The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-07-06
Was there any otner secret passage
by which she could have Disappeared

light. Fearful Of some accident I
paused long enough to wedge heavy
piece Of furniture in the opening, and
then, shading the bit Of candle, began
cropping my way down. had reached
the lower floor before the Pickering
yellow rays revealed any evidence of
her presence. Then saw a girl lying
head down upon the table. My hand
touched her arm before she moved.
but then she faced me, wild-eyed, the
pistol cleaning in the candle-light.
claire! Claire!s exclaimed.
startled at her sudden movement.
Surely you know me-"
For the instant she did not. her
eyes full Of terror.
NO! mol" she cried hysterically.
"Oh, 1t cannot be! 1t is a dreami You
-you-tell me who you are?"
caught her hand. the pistol fall
Ing to the floor, and placed the candle
stick upon tho table.
1T Is no dream, dear. I am Allen
Lawrence. and l have come for you.
know I look disreputable enough. but
there has been fghting-surely you
know me now"
She caught her breath quickly.
clinging to mo with both hands-her
eyes softening as she studied my face.
Alienation Lawrence!" she re.
peated softly. ooh, l can scarcely be.
lieve it true. Let me feel of you. l.
I believe l was going insane-the
dark, the awful dark, and. and no way
out-no way out"
Eyes. yes. l understand" whis.
pered. drawing her to me. II was hid.
de- here once. remember. But 1t ia
over with now
"But-how did you find way to
me? II never thought until it was
all over that had shut myself in here
to die. was 80 frightened. Just
ran and hid. Oh, you cannot conceive
what had gone through"
She drew away from me, and again
hid her face on the table.
"Oh. but can. Claire" and I bent
over her. my hand fondling her hair.
II was there in the hall below. ready
even then to act in your defense. I
heard all that was said, saw all that
was DONE"
"You-you were there?" sobbing out
tho words. you saw me kill him?"
yes. and had you delayed another
instant l should have done it."
Then-then," she glanced up, tears
dimming her eyes, you do not blame
me? You do not think mo q wicked
wretch?"
Il think you brave. noble woman"
I burst forth. "How could l feel 9TH
erwise? Look up. little girl: want
to see your face. No, don't shrink
back from me. There is no cause I
know tho whole story without your
speaking word. You asked mo to
come back to help you. and came"
"Yes," she whispered, II know.
You have been so good"
Good! loved you, dear. From tho
moment lifted you out Of the way of
that mob In Philadelphia, have loved
you. did not understand much that
occurred, but have never doubted
you. Now realize the cause of your
masquerade and know you were justi-
fed. can bring you good news-nric
Is not a traitor. but was prisoner.
captured by Fagin. and held at Grants
story. but we got out Of him that there
was fight on here. and came over as
last as our horses would travell" His
eyes swept the hall. Five minutes
later would have been too late"
| But Farrell. the grill Do you
know anything about the girl7"
what girl? Do you mean Claire
Mortimer? Is she here?"
Yes. her father is lying helplessly
wounded up stairs. and she must be
with him. Eric is somewhere In the
hall. either dead or wounded. saw
him fall just az We retreated to the
stairs"
Farrell leaned over and called to
some one below.
mot yet. SIR" was the answer.
We'll. hunt for him. Now, we'll go
up and find Claire. Major, can you
climb the rest Of the stairs7 Help him.
Duval."
experienced no great difficulty, my
strength coming back rapidly. There
was a wounded Dragon leaning
against the wall. aud halfway down
the hall lay another body, face down.
Without doubt this was the guard Fa-
gin had stationed there. Duval paused
to help the wounded man, but Farrell
and moved on across the dead guard
to the open door beyond. Colonel
Mortimer. unable to move, was
propped up on his pillow. one hand
grasping pistol. With shaking arm
he levelled It at us.
who are youi Quick. nowi" he
quavered. I've shot one, and I'm good
Tor more"
you know me. Colonel" and Far.
rell stepped inside. Il am Bull Far
rell; this 10 Major Lawrence" He
looked at US with dull eyes. his hand
falling weakly.
'Farrell-Farrell-surely, the black
smith. What Lawrence? The-the OF.
deer Claire knows7"