The Irish standard., 1912-05-25

faint clicking Of some delicately ad.
justed mechanism. AS this sound
ceased, her voice again spoke.
- Nov, Major, the way Is opened for
q safe retreat. Behold what has been
accomplished by the genii of the
lamp"
She was standing at one side Of
what had been the fireplace, but now
the entire lower portion of the great
chimney had been swung aside, reveal,
ing an opening amply large enough for
the entrance of a man. took one
step forward tc 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" ]
exclaimed in admiration. Where does
the staircase lead7"
To very comfortable room under
ground. 1t had not been used for q
generation until this war began. Eric
and learned Of Its existence by acct.
dent, while rummaging over some oil
our grandfather's old papers. I 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 a sword. But since
then Eric has been compelled to hide
there twice to escape capture. and w
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, Il
you need remain there for long!"
"Peter! Then he Is in the secret p
"Peter is in all secrets" she CON
fessed. from him nothing is hid. al
least so far as may concern the Morti
mer family. You have yet to learn the
deep subtlety Of Peter, Major Law
renee. He sees all things, retains all
things, and reveals nothing"
| "A discovery already made"
mo, barely glimpsed; no short &C
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 silent mystery"
IAN old SERVANT"
eyes, born to the position, his father
serving before him. There is no doubt
In my mind but what he knew of this
! secret passage before Eric and were
born. Not that he has ever confessed
as much, yet am convinced our dis
covery OF 1t brought no surprise to
Peter. What do you suppose his age
to be?"
| My mind reverted to that express
sionless face without wrinkle in it
to that totally bald head, and my an
swer was the merest guess.
"Oh, possibly fifty"
Il told you you were far from know
ing Peter" she laughed. "He is seven
ty-two, and, would you believe 1t, unit
this war came, was never ten miles
from this spot"
"And since" recalling the events oil
the night before.
HE has made 1t his 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-be
has journeyed to New York, to Tren
ton. to Philadelphia. to"
might riding with Hessian for
agers," l broke in, disguised In 6
Rangers uniform"
"Well, yes" she dimpled quietly
eeven that"
waited for something more. some
explanation Of what all this concealed
"You trust me with SO much," ven
tured, when she continued silent, IL
would seem as II you might tell ms
even more"
I II cannot perceive whereby an.
further confession would serve you
Yet have not refused to answer an,
question surely. 1t is hardly safe fo
us to remain here so long, and yet
there be something you wish to ask
"You could scarcely expect me t.
be entirely without curiosity. hav.
been captured on the highway, brough
here prisoner, and held under guart
all night. l supposed myself in Brit
ish hands, only to discover that 20,
have again interviewed to save me
Surely there must be key to all Thu
mystery. If. as suspect, 1t was you
brother, Eric, who led the attack OF
me. having mistaken me for another
then what was his purpose? And wha
has become Of Eric?"
She wrinkled her brows in perplex
ity, her hands nervously clasping tn,
back of chair.
ut is like being crossexamined by
lawyer. Perhaps If the secret was al
my own l might freely conflde it Il
you. do not promise I would, but
might. As 1t Is, do not yet know
you quite we'll enough. I believe 20,
to be Major Lawrence. that you ar
all you represent yourself, but l an
pledged to silence, and the lives o
others depend upon my keeping faith
You cannot urge me to do what I deem