The Emmett index., 1912-06-13
CHAPTER VIII.

M n ~ d
~HE did not scream as she saw
me, but her face went instantly
white, aud her hands were sud
denly nung out In startled sur.
prise
"rou--you here? You have been In
therein my ruomY'
lis this your roomT"
"Yes Why did you 20 thereP
Merely because II was the first
door found unlocked"
"But 1t was not unlocked. See. |
have the key here Ia my pocket"
''Yet you must huye been mistaken,
for the door was certainly unlocked
when came. even standing very
slightly ajar.
From the expression OF her face
doubted II she believed me. | felt
obliged TO continue speaking.
II was endeavOring 10 escape. but
now have decided otherwise and ask
you to aid me feel that you sym
pathlze with me, that you still have
faith in my statements. 4 few mo
ments ago | overheard you attempt
my uetcnSe IN the library.
IL do not think | defended you"
the color coming back into her cheeks
.What is II you do ASK"
''fhat you will go with me now dl.
rectly TO those gathered In the library.
1 want TO tell them my story ana let
them judge as TO It's truth. We have
not known each other long. and am
Yankee your war enemy. yet sin
cerely desire your good opinion. I
cannot run away, leaving you TO be-
lieve me coward or worse"
IL do not quite understand she
admitted ut last almost reluctantly.
''You must not do this believing that
i can help you or-or that 1 am even
inclined 10 do so. II was my trick
which imprisoned you"
That has left no sting. Miss Dens-
low" | returned That You oGtwit-
ted me was natural enough. ana
hold no malice"
My mind was full OF a strange con !
fict as followed her 10 the lower
hall Circumstances pointed directly 4
at me as the murderer OF that man
nlove. and realized how exceedingly /
weak was my defense. Yet this vol
uniary surrender would surely have
weight. even upon those prejudlceu
and had falth-strong abid
ing faith-that Jean Denslow would
believe the truth OF my statement.
Somehow just then to retain the con
fdence of this girl meant infinitely
more TO me than all the rest. step
ping softly within the library and
drawing slightly 10 one side SO as 10
reveal me standing erect In the door
way. she announced clearly:
Lieutenant King"
l caught II all IN one swift glance
the book lined walls. the glass frent
OF the cases rejecting back the glow
OF the clustered lights suspended from
The ceiling: the heavy mahogany cen
ter table: wide sofa. with a man and
u woman seated upon it. both with
dark eyes and hair and strongly re-
sembling each other. the man wearing
n Confederate uniform. the woman at-
tired in some clinging brown material:
behind the table. sunk low down with
In his cushioned chair. his deep sunken
eyes staring across at me as If he saw
a vision, was Judge Dunn. while TO his
right another man-big burly. his hair
closely cropped and iron gray-Ieaned
forward as II TO spring. Even as the
ready weapon flashed deadly in the
light | spoke. my hands held up.
am not here as an enemy. gentle
men. II were | could have easily
shot first from the hall. merely wish
10 be heard. and as evidence Of good
faith will deposit my weapons on the
table"
None among them uttered a word
although the judge was sputtering as
If endeavoring to gain control of his
language.
no. gentlemen" | said. 81 have
rome TO you voluntarily to make a
statement In one sdase / am your