Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-31
"HUsH!"

"HUSH!"
 for midway to the barn a soft, low
 whistle sounded, and almost instantly Benton heard the sound of hoofs again. They were hurriedly leading horse--
 or two horses-away. A lantern swung impatiently at the corner of the barn. Somebody was surely signaling. Something prompted him by way of answer to blow out his candle, to thrust
 the notes both scraps of paper-into
 8 convenient pocket, then to kneel by
 the window and watch and listen Almost instantly the lantern dis appeared, and there were five minutes
 of silence. Then, as he knelt and
 watched and waited and all was still without and his darkey aides-de-camp
 made no further hail, suddenly he heard the creak behind him of door cautiously opening, and, looking over
 his shoulder in the dim ghostly light lifting through the balustrade from the
 floor below, he was able to discern a tall, slender form coming noiselessly, cautiously, straight to his now wide- open door Rosalie beyond a doubt,
 and she believed him gone!
 Go then he must! Athlete that he
 had been, ever since boyhood, it was
 no trick at all to swing, even one-
 handed, on so thick rod. His heavy gauntlet was already on, and, just as he
 reached forth to grasp the iron, his
 practiced ear caught the stealthy tread of spurred boots on the path below coming from the back gate--the way to the barn. AnotSer moment and, distinctly, in a sudden lull of the
 breeze, he heard a low, cautieas voice | in half murmur, half whisper Words
 were indistinguishable but he knew the sLounsberry beyond ques- tion, and Lounsberry hailing in ex- pectation of finding there an accom- plioe.
 Not second could he lose now! To
 go would be to meet the death of an
 escaping prisoner-or, at best. justif-
 able Imprisonment behind the bars. To
 stay where he was might involve her l might at least so startle as to force from her cry of alarm. Quick, light and 1.-the as panther he sprang to his feet and met her just outside the door. No time for explanation! "Silence!" he whispered, almost sav- Rgely. "Lounsberry is there," and then 1 defiant even of her wrath, he wrapped I that one strong arm about her. fol l (this at least, long after, was his one
 excuse) he thought she would fall, so 1 sudden was the shock and start, so | wildly beat the little heart once more l nuttering, on his breast. For moment 1 she was too dazed to use her strength, 1 then, through her set teeth, savagely l as he had spoken, she hissed at him,
 while slender fingers tore at his muscu- ! lar hand:
 Let me go, instantly!''
 And when he had released her, she
 again seemed like to fall, and he again
 essayed to hold her, but now with l clinching little fists she fairly beat him
 off. Then, springing past him, reeling
 bit, but desperate and determined, 1 flew to the window, lSnelt and listened, ] leaving him faltering one moment at
 the door. Only moment, though; for. casting aside all scruple, he fol- l lowed and knelt beside her. Shrinking from him, with her white hands pressed 1 to her temples; amaze, indignation,
 then triumph in her face, though he | could not see it, she seemed listening
 absorbed. Again 1t was Lounsberry's | voice, and Lounsberry had found his ! fellow spy. and with amazing conf- J dence and fiuency was Pomp replying. Oh, what glibness of guile!
 1 Yeas, suh. don tole him so. He cum down the back stayuhs an outen, | de back do mos an hour ago, an fo'
 we could show him de way, suh, Miss ] Rosalie come tay'in after him, an l draw'd him back into de house again."
 Benton could feel although only a 1 fold of her gown touched his knee, that ! the girl beside him was fairly quivering ! at that bare-faced whopper, but quiver- l ing with wrath or delight he knew not | which,
 You imp of hell! If you are lying I'll skin you alive! Whose horses were I those in the side lot as I came up?" | demanded Lounsberry.
 "Fo' Gawd, captain, I do know! Dey wasn't ouhs-ouhs is in de balm. l suh. Take de key and sec fo' yo'seif. I Hyuh's the dochtuh now, suh!" stream of yellow light had shot 1 suddenly forth as door in the. north wing was thrown onen. and,