The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-12-06

ton" she said coldly and then with still
more of the frost of unwelcome in her
Voice: ITO what may we be indebted for
this honor7'
they thrilled me to my finger-tips, for
thew were the first she had spoken to mo
since the night of NV offending in the
black gorge of the fae-on western noun
tains None the less they were blankly
unanswerable, and had the door been
open l should doubtless have vanished as
I had come. OF all the houses in the
town this was surely the last l should
have run to for refuge had known the
flashing of this thought that helped me
find my tongue.
Il never guessed this was your faith
er's house., l stammered, bowling low TO
match her curtsy Il beg you will par
don me and let me go as l came"
She laid hand on the door-knob. us
lis there any one here whom you would
see?" she asked; and now her eyes did
chill had melted little.
mo. 1 was begging a nights lodging
of friend whose house is full He sent
me here with a note to-ah-to your
father, as l suppose, though in his haste
he did not mention the name"
She held out her hand. Give me the
letter"
Nay" said I; that would be but
thankless work. Knowing me, your
father must needs conceive it his duty
to denounce me-"
give it mer' she insisted: this with
an impatient little stamp of the foot and
an upglance of the compelling eyes that
would have constrained me to do a far
foolisher thing had che asked 1t.
So 1 gave her tha letter and stood
aside, hat in hand, while she read 1t.
There were candles IN their sconces over
the mantel and she moved nearer to have
the better light Then suddenly the
beautiful eyes were alight and warm
and pleading eloquent.
"Oh, why did you come? Are you
are you what they said you were?"
"A spy? If 1 am you would scarce
expect me to confess 1t even to you"
"'Tis dishonorabte-most dishonor-
able!" she cried Il could respect brave
soldier enemy; but spy
There was a clattefing of hoofs in the
street and a jingle of sword-scabbards
in the doorstone. l wheeled to face the
newcomers. determined now to front it
before the fumbling hands without could
find the door-knob Margery was beside
me- all aflutter in trembling f1t Of ex
element.
Up the stair quickly, pour Iamour de
Oieui The town is agog with news of
your coming" she whispered. and we
were at the clock landing when the great
door opened and some half dozen kings
officers came in. On the moment ! be-
held the skulking black figure of the lit
tie pettifogging lawyer and made after
him, but ne vanished in the darkness,
leaving me face 10 fact at an open door
He knew me at a glance.
"Ah. Captain Ireton, tits you. is it? We
are well met at last. They told me you
were gone to join the rebels, did they
no"
Here was an opening for a bold man
and took it. A lie is lie be it spoken
in never so good cause and with my
Lady Madge hating me for it took 1T
story to the tune of an appointment to
no less than my lords personal staff.
An hour later when l again sought
Margery where I was now quartered as
an honored Austrian officer and where |
had thought to find but an insecure hid
ing place, she left me in fury. and
I'm hot resentment of her behavior must
dash forth in reckless disregard of the
danger that still lurked about me. 1
would take a soldiers chance to acqutt
myself or forfeit all else ! held dear
In the market place I heard news of
star chamber meeting of my Lord Corn
wallis and his staff Here was my
chance. If 1 could but strike one good
blow for the cause.
The old courthouse of our greater
Mecklenburg was such as some of you
may remember; stout wooden building
raised upon brick pillars to leave a story
underneath In the time of the British
occupation this lower story served as
market house and the public entrance to
the courtroom above was reached by
steps on the outside. In my boyhood days
this outer stair was the only one; but
now in wandering aimlessly through the
market place beneath 1 found another
flight in a corner; the Jury stair" they
called it, since it provided the means Of
egress from the jury box above.
The sight of this inner stair set me
plotting Could 1 make use of 1t to
come unseen into the council chamber of
Lord CORVALLIS and his officers?
The market place was well thronged
with vendors and soldier buyers, the pa
triotic Mecklenburgers were not averse
20 the turning of an honest penny upon
the needs of their oppressors, as 1T
seemed. 1 watched my chance. and when
there were no prying eyes to mark 1t,
made the dash up the steps.
Happily for the success of the adven-
ture there was an angle in the narrow
stair to hide me while 1 lifted the trap
door in the courtroom floor a scant half
inch and got my bearings. As 1 had
hoped, the trap opened behind the jury
box, and / was able to raise 1t cautiously
and so to draw myself up into the room
above. unseen and unheard.
A peep around the corner of the hig
jury stalls showed me my lord and his
suite gathered about the lawyers table
in front of the bar. OF the staff 1 recog-
nized only Stedman, the commissary gem
eral; Tarleton, looking somewhat the
worse for his late illness; Major Hanger
his second in command, and the young
Irishman, Lord Rawdon.
At the moment of my espial, Cornwall
lis was speaking and l drew back to lis
ten, well enough content to be in ear
shot. For If my good angel had timed
my coming / could not have arrived at a
more opportune moment.
What we have to consider now is how
best to reach Ferguson with an express
instantly" his lordship was saying
rhi rising of the over-mountain men
is likely to prove a serious matter-not
only for the major, but for the kings
cause in the two provinces. Lacking
POSITIVE orders to the contrary, Ferguson
will fight-we all know that; and If he
should be defeated twill hopelessIy undo
his work among the border loyalists and
set us back another twelvemonth"
Then your lordship will order him to
come in with what he has?' said voice
which 1 knew for Colonel Tarleton's.
"Instanter, had 1 a sure man to send"
"Pshawl l can find you a hundred
among the late royalist recruits"