The Cairo bulletin., 1912-06-12

THE concealment was perfect"
exclaimed in admiration. Where does
tie staircase lead?"
To very comfortable room under
ground. 1t had not been used for a
generation until this war began. Erie
and | learned of its existence by acci-
dent, while rummaging over some OF
our grand(ather's old papers / was
about sixteen then, and shall never
forget our first exploration. We found
nothing down there then but 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, II
you need remain there for long!"
Peter! Then he is in the secret? ?"
Peter Is in all secrets" she con-
fessed. From him nothing Is hid, a.
least so far as may concern the MORT
mer family. You have yet to learn the,
| deep subtlety Of Peter, Major Law
| renee. He sees all things. retains all
things. ard reveals nothing"
"A discovery already made"
mo, barely glimpsed; no short ac-
quaintance such as yours has been
could ever serve to reveal the char
| acter of Peter. Since babyhood he has
been my monitor and guide, and still
| he remains to me a silent mystery"
IAN old seryant?'
eyes, born to the position. his father
| serving before him. There Ia no doubt
| In my mind but what he knew Of this
| secret passage before Erlc and | were
| born. Not that he has ever confessed
| as much, yet am convinced our dis
| covery Of it brought no surprise 10
| Peter. What do you suppose his age
| TO be?"
| My mind reverted to that express
sionless face without q wrinkle in it.
to that totally bald head and my an
| swer was the merest guess.
| "Oh, possibly fifty"
| 81 told you you were far from know
ing Peter" she laughed. "He is seven
| ty-two, and. would you believe 1t, until
| this war came. was never ten miles
from this spot"
| 'And SINGER recalling the events Of
the night before.
| Gle has made 1t bis duty to attend
| me: he has become my shadow. FROM
| the humdrum experience of respect
! able house servant he has become the
very spirit of reckless adventure-he
has journeyed to New York, to TreA-
ton, TO Philadelphia, to"
might riding with Hessian for
| ayers" ! broke in, disguised In
Rangers uniform"
We'll, yes" she dimpled quietly
"even that"
waited for something more. SOM
| explanation Of what all this concealed
you trust me with SO much" ven-
tured when she continued silent. ~
would seem as IL you might tell m8
even MORE.
IT cannot perceive whereby any
further confession would serve you
Yet | have not refused to answer any
question surely. 1t is hardly safe fol
us to remain here so long. and yet il
there be something you wish to ask
"You could scarcely expect me to
be entirely without curiosity. | have
been captured on the highway. brought
here prisoner, and held under gua14
all night l supposed myself in Brit
ish hands, only to discover that you
have again interviewed to save me.
Surely there must be key to all this
mystery. If. as | suspect, 1t was your
brother, Eric, who led the attack on
me, having mistaken me for another,
then what was his purpose? And what
has become Of Eric?"
She wrinkled her brows In perplex-
ity. her hands neryously clasplng the
back of chair.
at Is like being crossexarined by az
lawyer. Perhaps IL the secret was all
my own l might freely conflde 1t to
you. do not promise would, but
might. AS 1t is, | do not yet know
| you quite we'll enough. believe YOU
to be Major Lawrence, that you ara
all you represent yourself, but | am
pledged to silence, and the lives o.
others depend upon my keeping faith
You cannot urge me to do what deem
wrong?"
'No; shall always believe in you
'T thank you for that" and her
hand was extended frankly; Il would
reveal one Of the mysteries of Lass
| night IL was not fearful 1t might cost
me your respect"
"How could that be possble?"
Because 1t might appear to you that
had been unwomanly. My own con-
; science is clear, for my ptS2nnssSS,-exon-
crates me. but this you might fail to-
understand unless | made fuller eX
PLANTATION than is now possible. | have
a duty which cannot be betrayed.
| gazed into her eyes, her hand still
In mine, conscious that her cheeks
; were flushing. 1t was impossible for
me to conceive Of her performing an
unwomaniy action.
81 prefer to ask nothing" | said
frankly, although | should never mis-