The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-07-13

mo; not so as to approach the table.
Miss Denslow thought the sight of me
would arouse his anger"
II came in after the revolver belt"
she said. her voice trembling. but
Lieutenant King did not even enter
the room"
Donald's form Strengthened. his voice
gruffer than | remembered hearing II
before.
But you were asleep. Jean. when I
came down the stairs. Lieutenant
King had left his chat and was in the
front of the hall"
1 took a deep breath. realizing afresh
the peril of my position. The girl
spoke pleadingly. brokenly.
But Lieutenant King could not have
done this. He is not a murderer, but
a soldier"
Donald stood between us. erect, mo-
tionless.
Il do not know what to think. JEAN"
he said with a grave deliberateness,
Il only know every circumstance
points to this man and leaves no doubt
as to my own duty. If Lieutenant
King a clear himself | will be first
to take his hand" His fingers drop
ped to the butt Of his revolver. You
are my prisoner. Unclasp your belt"
The girl came between us, her face
uplifted, her eyes shining.
Lieutenant King is my prisoner. not
yours" she cried Indignantly. "He
gave me his parole, and ! returned to
him his revolvers.
she held out her hands. and, scarce
ly realizing what l did. impelled to
action by the expression Of her face.
l un~clasped the belt and extended 1t
to her.
Miss Denslow is right" / said
quietly. II am her prisoner OF pa
role, and / keep my pledge to her."
Great as the sacrifice was. the quick
fash of her eyes repaid me fully, and
l looked beyond her shoulder into
Colonel Donald's stern set face.
II am helpless to resist. for you are
armed and | am not" l said firmly.
but / appeal to you as a soldier to
deal fairly with me. | pledge you my
word not to attempt an escape. but |
wish the privilege of searching the
house for evidence to clear me of this
charge of murder. You are an honor
able man. Give me an opportunity to
prove that l m n also"
He scarcely hesitated.
And if you fail you will accom-
pany me to the Confederate lines with
out ~resistance?"
Yes. Whether I succeed or fail, !
am a prisoner of war. l understand
that clearly. But l am not a MUIR
derer."
1t is hard to say what influence
worked with me. but the stern lines
Of Donald's face relaxed. his hand
falling to his side.
Lieutenant King" he acknowledged
quietly. ut seems impossible for me
not TO believe you. l have always
felt 1 was a judge of men, and l am
going TO trust you now. Perhaps it
is for your sake. and perhaps it is be-
cause l feel Jean wishes me to-
Il do wish it." she interposed softly.
IL am informed" 1 began finally,
that this house contains a hidden
room and a secret passage leading
without"
The coloners glance dropped to the
face of the girl.
"You little traitress!'
Don't say that" the depths of the
gray blue eyes dark with indigna-
ton. 81 told him that because l trust
ed him and believed he ought to know
what | suspected"
but who told your"
calvert Dunn. But that was all he
told-merely that such things existed"
Even that was enough to ruin their
usefulness when repeated to a Yankee.
Miss Denslow gave me no informa-
ton of value" I FASTENED to explain.
The mere knowledge that such a
place exists means nothing so long as
1 am unable TO trace it. l have asked
her nothing. but l do ask you-is there
such a hidden entry. such a secret
room. and may I search them?"
The nan and the soldier seemed
warning in his mind before be could
reply. but the man won.
"Yes, they exist: built with the
house. for protection against feudists,
and with no thought of war. But they
can be of no service to you, as | came
that way entering the house and met
no one. How could any n who is
an enemy to the occupants of this
house have discovered the Passenger"
''That l do not know, but some one
certainly has been here tonight. Who
ever it was. he came by way of none
of the ordinary entrances. You must
acknowledge that. If l am not the
guilty man, and / swear in the pres
ence of God | am not, then the assas-
sin must have come by the way of the
secret passage. He may have found
it by accident, but 1t has served his
purpose. and n search of it might give
us his trail. l plead with you for this
onportunitv TO yindicate myself"