The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-26
MY LADY OF DOUBT
CONTINUED from Page 1s)

expression OF her eyes, gave no sug-
gestion OF sentiment-ehe was but q
friend, an ally, performing woman'a
part in the war game.
But fail to understand
you D'ean met Oh. wen, you are
hot the first; and no doubt It is best
30. The less you understand, the bet
ter we shall get along. Major; the
enly question being. wiz you obey my
Ordersf"
Had ! inclination otherwise fear
I should find It impossible"
Il hardly know whether that remark
be complimentary or not You might
mean that no other course was Left
you"
which suspect is true, although Il
Il proved so should willingly trust
myself to your guidance, because OF
my faith in you"
THAT IL much better" her eyes
laughing. yet as swiftly SOLDERING again.
but it Is foolish Of rs to waste time
In such silly speeches. There is too
much waiting attention. Fortunately
this house is not without its secrets,
Cor when built By my grandfather this
was the frontier"
But does not Grant know7- I asked
Boberly. II understood no played here
Ms q boy, and there Is not much q lad
fails to learn"
HE is not without knowRSAge,
surely, but here is something he never
discovered. | would never have trust
cd him with the secret, and yet. as
short a time as / have known you,
have no hesitancy. Isn't that frank
confession, sir7'
"One / mean you shall never 10
greet"
Il am sure Of that; yet I shall not
betray everything even to you Please
face about with eyes to the front win
dow. Yes, SO; now do not look around
until tell you"
heard her cross the room, her
skirts rustling slightly. and then the
faint clicking of some delicately ad-
iusted mechanism. AS this sound
ceased. her voice again spoke.
Nov, Major, the way is opened for
. safe retreat. Behold what has been
accomplished By the genii OF the
lamp"
She was standing at one side Of
what lad been the fireplace, but now
the entire lower portion of the great
chimney had been swung aside, reveal
Ing an opening amply large enough for
the entrance Of q man. / took one
step forward to where could perceive
the beginning Of a narrow winding
stair leading down into intense black
ness. Then ! glanced aside into her
eyes.
"The concealment was perfect"
exclaimed in admiration. Where does
the staircase lead?"
"To a very comfortable room under
ground. 1t had not been used for a
generation until this war began. Eric
and learned of its existence by acct
dent, while rummaging over some OF
our grandfather's old papers. was
about sixteen then, and shall never
forget our FIRST exploration. We found
nothing down there then but a rough
bunk, an old lanthorn, and the leath-
ern scabbard Of sword. But since
then Eric has been compelled to hide
there twice to escape capture, and We
have made the room below more com
Portable. You will be obliged to grope
your way down the stairs, but at the
bottom will discover flint and steel,
and lantern with ample supply OF
candles. Peter will bring you food, Il
you need remain there for longl"
"Peteri Then he is in the secret r
peter is in all secrets" she con.
iessed. From him nothing Is hid, al
least so far as may concern the Morti-
mer family. You have yet to learn the
deep subtlety OF Peter, Major Law.
renee. He sees all things, retains al
things, and reveals nothing"
"A discovery already made"
mo. barely gllmpsed; no short 40
uuaintance such as yours has been
could ever serve to reveal the char
Rcter Of Peter. Since babyhood he has
been my monitor and guide, and still
be remains to me a silent mystery"
"An old servant?"
Eyes, born to the position, his father
serving before him There is no doubt
In my mind but what he knew OF this
secret passage before Eric and were
born Not that he has ever confessed
as much, yet am convinced our dis
covery of 1t brought no surprise to
Peter. What do you suppose his agS
to be?"
My mind reverted to that expires
gionless face without q wrinkle In It
to that totally bald head, and my an
gwer was the merest guess,
ooh, possibly fifty"
Il told you you were far from know
ing Peter" she laughed. "He is seven
ty-two. and. would you believe It, unit
this war came, was never ten miles
from this spot"
"And sincef" recalling the events O
the night before.
''He has made II his duty to attent
me; he has become my shadow. From
the humdrum experience OF a respect
able house servant he has become tht
very spirit Of reckless adventure-h,
has iourneyed to New York, to Tren
A.