you went fishing with Gil； and papa； and Sandy；
and the rest。''
‘‘No； Lily。 I felt so bad 'bout my dad being arrested yest'day I couldn't
git up no courage to go；'' answered the boy with simulated contrition。
What d'yer say？ let's s'prise Gil； and go down to the landin' an' meet him
when he comes in from fishin'；'' suggested Foley； knowing the intense love
she had for her brother。
‘‘That'll be lovely； won't it？ And Gil will be so glad if I come。''
Lillian whipped the hoop rapidly； and Tom kept pace with her。
‘‘Gil will be surprised； sure enough； when he sees me coming； won't
he？''
‘‘Yes； he'll be s'prised； you bet！'' said the boy； taking a firmer hold of
her hand。
The night was fast approaching and Foley was leading the child
through unfrequented alleys and streets。
‘‘But maybe Gil won't come back this way； and it's getting awful
dark。''
‘‘Oh； he'll come back this way； all right。''
They were now on the shore of the river； dark and desolate in its
winter dress。 The restless splash of the water sent icy sprays over the child；
and； clinging still closer to her treacherous companion； she stopped him
for a second and begged him to return。
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The Fifth String
‘‘Don't be afear'd； nuthin's goin' ter happen to yer；'' he said； jerking her
savagely； and almost breaking into a run at the same time。
‘‘Oh； Tom； please let's go back；'' supplicated the child。
They were now at the old wharf。 He gave a low whistle； and； without
waiting for an answer； pulled the helpless child through the entrance。 Then；
groping his way over the slimy stones and through the oozing mud； he
dragged the affrighted little one after him； to the mouth of the cave； and
called：
‘‘Dad； I'm here。''
‘‘Come right in；'' answered a voice。
‘‘I've got her； an' I got her easy as dirt；'' said the son； pushing the
terrified child into the cave； and then roughly into the arms of his father。
‘‘Don't yell； yer brat！'' said the older； clasping his hand over mouth；
and drawing her brutally toward him。 ‘‘Shut up； or I'll kill yer。''
Foley now called Hildey； who was； asleep in the corner； and said；
‘‘Cul； we've got to git out er this place jest as quick as possible。 It's too
near the city； an' if we're tracked here we'll stand no more chance than a
snowball on Beelzebub's gridiron。''
‘‘What's yer lay； Dennis？'' questioned Hildey。
‘‘Move up the river；'' was the reply。 ‘‘I knows jest the place where we
wouldn't be found in a thousand years。''
‘‘When d'yer want to start？'' asked Tom。
In ten minutes the abductors； with the stolen child； were slowly
winding their way along the deserted beach。
It was now very dark。 No stars were shining； and it had become
bitterly cold。 Suddenly voices were heard； and the abductors stopped to
listen。 They were in a ravine near the magazine landing； not more than
fifty feet from the spot where the Lillian was launched。 Foley； Tom； and
Hildey crouched low； and drew the little girl closer。
The steady dip of oars was heard up stream； and the voices grew
plainer。 Out of the mingled sounds was heard；
‘‘I agrees with Sandy； he's the dirtiest coward as ever went unhung。''
Lillian started； for she recognized the voice of the Jedge； who with
Colonel Franklin； Sandy； Dink； Leander and Gilbert； were returning from
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The Fifth String
a sail up the river
Foley became frightened； and bending over； hissed into the child's ear：
‘‘Remember what I tol' yer： if yer utter a sound； I'll kill yer。''
The sailing party meantime had reached the landing and stepped
ashore。 Sandy and the other three boys lowered the sail； rolled and carried
it into the boat…house。 The whole party then； marching three abreast； with
steady step； went up the graveled walk of the old magazine road； singing
in unison： ‘‘HepHep Shoot that ni**er if he don't keep step。
HepHep Shoot that ni**er if he don't keep step。''
While its cadence was continued by Colonel Franklin and the Jedge；
the four boys； in marching rhythm； sang out cheerily into the crisp cold
night：
‘‘When other lips and other hearts； Their tales of love shall tell； In
accents whose excess imparts The power they feel so well。 There may；
perhaps； in such a scene； Some recollection be； Of days that have as
happy been； And you'll remember me。''
The three scoundrels listened； as the voices rose and fell on the air。
The child； with the fear of death before her； and in the clutches of her
horrible captor； gave one convulsive sob and sank swooning at his feet。
Foley picked her up and； walking quickly； placed her in the very boat
her father and friends had left but a moment before。 He wrapped her in a
ragged coat； loosened the hasp of the door on the boat…house； and took out
the oars。
Quickly the captors pushed the craft into deep water； and with muffled
stroke moved through the inky waves； a somber specter sneaking along the
banks of the sleeping marches。
When they neared the upper bridge； Foley ran the boat ashore and
abandoned it。 Picking up the exhausted and benumbed child； he led his
two companions along the causeway and over the road leading to the
bridge。
The wind came out of the north； howling through the leafless boughs
of the mighty monarchs of the forest。 The last flickering light of the town
was left far behind； and darkness； like a great shroud； enveloped river；
valley and woods。
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