The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-14

shoulder. The mans eyes opened; his great chest heaved. He stared into our faces and at the blue uniforms.
 "Yankees?" the single word came with a sob.
 ''Yes, Colonel Donald" explained hastily. "but we are here to help you You remember me, do you not-Lieu- enant Kingw
 CHAPTER XIV. u
 COLONEL DONALD.
 "A MOMENT Colonel Donald ap- N peared to hesitate, then his ex- "A pression became more natural
 and he made a weak effort to smile
 "King-King? Oh. certainly, I re- member now. Your men came, and I'- He stopped, evidently struggling to recall what had occurred to him after the arrival of the troopers.
 "It was a troop of Federal cavalry dispatched to my aid. Colonel Donald. I sent Miss Denslow up the stairs. in- teuding you should thus have an op- portunity for escape. and was still par leying with the fellows on the front porch. when a squad of concealed Con- federates poured a volley into us. They hit a few, but the remainder made the house and drove the others back when they attempted to rush us. We've been defending the house ever since, and made search for this secret passage. I found my way into it at last and discovered you lying here apparently dead, with a wound in your throat just as those others had."
 He put his hand up to the gash as If just made aware of 1t
 'T am afraid cannot help yor very much. lieutenant" he said slowly, evil dently striving to remember. T left you with Jean, intending to search this tunnel. I had opened the fireplace and was lighting the lantern when your men came, and I stole back as far as the head of the stairs to learn what was happening. Then Jean came up with your message, and I decided to escape to my own men as quickly as possible. Having no longer any thought of search and knowing the way perfectly. I blew out the light and came down the ladder in the dark. I have made the trip in that manner a dozen times and felt no fear. I must have advanced through the tunnel for hundred feet or more. one hand touching the wall to keep the direction. when something struck me so unexpectedly that l reeIed backward and fell. I have no recollection of seeing anything; only of feeling the blow and realizing I was falling. The next remember is look ing up into your face, wondering where I was."
 The man was far too weak and dazed to be questioned at any length; in his present state it would be useless to describe the woman's face we had seen or Miss Jeans effort to hold us prisoners. Here was an explanation of why no attack had thus far been made upon us from the rear; either no one outside knew of this passage. or else Dunn. if he was present and in com mand, lacked the nerve necessary for directing such an assauiting party. Whichever was the cause. I desired to satisfy myself-I must seal the tunnel or else (the idea coming to me as an inspiration) lead a sortie through it and thus take the unconscious be siegers in the rear.
 "How far are we from the entranceY I questioned.
 "Not over Sfty feet, I should say You pass out through a trap door int log storehouse."
 "Could you manage to walk tha far?"
 He held on to O'Brien and the wall thus succeeding in lifting himself unti he stood crest, but his movements wer' so uncertain that l. grasped him also In this manner we advanced slowly along the passage. Twice we permit ted him to lie back on the packed earth floor to rest. He was swaying dizzily when we finally attained the foot of short ladder leading upward. The trap was closed, yet as I held the lantern higher I could perceive the outlines of the door.
 "Is the trap locked?" His eyes opened slightly, staring deeply at the lantern flame.
 "No; all you need do is push against