Eastern Colorado times., 1912-09-20


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 hint and steel.
and lantern with ample supply Of
candles. Peter will bring you food. II
you need remain there for long!"
Peter! Then he IL in the sceret3"
Peter is in all secrets" she CON
fessed. From him nothing IL hid. at
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 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 silent mystery"
IAN old servant"
"Yes. 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 BET"
My mind reverted to that express
sionless face without wrinkle in 1t,
to that totally bald head. and my an
swer was the merest guess.
"oh. possibly fifty"
II 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"
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-he
has journeyed to New York, to Tren
ton, to Philadelphia. to-"
Might riding with Efessian for
agers." I broke IN, "disguised In
Rangers uniform"
well. yes" she dimpled quietly.
"even that"
waited for something more. some
explanation of what all this concealed.
you trust me With SO much" ven
tured, when she continued silent. "it
would seem as II you might ,ell me
even more"
II cannot perceive whereby any
further confession would serve you
Yet have not refused to answer any
question surely. 1t Is hardly safe for
us to remain here SO long. and yet II
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 a prisoner. and held under guard
all night. l supposed myself in Brit
ish hands, only to discover that you
have again intervened to save me
Surely there must be a key to all this
mystery. II, as suspect. it 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 nervously clasping the
back of chair.
1T is like being cross-examined by
lawyer. Perhaps If the secret was all
my own l might freely confide 1t to
you. do not promise 1 would. but
might AS 1t Is, do not yet know
you quite we'll enough believe you
to be Major Lawrence. that you are
all you represent yourself. but I am
| pledged to silence, and the lives of
others depend upon my keeping faith.
You cannot urge me to do what l deem
/ wrong?"
mo; l shall always believe in you"
Il thank you for that" and her
hand was extended frankly: Il would
reveal one Of the mysteries of last
night II was not fearful it might cost
me your respect"
"How could that be possible?"
Because 1t might appear to you that
had been unwomaniy. My own con.
science Is clear, for my purpose exon
crates me, but this you might fail to
understand unless l made fuller ex.
PLANTATION than is now possible. ( have
| a duty which cannot be betrayed"
l 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
unwomanly action.
II prefer to ask nothing" l said
| frankly, "aithough should never mis-.