The silver star., 1900-02-23
CHAPTER n-

CHAIIkR n-
Edward Hasrisoa hAA. q een1UA
takea every prscaussoa TO prevsss ~
attempt a& escape OF rsscne. He 1ad
been forced TO yield 10 Cavta11 WI
eons demand for suitable aecoo0odA-
tons for his prisoner and his Fsf1sal
to adopt other measures-inAss1 ~
latter would have been supa1usuA
William was in the eharse Of h1s nose
bitter enemy. and be guarded I'm ~
ter than any taiier-
In . s;de-ving Of the buildinS. q
tie end Of long psasage. vas . room
where many valuable articles were
kept during the absence Of the ovA-
srh The only entrance was th9o1gA
= strong door With . double lock. a1A
the one window. which also oDened
upon the passage. was protected By Al
;roo grating which. though not Asavy.
vA remarkably strong In aAditSoa.
the corridor was closed By q secood
door. and Edward kept the keys oe
both IN his pocket No aaststAnce
could come from outside. and her
cousin knew only too well that F1oe-
eaoe had not the energy TO attsmpt -
free the prisoner. at least In h@
fathers dying hour.
William paced Up and down tAs
close. gloomy room In the mos n
tense excitement So this was the end
Of the fooihardy ride which he hAd
undertaken in defiance OF every varn-
Ing True, he had thought Of two al
ternatives only-success or death in
honorable conflict; and Colonel Bur-
ney. too. had had no other idea when
he uttered the fateful words: Dead OF
dishonored." There was . third:
Captured"
True. this captivity meant death.
The young onicer did not deceive hin
self concerning his fate: but little
as he feared death. his blood boiled
In fierce rebellion at the thought Of
being sentenced as a spy. Anything
save this shameful doom There was
one bright ray Of hope for him: He
trusted In the honor OF the Confed-
crates. Unless Edward Harrison
could hoodwink them into believing
him q Spy, he seemed reasonably safe.
Then came the thought Of Florence.
who would now be left wholly without
protection. How would she endure
the terrible event. and what would BE-
fall her after her fathers death? Ed
ward. as the sole male relative, would
also be the guardian and protector Of
lutely in this scoundrel's power. WILL
liam clenched his hands in helpless
fury. and low groan escaped his lips.
Suddenly he started. He fancied
that he heard his name spoken by
some one close at hand. OF course II
must be delusion, yet he stood sun
and involuntarily glanced toward the
window. The voice reached him again.
This time more distinctly.
William! Don't you hear?"
With sudden spring. the young
man reached the somewhat high win
dow. behind whose gratings the out
lines Of . human figure were now Wis.,
ible.
"John-you? impossible. It can't
bel"
Il have the honor. however, TO be
myself. was the reply. Good even
ing. Will"
But how did you get to Spring.
field? How did you hear Of my fate!
How did you succeed in making your
way here?'
Don't be in such a hurry. Put
your questions slowly. in regular or
der. and I'll answer in the same way.
We shall have plenty OF leisure for Il:
II will be some time before can saw
through this confounded iron gras-
ing"
The faint sound OF file showed that
the rescuer was really at work, sad
at the noise fresh hope and courage
filled the young ohlcer's soul. Frse-
dom! Rescue! He could have shout
ed for Joy At the bare thought, - r
the rescue had already been accou.
plished.
ITO be continued.)