The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-11-28
LAWRENCE. have confessed ana thus

we need discuss the mater NO
longer"
She sprang to the door, and glanced
out into the hall. stepping back once
more as Peter appeared. His eyes
swept tho room in silent observation.
Captain Grant and the two officers
with Elm 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 Braciously. and disap-
peared.
You have not given me your par
DON" | implored as our eyes again
met.
There IL nothing to pardon TO my
knowledge. respect you because OF
your sense OF propriety. but we cannot
talk longer now. You must enter the
passage at once"
|
Gladly" and felt fits firm pros
sure, her face frightened by q smile.
Now let US remember rather the
danger. the necessity OF concealment,
and not delay too long. Wait o mo-
ment, major; 10 1t true you absolutely
trust met"
1T 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 I have with me
an Indian who could take them across
the Delaware tonight. II is not the
first time he has made that journey.
VIII you confde them to mel"
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
word ! took them from an inner pocks
ct, and gave them to her. The red
lips smiled, the blue eyes Frightening.
"Tonepah shall leave within the
hour" she promised. thrustlng the
small packet into the bosom OF her
dress. Now step within, major. and
will close the door,"
did as sho requested, hearing tho
click OF the lock behind mo, and be.
Ing ms 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 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 g-ope along blindly. The huge
chimney had evidently been erected
merely for concealment, and mar.
veled at the ingenuity of its construc.
ton. ! failed to count the steps, but
went around and around 30 many
times, pressed against the smooth
wall, that knew must be well below
tho basement Of tho house before |
finally stood at the bottom. | CROPPED
forward In the intense darkness. feel.
ing with outstretched hands. The first
object encountered was rough table,
the surface OF which | explored, dis.
covering thereon a candlestick with
flint and steel beside 1t. With relief
I struck n spark, and yellow flame
revealed my surroundings.
What saw was low room some
fifteen feet square. the walls and roof
apparently Of stone securely mortared.
the only exit the narrow circular
stairs. The floor was OF earth. OPP
posite me was bunk slightly elevut-
ed, containing blanket or two, and a
fairly comfortable chair built from
barrel. An old coat and hat hung
from a nail at tho head OF tho bunk.
On a shelf near by was an earthen
crock, and two candles. and beneath
this, on the floor, was a sawed.off gun
and two pistols. with a small supply
OF powder and balls, tho 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
servlceable. and. after swapping the
flint loaded the weapon, and slipped
1t into my pocket. Somehow Its pos,
session yielded mo n new measure OF
courage, although had no reason to
suppose would be called upon to use
the ancient relic.
There wps little to examine, but
tramped about nervously. tapping the
walls. and convincing myself of their
and, finally, tired by this use.
less exercise, seated myself In he
chair. It was like being buried IN a
tomb, 10. sound reaching my
strained ears, but at Inst the spirit Of
depression vanished. and MY mind be.
gan to grapyle with the problems cor.
fronting ne.
Heaven alone knows how long 70.
maincd therc mptlonlens. my mind
elsewhere. drifting idly backward to
the old homo. reviewing the years Of
war that had transformed me from
HOO ~ man ma tbnnub he oon,a y,,anio