The state herald., 1912-12-27


longer"
She sprang to the door, and glanced
out into the hall, stepping back once
more as Peter appeared. His eyes
swept the room in silent observation,
Captain Grant and the two officers
with him have concluded their meal,
Mistress Claire" he announced calm
ly, "and one of them has gone for
file of soldiers to begin the search OF
the house"
Very well. Peter; go back and as
sist them. l will see to the safe con-
cealment of Major Lawrence"
He bowed graciously. and disap-
peared.
you have not given me your par
don." implored as our eyes again
met
There is nothing to pardon to my
knowledge l respect you because of
your sense of propriety, but we cannot
talk longer now. You must enter the
passage at once"
"You will give me your hand flrst?"
Gladly" and | felt its firm pres
sure, her face frightened by smile
Now let us remember rather the
danger, the necessity of concealment.
and not delay too long Wait n mo-
ment, major; is It true you absolutely
trust me?"
ut certainly Is"
81 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 conide 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 pock-
ct. and gave them to her. The red
lips smiled. the blue eyes Frightening.
"Tonepah shall leave within the
hour" she promised thrusting the
small packet into the bosom Of her
dress Now step within. major, and
will close the door"
did as she requested, hearing 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 mo
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 stone wall
10 touch with the hand was obliged
TO Erope along bliudly. The huge
chimney had evidently been erected
merely for ooncCalmCut. and mar
veled at the ingenuity OF iis construc-
ton. failed 10 count the stops. but
went around and around so many
times. pressed against the smooth
wall. that know must be woll below
the basement OF the house before I
finally stood at the bottom. ! CROPPED
forward in the Intense darkness. feel.
ing with outstretchod hands. The lrst
object encountered was rough table.
the surface Of which | explored, dis
covering thereon a candlcstick with
flint and steel beside II. With relief
struck spark. and a yellow fame
revealed my surroundings.
What I saw was low room some
| =. Ia M l. ~
apparently OF stone securely mortnrod.
the only exit the narrow circular
stairs. The floor was OF earth. op-
posite me was n bunk slightly eleVat.
ed, containing a blanket or two. and a
fairly comfortable chair built from a
barrel An old coat and hat hung
from a nail Rt the head OF the bunk,
on shelf near by was an earthen
crock. and two candles, and beneath
this. on the floor. was n sawod.oiI gun
and two pistols. with a small supply
OF powder and balls. the former
wrapped In an oiled cloth II was in
truth n gloomy. desolHte hole. al'
though dry enough For wan, Of some.
thing better 10 do ! went over and
picked up the pistols: tho lock Of ono
was broken, but the other seemed
fcryiccablc, and. after swapping tho
nlut. loaded The weapon, and slipped
Il into my pocket, Somehow In pos.
session yielded mo new measure Of
coumrc. although had no reason 10
suppose I would bc called upon to uuo
the ancient relic
There wuB little 10 examine, but I
trnmpcd about neryously. tapping tho
walls. and convincing myself OF their
solldlty. and, finally. Tired by this use.
less exercise, seated myself IN tho
chair II was like being buried IN n
tomb. not sound reaching my
strained cnrr. but at last the Hplri of
depression vanished, and my mind he,
gan 10 rrnrrio with the problems COZ.
fronting mo.
Heaven alone knows how long ! 70.
mnlncd there mououlgas, my mind
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