Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-07-11
~Neither Of you came into the

/ rOomY'
mo: not so as to approach tho table.
Miss Denslow thought the sight OF me
would arouse his anger"
II came In after the revolver belt"
she said. her voice trembling, hut
/ Lieutenant King did not even enter
the ROOM"
Donald's form Strengthened, his voice
gruffer than l remembered hearing 1t
| before.
But you were asleep. Jean. when I
came down the stairs. Lieutenant
King had left his chair and was in the
front OF the hall"
took deep breath, realizing afresh
the peril of my position. The girl
spoke pleadingly, brokenly.
"But Lieutenant King could not have
done this. He is not q murderer, but
soldier"
| Donald stood between US, erect, mo-
! donless
II do not know what to think, JEAN"
| he said with grave delibera teness,
II only know every circumstance
points to this man and leaves no doubt
as to my own duty. Ii Lieutenant
King can clear himself l will be first
to take his hand" His fingers drop
ped to the butt of his revolver. You
are my prisoner. Unclasp your belt"
The girl came between US, her face
uplifted, her eyes shining.
Lieutenant King is my prisoner, not
yours!" she, cried indignantly. 'He
gave me his parole, and / returned to
him his revolvers.
She held out her hands, and, scarce
~ realizing what I did, tmpelled to
action by the expression of her face,
/ unclasped the belt and extended it
to her.
Miss Denslow is right" I said
quietly. Il am her prisoner on pa
role, and keep my pledge to herr
Great as the sacrifice was, the quick
flash of her eyes repaid me fully, and
looked beyond her shoulder into
Colonel Donald's stern set face.
Il am helpless to resist, for you are
armed and l am not" l said firmly.
but appeal to you as soldier to
deal fairly with me. pledge you my
word not to attempt an escape. but
wish the privilege of searching the
house for evidence to clear me OF this
charge of murder. You are an honor
able man. Give me an opportunity to
prove that am one ALSO"
He scarcely hesitated.
"And if you fail you will accom-
pany me to the Confederate lines with
out resistance?"
Eyes. Whether 1 succeed or fail,
am prisoner OF war. I understand
that clearly. But l am not MUIR
derer.'
1t is hard to say what influence
worked with me, but the stern lines
of Donald's face relaxed, his hand
falling to his side.
Lieutenant King" he acknowledged
quietly, lit seems impossible for me
not to believe you. l have always
felt l was a judge Of men, and am
going to trust you now. Perhaps 1t
is for your sake, and perhaps it Is be-
cause feel Jean wishes me to-
Il do wish it," she interposed softly.
II am informed" l began finally,
that this house contains a hidden
room and secret passage leading
without"
The colonel's glance dropped to the
face of the girl.
"You little traitressl"
"Don't say that the depths Of the
gray blue eyes dark with 1ndigna-
ton. 81 told him that because trust
ed him and believed he ought to know
what suspected"
"But who told your
calvert Dunn. But that was all he
told-merely that such things existed"
Even that was enough to ruin their
usefulness when repeated to Yankee.
Miss Denslow gave me no informa-
ton of value" fastened to explain.
'The mere knowledge that such
place exists means nothing SO long as
am unable to trace it. l have asked
her nothing, but do ask you-is there
such hidden entry, such a secret
room, and may search them?"
The man and the soldier seemed
warning In his mind before he could
reply, but tho man won.
Yes, they exist; built with the
and with no thought OF war. But they
can be Of no service to you, as came
that way entering the house and met
no one. How could any one who is
an enemy to the occupants Of this
house have discovered the passage?"
That do not know, but some one
certainly has been here tonight. Who
I ever it was. he came by way Of none
of the ordinary entrances. You must
i acknowledge that. II I am not the
i guilty man, and swear In the pres
/ ence Of God am not. then the assas-
: sin must have come by the way Of the
+ secret passage. He may have found
{ it by accident, but it has served his
B purpose, and a search Of 1t might give
us his trail I plead with you for this
( opportunity to vindicate myself"
What he saw in the countenance Of
the girl as his eyes fell from mine to
her face / could not tell, but his ex-