The Springfield herald., 1912-11-22

sure. her face frightened by smile.
Now let US remember rather the
danger. the necessity of concealment.
and not delay too long. Wait "a mo-
ment. major; is 1t true you absolutely
trust me?"
ut certainly is"
Il 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 confide them to me?"
Our eyes were looking directly into
each other. may have hesitatsd an
instant. confused by the unexpected
request, yet there was something in
| the expression of the girls face which
| swept doubt swiftly aside. Without .
word I 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 I
will close the door,"
l did as she requested. hearing the
click of the lock behind me. and be-
ing as instantly plunged into dark
ness. waited moment, my foot upon
the first narrow stair. listening. No
sound reached me from without, and.
with her animated face still before me
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
to touch with the hand was obliged
to grope along blindly. The huge
chimney had evidently been erected
merely for concealment, and mar
veled at the ingenuity of Its construc-
ton. l failed to count the steps. but
l went around and around so many
times, pressed against the smooth
wall. that knew l must be well below
the basement Of the house before I
finally stood at the bottom. groped
forward in the intense darkness. feel
ing with outstretched hands. The first
object encountered was rough table.
the surface of which I explored. dis
covering thereon a candlestick with
flint and steel beside it. With relief
I struck a spark, and yellow flame
revealed my surroundings.
What I saw was low room some
fifteen feet square. the walls and root
apparently Of stone securely mortared.
the only exit the narrow circular
~ nr-
posite me was bunk slightly elevat-
ed. containing a blanket or two. and e
fairly comfortable chair built from a
barrel. An old coat and hat hung
from a nail at the head Of the bunk.
On a shelf near by was an earthen
crock, and two candles. and beneath
this. on the floor. was sawed-of gun
and two pistols. with a small supply
OF powder and balls, the former
wrapped in an oiled cloth It was In
truth a gloomy. desolate hole. al
though dry enough. For want OF some.
thing better to do went over and
picked up the pistols: the lock Of one
was broken. but the other seemed
serviceable. and. after swapping the
flint. loaded the. weapon. and slipped
1t Into my pocket. Somehow its pos.
session yielded me a new measure of
courage. although had no reason to
suppose would be called upon to use
the ancient relic.
There was little to examine. but
tramped about nervously. tapping the
walls. and convincing myself of their
solidity, and. finally. tired by this use
less exercise, seated myself in the
chair. 1t was like being buried in Q
tomb. not sound reaching my
strained ears. but at last the spirit OF
depression vanished. and my mind be-
gan to grapple with the problems con
fronting me.
Heaven alone knows how long re-
mained there motionless. my mind
elsewhere. drifting Idly backward to
the old home. reviewing the years Of
war that had transformed me from
boy to man as though by some magic.
(To BE coNTINUED.)