The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-11-28

between you two to maks me suspect
your identity"
you supposed me to be the lieuten.
anti"
the same, at least sufficiently similar
to deceive me, and he never addressed
| you In way to arouse my suspicious.
Is your brother named Eric?"
YES: told you. did ! not. that We
are twins? The physical resemblance
between us Is very strong; no doubt
our voices sound alike also, or would
10 a comparative stranger. viii you
| not be seated. Major? We shall not
have long TO converse, and there Is
much to be said before those down
! stairs complete their rather frugal
meal Peter has promised to delay
serving as much as possible. but. as
our lnrder is not extensive. at best II
will not be long. You overheard Cap
tain Grants threat?"
TO search the house for your broth.
| er-yes"
HE will carry 1t out" quietly. her
| eyes, no longer smiling, on my face.
There has never been friendship be
| tween those two, and OF late my own
| relations with Captain Grant have be
! como very unpleasant. think he is
! almost glad Of an opportunity to thus
exercise some authority over me. He
| Is the kind OF man who must either
| rule or ruin. Convinced that Eric is
concealed here. no will search the
| house as much to spite me as for any
other reason. should only laugh at
him. but for your presence"
Then your brother is not here?"
Certainly not; Eric is in no danger
but. Major Lawrence. you are"
The onrnestncss with which she
spoke made my heart leap. Whatever
the girls political sentiments might
be, she was plainly DESTROYS OF serving
me. of once again exposing herself in
my defense. Yet her words, tho frank
expression Of her eyes, gave no sug-
gestion Of sentimcnt-she was but
friend an ally performing u woman's
part In the war game.
But fail to understand"
you mean ne? Oh well. you are
not the FIRST. and no doubt it 10 best
so. The less you understand, the bet.
ter we shall get along. Major; tho
only question being. will you obey my
orders"
Had | inclination otherwise fear
| 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 II
It proved SO should willingly trust
myself to your guidance. because OF
my faith in you"
THAT is much better" her eyes
laughing. yet as swiftly SOLDERING again.
But It Is foolish Of us to waste time
in such silly speeches. There is too
much waiting attention. Fortunately
this house Is not without its secrets.
for when built by my grandfather this
was the frontier"
But does not Grant know" asked
Goberly. Il understood he played here
MS boy and there is not much lad
fails TO learn"
lie is not without knowledge,
surely but here is something he never
discovered. | would never have trust.
cd him with the secret, and yet, as
short n time ne have known you. !
have no hcsiiancy. Isn't that frank
confo sgion. sir?"
"One | mean you shall never re-
grct'
Il am sure OF that yet shall not
bctray everything even to you. Please
face about with eyes 10 the front win
dow. Yes. so; now do not look around
until | tell you"
| heard her cross the room. her
skirts rustlIng slightly, and than the
faint clicking Of some delicately ad-
justod mechanism. As this sound
ceased, her voice again spoke.
Now, Major, the way is opened for
u safe retreat. Behold what has been
accomplished By the geni of the
lamp"
She was standing at one side OF
what had been the fireplace, but now
tho entire lower portion OF the great |
chimney had been swung aside, reveal |
ing an opening amply large enough for
the entrance OF man. took one |
step forward to where could perceive |
the beginning of narrow winding |
stair leading down into intense black.
ness. Then | glanced aside into her |
eyes.
"The concealment was perfect" /
In admiration. Where does
the staircase lead?"
ITO very comfortable room under.
ground. II had not been used for n
until this war began. Eric
and learned Of its existence by acct.
dent, willis rummagtug over some Of |