The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-06-27

"Iru"d the door and came face to face
with dean D.nslow
I'D not scream AS she saw me,
hnt her face went instantly white. and
her hands Were suddenly flung out in
startled surprise
fou-you here? You have been In
Therein my room?"
rs this your room?"
Yes. Why did you 60 theser'
Merely because 1t was the first
door found unlocked
But it was not unlocked. Bee. I
have the key here in my pocket"
Yet you must have been mistaken.
for the door was certainly unlocked
when came. even standing very
slightly ajar."
From the expression Of her face I
doubted IL she believed me. felt
obliged to continue speaking.
Il was endeavoring to escape, but
now have decided otherwise and ask
you to aid me. feel that you SYM
pathize with me. that you still have
faith in my statements. A few mo-
ments ago l overheard you attempt
my defense In the library"
II do not think l defended you"
the color coming back into her cheeks.
"What is 1t you do ask?'
That you will go with me now dl.
rec;ly to those gathered in the library.
want TO tell them my story and let
them judge as to its truth. We have
not known each other long. and am
Yankee. your war enemy. vet I sin
cerely desire your good opinion.
cannot run away. leaving you to be.
lieve me coward or worse"
II do not quite understand" she
admitted at last. almost reluctantly.
"You must not do this believing that
can help you or-or that am even
inclined to do SO. 1t was my trick
which imprisoned you"
That has left no sting. Miss Dens-
low" | returned That you outwit.
ted me was natural enough. and
hold no malice"
Ny mind was full of a strange con.
iINl 1 loiIoNSu uCt W thS lo"Ct
hall. Circumstances pointed directly
at me as the murderer of that man
above. and | realized how exceedingly
weak was my defense. Yet this vol.
untary surrender would surely have
weight. even upon those prejudice0
minds. and | had faith-strons abid-
ing failh-that Jean Denslow would
believe the truth Of my statement.
Somehow just then to retain the con-
tidence of this girl meant infinitely
more TO me than all the rest Step
ping softly within the library and
drawing slightly to one side SO as to
reveal me standing erect in the door.
way, she announced clearly:
Lieutenant King"
! caught it all in one swift glance
the book lined walls. the glass front
of the cases rejecting back the glow
OF the clustered lights suspended from
the ceiling; the heavy mahogany CEN
ter table; a wide sofa. with q man and
Il woman seated upon it. both with
da.ks eyes and hair and strongly re-
sembling each other. the man wearing
Confederate Uniform. the woman at.
tired in some cinging brown material:
behind the table. sunk low down with.
in his cushioned chair. his deep sunken
eyes staring ucross at me as il he saw
n vision. was Judge Dunn. while to his
right another man-bir. burly. his hair
closely cropped and iron gray--leaned
forward as if to spring. Even as the
ready weapon flashed deadly in the
light spoke. my hands held up.
i am not here as an enemy. gentle
men. If were could have easily
shot first from the hall. l merely wish
to be heard, and as evidence of good
faith will deposit my weapons on the
table"
None among them uttered word.
although the judge was sputterinE as
if endeavorinG to gain control OF his
language.
NO, gentlemen" | said. Il have
come to you voluntarily TO make
statement. In one sense ! am your
prisoner. yet. had ! chosen TO do so. l
could have been well out of your hands
by now. am Federal officer. de.
tailed upon the staff of General Rose
Grams and temporarily in command or
scouts. But short time ago was
ordered to take two men and examine
this neighborhood for the purpose or
discovering. if possible. the rendezvous
of a guerrilla leader known to US as
Big Jem Donald" gaZed directly
into the eyes Of the giant. who was
now leaning back in his chair Are
you the man.
"You may assume so for sake of ar
g..ment Go on"
Understanding that Judge Dunn
had some connection with this band
of raiders. | left my men asleep this
morning and ventured here alone. hop
ing to discover opportunity for investi-
CATION In the shadow OF the grape
trellis l unexpectedly encountered "A
young lady. who offered to permit my
searching the house. While pr"Serut-
.-,tlI nrl l-nH