The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-09-27

sure. her face frightened by a smile.
Now let us remember rather the
danger, the necessity OF concealment,
and not delay too long. Wait a mo-
ment, major: is it true you absolutely
trust me?"
ut certainly is
Il am going to put that to the test.
You have papers you desire TO give
at once into the hands OF General
Washington. You may be detained
here some time, but | have with me
an Indian who could take them across
the Delaware tonight. 1t is not the
first time he has made that journey,
VIII you conhde them to me?"
Our eyes were looking directly into
each other. | may have 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 | took them from an inner peck
ct, and gave them to her. The rec
lips smiled, the len S.na frightening.
"Tonepuh shall leave Tithin the
hour" she promises, thrusting the
small packet into the bosom Of her
dress, Now step within. major. and |
will close the door"
| did as she requested, heariag 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, began to slowly feel my
way down the circular staircase. There
was nothing dangerous about the pas
sage, but with only the bare tone wall
to touch with the hand | was obliged
to grope along blindly. The huge
chimney had evidently been erected
merely for concealment, and | mar
| veled at the ingenuity of its construc.
ton. | failed to count the steps, but
! went around and around 80 many
times, pressed against the smooth
wall, that ! knew ! must be well 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 a rough table,
the surface Of which l explored, dis
covering thereon a candlestiCk with
flint and steel beside II. With relief
| struck q spark. and a yellow fame
revealed my surroundings.
What | saw was a low room some
fifteen feet square, the walls and roof
apparently Of stone securely mortared.
the only exit the narrow circular
stairs. The floor was Of earth. Op-
posite me was a bunk slightly elevat-
ed, containing a blanket or two, and q
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 ear by was al earthen
crock, and two candles, and beneath
this, on the floor, was a sawed-off gun
and two pistols, with a 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 ! went over and
picked up the pistols; the lock Of n
was broken, but the other seemed
seryiceable, and, after swapping the
flint, | loaded the weapon, and slipped
it into my pocket. Somehow its pos.
session yielded me a new measure Of
courage, although | had no reason to
suppose I would be called upon to use
the ancient relic,
There was little to examine, but
tramped about %neryously, tapping the
walls, and convincing myself of their
/ solidity, and. finally, tired by this use.
less exercise, seated myself In tho
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 COM
fronting me.
Heaven alone knows how long I re-
manned there motionless, my mind
elsewhere, drifting idly backward I'd
the old home, reviewing the years Of
war that had transformed me from
boy to mar Is though by some magic
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)