The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-13
(Cont1uued1

COnVmce0 Uy ...c eApreSH1On on her face, not only that she knew the truth but that I was upon the right trail, I started toward the rear of the hall, never glancing behind, yet aware that Miss Jean was following. In appear ance 1t was strange, old fashioned fireplace, nothing more-large enough to contain a great back log and over shadowed by a huge mantel. The opening was concealed by an iron fire screen. leaving nothing visible to arouse suspicion, yet the apparent size of the chimney and that such a fire place should be located here upon the second floor appeared sufficiently odd to merit close attention.
 :. Have you heard or seen anything, O'BrienY asked as I came up.
 ~Not thing, sor," his eyes on the girl, "only the wind. There's a power. , ful dhraft blowin' up the chimney
 '.No doubt; it is large enough to con- tain a hurricane. Lay hold of the screen and let us see what 1t looks like inside"
 He leaned his carbine against the wall and grasped what appeared to be the handle of the iron sheet It failed . to yield to his effort, and I laid hold with him. thinking that probably it was caught in some manner. We tug ged together. but the thing was i'm movable Surprised. I bent forward. striving in the dim light to discover the cause and running my hand along the edge Instantly I comprehended; the screen was bolted fast I stepped back. convinced we had at last uncov- cred the secret and turned my face to- ward Miss Denslow. She stood mo tionless. covering us both with O'Brien's leveled carbine.
 The girrs eyes looked almost black over the shining barrel, her lips com pressed and resoiute.
 Don't move. either of you, except to my orders" her voice sounding hard and metallic as we stared at her in our first surprise. "O'Brien, reach back and open that door at your left; no. don't move your body; you can reach it with your hand"
 He did so. his motion that of an au- tomaton, his eyes fastened on the black muzzle of the gun. Dazed, stupe- fled. angry as was. I could not deny the admirat tion I felt for her cool ac- tion- The polished barrel of the car bine never trembled; the watchful eyes never left us; the girl face was white, but determined
 'Now move backward into that room, both of you Lieutenant King, if you drop your hand to your belt | shall have to fire"
 did not believe she would.
 Miss Denslow," protested, q have tried to serve you, have trusted you. Is this the act of friendr'
 ''No," she answered sharply, '-this is war. There is nothing between us nothing that can change my purpose. As God is my witness if you do not go I fre."
 1t was useless to argue. dangerous to delay. Step by step we drew back across the threshold, and the lock clicked, leaving us in total darkness.
 "The internal little divil," O'Brien cried, finding his tongue in a sudden rush of passion. 'sThe purring cat! I'd loike to git me hands on her for a minute"
 "You might as well stop that, O'Brien;"s I interrupted sternly. "The girl did nothing but her duty. The thing for us now is to find some way out before Donald leads the way in and takes our men in the rear"
 Even in the darkness the nature of the apartment was easily discoverable by sense of touch. It was small, ap-