Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-09-20

day you may also learn the cause OF
my action, but in the meantime 1t
must bear your disapproval. However,
we need discuss the matter no
longer"
She sprang to the door, and glanced
out into the hall, stepping back once
| more as Peter appeared. His eyes
swept the room in silent observation
Captain Grant and the two officers
with him have concluded their meal:
Mistress Claire" he announced calm
ly, "and one of them has gone for "
file of soldiers to begin the search OF
the house"
Very well. Peter; go back and as
| sist them. l will see to the safe con-
| cealment of Major Lawrence"
He bowed graciously, and disap-
peared
you have not given me your par.
don," l implored as our eyes again
met
There is nothing to pardon to my
knowledge. l respect you because OF
your sense of propriety, but we cannot
talk longer now. You must enter the
passage at once"
you will give me your hand first?''
Gladly" and l felt its firm pres
sure, her face frightened by smile.
Now let us remember rather the
danger, the necessity of concealment,
| and not delay too long. Wait mo-
ment, major; is it true you absolutely
trust me?"
1T certainly is"
Il am going to put that to the test.
You have papers you desire to give
Washington. You may be detained
here some time, but l have with me
an Indian who could take them across
the Delaware tonight. 1t is not the
| first time he has made that journey.
| Will you confide them to me?"
Our eyes were looking directly into
each other. l may 1--we hesitated an
! instant. confused by the unexpected
| request, yet there was something in
| the expression of the girls face which
| swept doubt swiftly aside. Without a
| word l took them from an inner peck
ct, and gave them to her. The red
| lips smiled, the blue eyes Frightening.
''Tonepah shall leave within the
| hour" she promised, thrusting the
small packet into the bosom Of her
dress. Nov step within, major, and
will close the door,"
| | did as she requested, hearing the
click Of the lock behind me, and be.
| ing as instantly plunged into dark.
ness. waited a moment, my foot upon
the first narrow stair, listening. No
sound reached me from without, and,
with her animated face still before me
in memory, l began to slowly feel my
way down the circular staircase. There
was nothing dangerous about the pas.
sage, but with only the bare stone wall
to touch with the hand l was obliged
to grope along blindly. The huge
chimney had evidently been erected
merely for concealment, and l mar.
veled at the ingenuity of it's construc.
| ton. / failed to count the steps, but
| | went around and around so many
| times, pressed against the smooth
wall, that knew must be we'll below
| the basement of the house before ]
| finally stood at the bottom. | CROPPED
| forward in the intense darkness, feel.
| ing with outstretched hands. The first
| object encountered was rough table.
| the surface of which | explored, dis.
covering thereon a candlestick with
| flint and steel beside it. With relief
l struck a spark, and yellow flame
| revealed my surroundings.
What I saw was a low room some
| fifteen feet square, the walls and root
apparently of stone securely mortared,
the only exit the narrow circular
! stairs. The floor was of earth. OPP.
posite me was a bunk slightly elevat.
ed, containing a blanket or two, and a
fairly comfortable chair built from a
barrel. An old coat and hat hung
| from a nail at the head of the bunk.
| On a shelf near by was an earthen
crock, and two candles, and beneath
| this. on the floor, was a sawed-off gun
and two pistols, with small supply
of powder and balls, the former
| wrapped in an oiled cloth. 1t was in
truth a gloomy, desolate hole, al
| though dry enough. For want Of some.
thing better to do l went over and
picked up the pistols; the lock Of one
was broken, but the other seemed
serviceabIe, and, after swapping the
flint, I loaded the weapon, and slipped
it into my pocket. Somehow its pos.
session yielded me a new measure OF
courage, although l had no reason to
suppose / would be called upon to use
the ancient relic.
There was little to examine, bat !
tramped about nervously, tapping the
walls, and convincing myself of their
solidity, and, finally, tired by this use
less exercise, seated myself in the
chair. 1t was like being buried in a
tomb, not a sound reaching my
strained ears, but at last the spirit OF
depression vanished, and my mind be-
gan to grapple with the problems con-
fronting me.
Heaven alone knows how long | re-
NAMED there motionless, my mind
elsewhere, drifting idly backward to
the old home, reviewing the years Of
Ell ad FROM