The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-06-20
my LADY OF THE SOUTH
Continued from Page 6.

friends, are we not?'
III am hardly ready to promise
that. / feel kindly toward you, but |
do not know you, Lieutenant King,
and-and all my friends are on the
other side
"Oh. no they are not. Miss Denslow.
am your friend in spite of every
| difference between us. So long as
| live there will be one heart under a
blue uniform you may feel confidence
in. | do not even believe you are as
hard hearted as your words would in
dictate Shall ! be entirely forgotten
as soon as this episode is over? VIII
| you not retain some kindly memory
of me?''
II could not be Indifferent to the
claim of gratitude"
Nor can you refuse friendship
while show myself worthy. can
you?"
She remained silent. silence | did
not understand, yet | was unwilling
| to accept it as a negative.
You gave me your hand few mo-
/ meHlS ago lOu W GIG AiisshNNA'
| ed and nervous. 1t was a comfort
then for you to feel the nearness OF
one upon whom you relied for protec-
ton. Will you not give me the same
hand now in token Of friendship
1t seemed to me waited long
while. my own heart beating like trip
| hammer. as she sat there motionless
| in the dark. Then there was slight
rustic of her loose sleeve. as her hand
| slipped hesitatingly along the arm OF
my chair / held 1t for moment in
silence. not daring to utter the mad
words that came thronging to my lips.
81 thank you" said at last; your
friendship will mean much TO me"
81 do not know why am so foolish"
she confessed. as though the words es-
capped her control. Somehow you
make me do things. even against my
will. IL haven't liked Yankees. you
know. and it is pretty hard to learn to
like even one Yankee.
But you are going to try
| could hear the breath between her
half opened lips.
81 don't think shall have to try
very hard Somehow you do not
seem like Yankee at all"
Good. | am not going TO seem like
one-at least not in the sense you
mean"
If could have read the expression
in her eyes | might have dared more.
but in that darkness, her words barely
audible from the cautious whisper in
which we conversed, my courage fail
ed. Already | had gained much, more
even than could justly have expected.
She had trusted herself TO me. and
were to take unfair advantage OF the
situation it might cost me all had
already gained of her good will.
| tiptoed forward and peered into the
library. Judge Dunn sat just as be-
fore. his posture unchanged. his head
bent forward upon the table. Sud
denly my ears caught the creak OF a
board sounding from the top of the
stairs. | was not even certain ] actual
~ heard it. yet l stepped aside into
the deeper shadow of the coat rack,
every nerve a-tingle, my hand reach
ing for the revolver at my belt.
| could see nothing, the circular
staircase a mere dark blur barely dis
tinguishable. yet faint as the sounds
were, | was convinced some one was
stealthily descending step by step, feel
ing a way cautiously through the
gloom. Who could it be? What pur-
pose could account for such pres
ence? | felt no doubt that this was
the murderer, seeking to complete his
work of blood. but how could | meet
him? With a shot. ending his career
with one pressure of my finger against
the trigger. or should | attempt tax
ing him alive. thus the more thorough
" vindicating myself of all suspicion?
Had | been older undoubtedly ]
would have chosen the safer method.
but as it was | felt confidence in my
strength and in the advantage of sur
prise and was urged into recklessness
by a desire to prove before Jean Dens-
low the extent of my courage. Thrust
ing the half drawn revolver back into
the belt. | crept forward to the FOOT
of the stairs, crouching down within
the shadow of the parlor doorway
Step by step the intruder came down
toward me- yet he was almost within
reach of my arm before | could make
out even the dim srludge of his form.
a shapeless shadow. but looking bury
enough. A step more and could see
a hand grasping the banister and that
a circular cloak hung dangling over MS
shoulders. With teeth set. crouching
for spring at his throat. waited
until he planted both feet ON the floor.
his head turned away. peering into the
blackness of the rear hallway Inc
next instant | bad him, my left arm
under his chin. my right hand bind
ing his cloak about him 50 tightly he
could not lift an arm.
We went down together. Crashing
against the lower stair, but ! fell on
top. confident of victory my knee
crushing his chest. my hand grasping |
his throat. A moment thought him
unconscious. stunned by the hard fall;
+bon 7 lpary I was in the grasp OF q /