The Washington times., 1911-05-31

~ the Rev. Mr.. Harris stopped
n in the midst of a stupendous
snore, grunted in drowsy alarm,
lay quiet a moment pondering the dis
turbance, then unclasped his hands from
their comfortable position on his stom-
ach. and sat bolt upright.
Matilda! what's thaty'' cried he. evil
IDENTIFY confused as to his surroundings;
and. clawing at the mosquito net, he
feryently calculated, Have mercy upon
But in the stupor of his first awaken
ing he had seen nothing of the stealthy
figure that slipped out of the room.
were rendered so desperate by Bled-
soe's prompt discovery of his scheme
that, on reaching the hall. his first ac-
ton was to take the tightly rolled paper
Silber had pushed it. and put it in his
mouth. Thus. if captured, he could
swallow it. The timbers of the tavern
trembled under the rushing feet of
low stairs; they We're breaking in the
Jews door with gun stocks. Bledsoe's s
voice trumpeted sharp and harsh above
the din. directing letter to seize the
woman was screaming Murder
Opposite Harris room the fugitive
FOUND door, opened it. stepped inside,
shut it. and turned the key in the
LUCK.
He had stepped from darkness into
nght-from tumult into comparative ST.
ience. The thick old door had greatly
munled the noises rising from other
parts of. the house. and as Grigg crossed
the threshold he had vision of a pale.
Respondent young girl IN a black dress.
seated at small table, which bore a
candle, so intent on a letter which she
not noticed the disturbance Her soft,
dark hair. unbound for the night.
streamed in a wavy masses about her
shoulders. accentuating the sorrowful
pallor Of her cheeks. In a padded arm
sunk in deep sleep. her yeliow-tur-
baned head upon her heaving bosom
All this the omnispective eyes of the
wonderful gift he had of seizing the
minutest details Of a situation, he Noted
even the strong, nIascu1fne handwriting
OF the letter the girl was poring over
and that she wore no ring OH her fin-
gers.
Next moment. however. when he
turned from locking the door. the pale
girl had been transformed into a
rSs rose Gp To the f Of beauty whH
height, alarmed but wratRful, and fixed
upon him a pair of great dark eyes
nashing like stars. She had uttered
O cry of diSmay, which the tarmpling
of feet on the stairs drowned
Coolly pushing a piece of rag-carpet
up against the doorsill, he hung his
Vlzored military cap on the latch to
cover the keyhole, and, stiff affecting
to use his crutch, edged along the wall
to the side Of a window and peeped
out. Escape in that direction was cut
on, he discovered, by armed SentrieS
posted along the road. He Immediately
drew down the brown paper blind
The girl stood transfxed by amaze
ment and terror at his conduct Upon
daring men the stimulus of deadly peril
acts like an elixir; their movements,
however, awkward ordinarily become
strong and singularly graceful; and
when Grigg glided across the room he
presented somewhat the appearance
OF wild animal wounded and turning
hercely at bay
were far too rugged to be termed hand
some, but under the thrill of E.
ment they were instinct with power
and fre. An enormous development
OF the percepive faculties ridged his
lower forehead, where he had brushed
his tawny unshorn hair out of his
eyes, and the bold sweep of nose and
chin proclaimed the mans untamable
nature; And yet about his keen blue
eyes. hard and bright as tempered
steel, and about his straight mouth, a
sort Of depressed smile, half cynical,
lurked g. thought he eXulted in the
danger Tor its own sake, knowing his
strength.
Whist means this intrusion, sir?"
demanded the girl.
Her startled voice rang like a bell.
The man laid a finger on his lip.
Ary port In .rssfI storm, 0en young m miss IS.
broad, rustic drawl of his boyhood.
Shrinking back a step or two, the
girl put the table between her and the
Intruder. and laid one small hand on
the shoulder of the sleeping negreSs.
"Binahr' cried she, with a piteous
break Of appeal in her voice, although
she was trying hard to appear brave.
Nanny! Nanny! Wake up! There's
q man in the room"
But the old woman, who was a
heavy sleeper. slumpered on, oblivious
to the strange scene.
IF it's just the same TO you, young
miss" remarked the fugitive calmly,
you'd obieege by not draggin' ary
feelin' mighty peaceable myself just
now, and only huntin' a quiet life.
Son't aim to hurt you-uns."
what does this mean, sir?" the girl
hreathlessly exclaimed, again shaking
'he colored woman.
In the hallway men were stumbling
over one another. beating against the
wells cursing, and shouting downstairs
for lights.
voices roared. Fetch up a light! Fetch
%Don't you hear 'em?" the fugitive
said softly and poked his thumb to-
ward the door. "They-uns aims to git
me-"
Almost as much terrified by the
hideous uproar the troopers were rails
ing outside as by the presence of a
strange man in her room, the girl
knew not which way to turn for help.
She was constrained to parley.
''who are your"
.,Jeems Potts, miss. from Hog Jaw
Valley. down in old Tennessee; Reckon
you-ali done heard about the big fight
;twixt the -Pottses and the Bledsoes."
"Who are those outsider"
At that moment the troopers were
roughly dragging Mr.. Harris from his
he'd under the very natural idea that
he was the person wanted. The
oreacher could be heard pleading in
shriII agonized tones TO be spared to
his wife, his family, and his flock.
soh, heavens" !, the girl moaned.
They're killing Somebody"
"They-uns is some of the Bledsoes
from down IN my county,: deSlafso s. REQ