Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-07-13
..Neither OF You came into the


Miss Denslow thought the sight of me
would arouse his anger"
Il came in after the revolver belt"
she said her voice trembling, but
Lieutenant King did not even enter
the ROOM
Donaid's form Strengthened. his voice
gruffer than l remembered hearing it
before.
Put you were asleep. jean when I
came down the stairs Lieutenant
King had left his chair and was in the
trout of the hail."
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 murderer, but
a soIdier''f
Donald stood between US. erect. mo-
iioniess-
i do not know what to think. Jean"
he said with a grave deliberateness.
Il only know every circumstance
points to this man and leaves no doubt
as TO my ow2 duty. If Lieutenant
King can clear himself I will be first
TO take his hand His fingers drop
ped to the butt of his revolver. You
The girl came between US. her face
uplifted. her eyes shining.
Lieutenant King is my prisoner. M
yoursr' she cried Indignantly. "He
gave me his parole, and L returned to
him his revolyers-
She held out her hands. and. scarce
~ realizing what did. impelled to
action by the expression of her face.
L unclasped the belt and extended it
to her.
Miss Denslow IS right" 1 said
quietly. Il am her prisoner on pa
role. and 1 keep my pledge to her.
Great as the sacrifice was. the quick
flash of her eyes repaid me fully. and
l looked beyond her shoulder into
Colonel Donald's stern set face.
Il am helpless to resist. for you are
armed and | am not | said firmly.
but | appeal to you as n soldier TO
deal fairly with me. l pledge you my
word not to attempt an escape. but 1
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 l am one Also"
He scarcely hesitated-
And if you fail you will accom-
pany me to the Confederate lines with
out resistance:''
Yes Whether 1 succeed or fail. 1
am prisoner of war. L understand
that clearly. But L am not a 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 I am
going to trust you now. Perhaps it
is for your sake. and perhaps it is be-
cause l feel Jean wishes me to-
Il do wish it," she interposed softly.
II am informed" | began finally,
that this house contains a hidden
without
face of the girl.
You little traftress.'
Don't say that" the depths of the
gray blue eyes dark with indigna-
ton. Il told him that because trust
ed him and believed he ought to know
what l suspected"
But who told youg'
Calvert Dunn But that was all he
told-merely that such things existed
Even that was enough to ruin their
usefulness when repeated to a Yankee.
Miss Denslow gave me no informa-
ton of value" I fastened to explain.
The mere knowledge that such a
place exists means nothing so long as
/ am unable to trace it | have asked
her nothing. but l do ask you-is there
such a hidden entry such a secret
room, and may L search them?''
The man and the soldier seemed
warning in his mind before he could
reply. but the man won
Yes. they exist: built with the
house. for protection against feudists,
and with no thought of war. But they
can be of no service to you. as l 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 Passenger
That l do not know. but some one
certainly has been here tonight. Who
ever it was. he came by way of none
of the ordinary entrances. You must
acknowledge that If l am not the
guilty man. and | swear in the pres
ence of God I 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
purpose. and Il search of it might give
US his trail. plead with you for this
opportunity to vindicate myself
What he saw in the countenance of