Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-06-20

"You Have Not suspectedT" She
Asked. "You DID Not Know This
Was My Homer"
all night in familiarity. He is some
near relative of yours-this Eric?"
"Oh, you have overheard? You
know the name through hearing Cap
tain Grant speak?"
Eyes; I could not very well help do
ing so. Peter had stationed me in the
library, but there was nothing said
between you two to make me suspect
your identity"
you supposed me to be the lieuten-
anti"
"Why should not? The voice was
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?"
Eyes; 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
to 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 larder is not extensive, at best it
will not be long. You overheard Cap
tain Grants threat?"
ITO search the house for your broth
er-yes."
Gle will carry it 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-
come very unpleasant. / think he is
almost glad OF an opportunity to thus
exercise some authority over me. He
is the kind Of a man who must either
rule or ruin. Convinced that Eric is
concealed here, he viii search the
house as much to, spite me Gx
! 0rircr 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 earnestness with which she
spoke made my hesrt leap. Whatever
the girls political sentiments might
be, she was plainly desirous of serving
me, Of once again Exposing herself il
my defense. Yet her words, tho franz
expression OF her eyes, gave no sug
gestion of sentiment-she was but
friend, an ally, performing woman'i
part in the war game.
"But 6fail TO understand"
"You mean me? Oh, well, you ar,
not the first; and no doubt it is bes
SO. The less you understand, the bet
ter we shall get along, Major; tn,
only question being, will you obey m!
orders?"
Had I inclination otherwise l fea
I should find 1t impossible"
Ihardly know whether that remarl
be complimentary or not. You nigh
mean that no other course was lef
you"
(Which ! suspect is true, although
1t proved so | should willingly trus
myself to your guidance, because o
my faith in you"
"That is much better" her eye
laughing, yet as swiftly SOLDERING again
But it is foolish of us to waste tim
in such silly speeches. There is to-
much waiting attention. Fortunatel
this house is not without its secrets
for when built by my grandfather thi
was the frontieR"
"But does not Grant lmowp asle
soberly. 81 understood he played her
as a boy, and there is not much la
) fails to learn"
"He is not without knowledg,
surely, but here is something he neve
discovered. / would never have trus
: ed him with the secret, and yet, a
short time as I have known you,
have no hesitancy, Isn't that fran
confession. STRIP
zone mean you shall never r,
gret"
, 81 am sure Of that; yet l shall nc
betray everything even to you. Pleas
, face about with eyes to the front wiz
, dow, Yes, so; now do not look aroun
3 until tell you"
+. ] heard her cross the room, he
. skirts rustling slightly, and then tn
faint clicking of some delioately az
J iusted mechanism. AS this SCUM
ceased. her voice again spoke.
4 ''Now, Major, the way is opened 70
a safe retreat. Behold what has bee
= accomplished by the genil of tn
. lamp"
! She was standing at one side q
3 what had been the fireplace, but no'
} the entire lower portion of the grea
chimney had been swung aside, revea
ing an opening amply large enough fo
the entrance Of a man. took on
. step forward to where l could pereeiy
tho beginning of narrow windin
, stair leading down into intense blQcl
. ness. Then glanced aside into he
eyes.
!, "The oonoealment was perfect"
! exclaimed in admiration. Whore doc
= The staircase lcGdRr
r "ro q very comfortable room mde
r ground It had not been used for
4 generation wtiisthis wer began. Err
bird l5eTed OF its existence by acc
ut While ruam5eipg over some ,