The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-08

night and day. 0reieSS as Dlo0d- hound. Bill Daniels was tried for mur- der and convicted. He escaped from jail two years ago and since then. until thel war broke out. we have had peace. Now he has come back-come back with, the Yankee army behind him-and-and it is murder again." You know this to be all trueT" The cellar was almost dark now. but could see her straighten up. her hands clasped tightly together.
 Do know7 Oh. God. yes; I have been part of it. have seen men shot down. l have covered in darkness and rain while flames destroyed the house called home. All my childhood was passion of fear" "You say Calvert Dunn and his followers hold me to be one of Dan iels' followers and would deal with me accordingly? How about Colonel Don ald?"
 "He believes you guilty of killing Lieutenant Navarro. but merely in an effort to escape. Otherwise he thinks you have told the truth. and favors turning you lover to the military au | therities." "They expect to return?'' "Yas. tonight. with a squad of Colo. nel ponald's men," s. L And yet you ask me to remain. Miss Denslow. to remain here voiun tarily and wait for them?" asked in despair of comprehending. "You open the door of my prison. yet ask me to wait the return of men who are un- decided whether they will hang me outright or merely fling me into, a southern prison? You really ask this?'' She took step forward. her hands .outstretched as though she would grasp mine.
 "Tes. Lieutenant King. do ask 1t. ask 1t because l am afraid to be Jeff here any longer alone. v I ask 1t be- cause I believe you are innocent. and I wish to give you an opportunity to | prove 1t. ask you to pledge me your 1 word not to leave me until the others come believe the assassin is still in the house"
 Tn complete engagement I heard these words. too surprised for the moment to utter syllable. It was fear, then that had driven her here. Yet this 1 fact did not in any way lessen the act as proof of her confidence. "You say the assassin Is still here in this housew questioned rAre you sure?"
 No, not sure. but have every reason to believe so. One. of the serv' ants caught glimpse of him. and ] have seen that which has aroused my own suspicious. l have not dreamed this, but actually believe there Is some presence in this house seeking evil. This house was built in time o1 feud and in feud country. Judge | Dunn was then on the bench and had made many dangerous enemies by his decisions. He always was a man te arouse animosity by his arbitrary manner and abrupt speech. As gir l heard this house contained a hiddeT room and secret passages so arranged as to facilitate escape in time of peri or attack. Calvert Dunn has confessed as much. but he and his father alone know the secret. 1t would be useless to question the judge"
 "Where is he now?"
 Where you saw him last, occupy ing his chair in the library. his body perfectly helpless. his mind apparently as active as ever, but more bitter than before because of his physical weak ness. I do not think he has slept fol l two nights or that he has uttered 2 word except to curse the servants who brought him food"
 l had the full picture of the situa ton clearly before me now-the super stitious, unwilling darkies. knowing just enough to be frightened at theil own shadows; the characterless and colorless Lucille, suffering from $ headache and locked safely away with in her own room; that vindictive olt man. seated helpless in his. chair. his strange eyes glaring out across tht library table. and Jean Denslow lef alone in the big house to. cope witt its mystery, the night shadows clos ing in. Insrinctively I extended b.
 hand. and in the sudden response ol comradeship she slipped her own int my grasp.
 T-l believe I am actually afraid. she confessed. This Is so differen from real .danger-this-this haunted feeling"
 do not recall what I said. but know retained her hand in mine an( must have spoken words of encour agement. for when we emerged iron
 that dark hole of cellar into the mar row hallway. already lighted by {
 hanging lamp. her eyes were smiling