Evening star., 1902-03-22

ed the fence and was running through our
front yard.
Halt" | cried, springing from the shad-
ow Of the magnolia.
Dick. they shall not capture me-
There was no time for words. I seized
his arm and together We ran up the steps
and into the front door. [ shot the bolts
behind us. From the east parlor We ran
into Aunt GATHERINGS room and 1 pushed
him into closet and locked the door.
When passed down the hall, closely fol-
lowed by Dorothy. Aunt Catherine and
some half dozen of the servants, | wore my
dressing gown and slippers. 1 opened the
door and faced Col. Hail. Capt. Jenkins and
handful of soldiers Col. Hall stepped in
and saluted the ladies with a deep bow
Il come to demand the surrender Of the
federal officer who has taken refuge in
your house.. he said. speaking to me-
though he kept his eye fastened on Doro-
thy.
Federal officer in this house," Aunt
Catherine cried.
Yes. ma'am. He was taken by party
or skirmishers across the river and sent
over here for safe keeping. But on the
way he attacked his guards, killed one and
injured the other two. He was pursued
and seen to run up your front steps and
into this very door,"
"Impossible!" Dorothy cried. st bolted
this door at sunset and no one has opened
1t since. You must have heard my brother
draw the bolts In answer to your knocks
20. the doc was bolted fast enough when
we knocked. Miss Fletcher" Jenkins an
swered. without giving his superior an Op-
drei come in, so I know mighty well the
doc has been opened since sunset"
Capt. Jenkins! exclaimed. II demand
that"
ITS all right. Richard" Col. Hall said.
Il hope. ma am" turning back to Aunt
Catherine, that you realize We have come
as friends. but We must do our duty. Our
LOYALTY to the cause demands that we
search the house."
ut would seem. SIR was Aunt Cath
crimes dignifed reply. ''that our loyalty
to the cause should render such an act un-
necessary. What reason have you for pro-
posing such an Outrage?"
The two officers exchanged glances. then
Capt. Jenkins replied:
Tho man we are searching for Is Col.
Kellogg Of the United States army"
Dorothy turned so white that l thought
she would faint. In an instant she recov-
cred herself Invite them in. Aunt Cat
tic. Gentlemen. We are only sorry your
suspicious will not be verified. otherwise
we might have had an opportunity of as
sisting one who has always proved a stanch
and faithful friend of my brother, Col.
Fletcher OF the confederate army. The
house is $. open to YOU and 1 beg that you
Aunt GATHERINGS bed chamber was the
last to be examined. AS 1 led the search
ers in I noticed the dainty orderliness of
the high bed. with its great feather mat
IteSSSS, Tic PoiiSucu uIcSSilS tdDlc ana easy
chairs. and was struck by the general fit-
ress of it all for the one who had occu-
ped 1t for more than fifty years, and who
still gave abundant evidence of having been
what her friends claimed for her. the
reigning beauty Of her day" l think even
Jenkins might have left the room satisfied
by casual inspection, had not Dorothy
spoken.
You are neglecting the closets, gentle
men. one on each side Of the chimney One
may prove especially interesting since it
opens on the stairs leading to our secret
chamber"
Dorothy" cried. Mortified.
Never mind, Dick. 1t is a secret pre-
sumabiy sacred to the family, but I am
sure there are outsiders who have heard of
it. and since these friends are kind enough
to search for proof of our loyalty to the
confederacy. 1 wish them to examine the
secret chamber. You have only to push the
wall at the end. Captain Jenkins" she ex-
planned. as she opened the door of the left
hand closet. I gave great gasp of relief
! had locked jack in the other closet
Jenkins went in and was followed by two
men he named We could hear their foot
fall. as they descended the steps within
the wall. Dorothy turned to Col. Hail.
Perhaps you would like to economize
time. colonel, ''by examining this other
closet while Captain Jenkins Is engaged. Is
and she walked over to the other closet
My hair began to rise on ends, my heart
stood still and was dumb. 1 knew that
closet to be scarcely two feet deep. nothing
behind which even mouse might hide
Dorothy turned the key and opened the
door. My eyes started IN their sockets and