Eastern Colorado times., 1912-12-13
CHAPTER xxxv.
A Confession Of Love.

tne mantel swung Slowly outward. re-
vealing the black hole beyond. !
glanced about helplessly. and sprang
to the door to call back Farrell He
was not in the upper hall. but as my
eyes swept its length / remembered q
half-burned candle in the chamber op-
posite. BY the time I returned with 1t
lighted. the mantel had turned on its
pivot. leaving the way clear. The mar
row stair was vacant. stretching down
into the black depths. listened, my
heart throbbing. but no sound came
from below. Could she be theref
Was there any other secret passage
by which she could have disappeared?
shuddered at memory Of what It
meant to be shut up in that dismal
hole. without the companionship Of
light Fearful of some accident ]
paused long enough to wedge heavy
piece Of furniture in the opening. and
then, shading the bit Of candle, began
cropping my way down. I had reached
the lower floor before the fickering
yellow rays revealed any evidence Of
her presence. Then saw 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!" exclaimed.
startled at her sudden movement.
Surely you know me-"
For the instant she did not, her
eyes full Of terror.
mo! mol" she cried Historically.
"Oh, 1t cannot be! 1t Is a dream! You
|-you-tell me who you are?"
| caught her hand, the pistol fall.
Ing to the floor. and placed the candle
stick upon the table.
1T Is no dream, dear. am Allen
Lawrence. and l have come for you
know look disreputable enough. but
there has been fghting-surely you
know me now"
She caught her breath quickly.
clinging to me with both hands-her
eyes softening as she studied my face.
"Allen-Allen Lawrence!" she re-
peated softly. ooh, can scarcely be-
lieve 1t true. Let me feel Of you. l.
believe l was going .insane-the
dark. the awful dark, and. and no way
out-no way out"
| ASSB JSop uAoeIStduu, "llb-
pered, drawing her to me- IT was hid
den here once. remember. But 1t is
over with now"
"But-how did you find a way to
me? IL never thought until it was
all over that had shut myself In here
to die. l was SO frightened. l 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 l 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.
heard all that was said, saw all that
was DONE"
"You-you were there" sobbing out
the words. you saw NE kill him?"
Eyes. and had you delayed another
instant should have done it."
'Then-then," she glanced up, tears
d!mming her eyes. you do not blame
me? You do not think me a wicked
wretch?"
II think you brave, n0b1e wuman;"
I burst forth. "How could feel 9TH
eTWlbS1 AOOh up ulll0 6lTlS ! want
to see your face. No, don't shrink
back from me. There is no cause. l
know the whole story without your
speaking a word. You asked me to
come back to help you. and l came"
"Yes." she whispered, II know
You have been so good"
Good! loved you. dear From the
moment lifted you out OF the way Of
that mob in Philadelphia, have loved
you did not understand much that
occurred, but I have never doubted
you. Now realize the cause Of your
masquerade and know you were justi-
fed. l can bring you good news-Eric
is not traitor. but was prisoner,
captured by Fagin. and held at Grants
request. We found him bound and
under guard out yonder. as we ap.
preached the house."
"And he Is here now?"
Eyes: he was hurt In the fight, and
is still unconscious, but will live"
His reputation"
els safe. Washington believes he
brought him the news of Clinton's
route Of march. and will never know
otherwise"
She arose to her feet. standing
straight and slender before me. tle
Pickering light of the candle on Ser
face.
Major Lawrence" she began, II
wish to get out OF here-it seems like