The Washington times., 1902-06-08

made up. She had something to conceal
and, bitter as the thought, I stole softly
to the head of the stairs
But 1t was not to be. Even as | got
| to the top step a long line OF light
| spread out from under the stairway.
and, leaning over, saw strange sight
that might well have stirred her, or
any woman. or yet man, for the matter
OF that. The light came from an open
panel beneath the stairs. and as / stood
there, shooting my long nose over the
rail. one-two-three-six- eight
men stepped silently forth, one after the
| other, into the hall.
The leader. man in long cape coat.
held shaded lanthorn in his
hand; and the others, evidently by
prearranged design. spread out. each
the leader and another, moved swiftly
to the stairs. and began to ascend.
"So,' said I. bitterly, though in a low
voice. as l stepped into the room. so
that is it, madam. You have, indeed, set
me a pretty trap; and fool like me is
HOut AOO WISE, bul Httdo idii Ahto
it. Well, mistress. am sorry; but you
shall seq
On the instant the room became light,
and | saw that she had lit the tallow
dip.
Hide here in the curtains, quick!"
she whispered. DO so quick, quick."
Twas some instinct in me that made
me glide behind the heavy curtains BY
the open window, as the tall cloaked
figure stepped in. / could see naught,
but as he entered 1 heard an exclama-
ton break from him:
80 no. my runaway wench." cried
he, land here you are in papa's old
house, and in the midst of a con-
spiracy,"
II know not what you mean, but I
would know. sir. by what right you fol-
low me here, and by what right you
dare to come into my chamber in this
fashion
Easily told and explained, Mistress
Debby, / suspected we would run you
here to earth, and so 1 came to find
papa's daughter and bring her to her
home and to her wits"
81 will do what I choose; and do
not choose to receive you. nor will you
take me hence"
Indeed, and l will, Debby, And do
you make ready now in some garment
fit for a horses back, and prepare to
come with me or the minute. Ike not
this territory. IT'S too near our rebels
for comfort And. besides. there is
other work for me to do tonight
Leave me, sir. l have done with this,
once and for ALL"
"You will come with me now" CRIED
he, angrily, and stepped up to her and
took her by the arm and shook her.
"You will come with me now, on the in
stant,"
And is there so much haste, them
The man wheeled on me with sud-
denness, that startled us all. 1 know
NOT why + came forth. but 1 could not
see her tyrannized over; and though my
mind was in a whirl as to the purpose
OF the stranger, as we'll as to what
might be going on below, 1 was out and
DIT ulDl Win my uduStI DtlOl c luC NOlu
were we'll out of his mouth.
He muttered to himself, What the
hend is this?s as he drew and guarded
my thrust. Then he cried out to his
man:
Shoot fool, shoot him,"
Out sprang the report across the room
and a pane of glass fell behind me; but.
as good luck would have it, the miss
was clean and fair.
At the same time, too quick, and too
tangled up with our hurrying about the
room to be at first distinguished from
it. came an uproar from below stairs.
Shot followed shot, and we could soon
hear, even above the noise we made as
We thrust and parried, the sounds of
fighting from beneath.
At first he hesitated a moment, NUT
tering, What may that be-" But, as
[ pressed him soreiy, ne turned to me
again, crying:
"Dorkin, thou fool, fire! Waste no
time, Fire, curse thy soul,''
Then I saw the man come toward me,
and I knew he could not miss again.
There was naught TO do but run, and I
ran for the great bed, followed by the
leader, who had thrown his great cape
back over his shoulders. AS 1 ran
caught a chair and swung it around
toward the soldier. hitting him square,
" in the shins. and he bowled over.
,ursing with pain. That gave me q
moment, and l pushed a table at my
adversary; but he, catching it, swung
{ aside, and at it again we went.
All the while the terrible din below
stairs increased, and cries and curses
low added TO the uproar. 1t ran through
NY mind TO wonder how my men Jared.
md if Curtis were near enough to hear.
But l could do little, for my time was
lear up.
I caught, out OF the corner of my eye.
he soldier again on his feet and walking
lowly up to me, with his great pistol
leld before him and bearing on me.
md It's more than strange how, gone
through | knew | must be, l had but
ne thought-she should see what pa
roit could do in his last hour. So
ave n heavy lunge at my man, and
gain. still seeing the other growing
lowly larger-when there rang out an
Their shot like a lannon's report in that