The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-06-16
Copyright 1911. The Frank A Munsey Company.

Della caught her breath. She and her
soldier raised their heads and listened.
| That's the patrol" remarked Potts.
They're looking for him." Della muir
INJURED. Il do hope they catch him"
What makes you in such a hurry to
end him, miss? l don't reckon Grigg
means to do .you-uns in this house no
| harm nohow."
"Oh. you can't imagine the horror of
| sleeping under the same roof with such
| monster. I'll not rest till he's caught"
! You know that means hemp and
| kingdom-come for him?" the man slow
| ly suggested.
Yes, of course"
A long, soft whistle sounded outside
the window that looked on the porch. 1t
was signal from the wary Lymus, keep
ing watch. Delia's agitation prevented
her noticing the faint sound. She had
stood up, clenching her small fists as
| Stunning most vindictive expression.
'Of course II does. But l don't care.
Such a william ought TO be hung. And
this is dreadful. And there isn't a man
in the house that could be relied on.
There's nothing but a Congressman in
the front room upstairs. and an old
couple from Alexandria in the parlor,
the rest are just Wmen and children.
Uncle Phil would be brave. 1 know
but he's so feeble and so easily de-
ceived." Impulsively gliding around the
table she slipped one OF her hands into
the soldiers. Couldn't you contrive
to sleep here over night, my friend?
I'd have Binah fix a good bed for you
on the floor"
The mans unwinking eyes chung to
| her flushed face as though drinking in
their last look on life.
You wouldn't mind, then, sleeping
under the same roof with Grigg?" he
asked.
I'D feel so much safer If you were
here" she replied quickly. mo matter
how bold and cunning he is. 1 know
he'd not frtghten you. An I'm such
goose Of a coward. I always want a
man to run to. Won't you-till Grigg is
caught?'
Her impIoration had drawn her so
close to him that he breathed in the
perfume of her dark hair; her hand
chung warm to his; her eyes spoke to his
eyes.
In rapt silence he continued to gaze
steadily at her, and then, as the full
bitterness of his position ate into his
soul, his iron fortitude wavered. For
an instant his strong features were con-
vulsed with emotion, so that he dropped
his face upon his hands to hide 1t. She
thought he was carefully rejecting.
Won't you, please?" she whispered
again.
thing incoherent. but when she asked
him what he had said, he remained ST.
lent. Once more the stealthy whistle
sounded at the window.
"Hark"' Della exclaimed. Somebody
whistled!"
Potts Strengthened up. There was a
tremendous struggle going on in his
heart. and the stress of it was written
on his face.
IT must leave you now" he said in
husky tone. But. I'm going to tell you
the truth first. came tonight to tell
you"
Hush, hush! the girl interrupted,
quite needless Of what he was saying.
Don't you hear? It's that man-it's
Grigg-coming in! He's fed here to es-
cape them"
4 key was grating sharply in the front
door.
you're mistaken said the soldier,
and tried to get her frightened attention.
Listen to me. I've only moment to
tell you. I've waited too long. There's
no time now to explain. But that one
is not the-the man you hate so much.
Grigg is here"
"Oh, oh! He's coming on back here.
I've only you to depend on"
Some one had entered at the front
door. and after pausing moment at
the library was coming down the hall
way towards the dining room, where the
candle-light must have suggested to
him he would find some member Of the
household.
too IateH' murmured the soldier.
God help us all now"
He leaned one elbow on the table
beside the candlestick, and shaded his
face by his hand, watching the door.
Della, who was standing up, shrank be-
hind him.
commanded. 'You might get shot"
She obeyed without knowing why.
Next moment young Freneau, re-
splendent in his new uniform, eager.
gallant, stood in the open doorway Ia
boring under considerable excitement.
His bearing, his frank countenance held
nothing to inspire such fear as Delia's
delusion had given her.
II beg pardon Miss Coombs," said he
rapidly. cap in hand. II came to tell
Won not to be alarmed II great many
men came running about the house and
ward in minute or so. They may do
some shooting Grigg's just been seen
again-shot two men down the street
there-wounded one badly. He lodged
I'D this way in the dark and hid. But
they've got the devil surrounded for
once, and are closing in on him"
While speaking to Della. Freneau kept
looking more and more closely at Potts.
whose features were blurred by the
shadow Of his hand.
The OFFICER seemed bewildered. He
stepped nearer, glanced from the man
to the Fr scd 5hen e orfed aE he at last
why. it's the man that stopped me on
the road at Gaines's Mill! It's Grtgg
himself" His hand went to his hip
with a jerk. :,
At the hostile gesture Grigg merely
nuffed. and showed his elbow forward.
The candle toppIed off the table. and
was extinguished. Della gave one
gasping scream and fed wildly to the
farthest corner. over by the window
The room was plunged in complete
darkness. But through the darkness a
gun flashed like the darling forth of a
serpents tongue.
In that confined space the roar which
accompanied the flash seemed TO rock
the whole building fierce, rushing
sound followed; a chair, or something
of wood, struck against the table. Then
there was a heavy scuffe that shook
the f1oor-a muffed fall-silence. Pres
emily the air began to reek from the
nungent smell of powder.
Icontinuatiou of This Story VIII BE
Found in TOmOrrOw's Issue
of The Times.)