Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-07-06

10 plOOA Va 4cI (Ouu0G4CG.
you say the assassin is still here
IN this houseT i questioned Are
you sure?"
No. not sure, but have every
reason to believe so. One OF the serv-
ants caught a glimpse OF him. and 1
have seen that which has aroused my
own suspicious. l have not dreamed
this. but I actually believe there is
some presence in this house seeking
evil This house was built in time of
feud and In feud country. Judge
Dunn was then on the bench and had
made many dangerous enemies by his
decisions. He always was a man to
arouse animosity by his arbitrary
manner and abrupt speech. As a girl
i heard this house contained a hidden
room and secret passages so arranged
as to facilitate escape in time of peril
or attack. Calvert Dunn has confessed
know the secret 1t would be useless
to question the judge"
'"Where Is he now?"
Where you saw him last, occupy
ing his chair in the library. his body
perfectly helpless. his mind apparently
as active as ever. but more bitter than
DG1OLG DSGduSes Vi puyS lCdi WGdk-
ness do not think he has slept for
two nights or that he has uttered
word except to curse the servants who
brought him food"
1 had the full picture OF the situa-
don clearly before me now-the super
stitfous. unwilling darkies. knowing
just enough to be frightened at their
own shadows: the characterless and
4 rio Sr1fF q
headache and locked safely away with
in her own room; that vindictive old
man. seated helpless In bis chair. his
strange eyes glaring out across the
library table. and Jean Denslow left
alone In the big house to cope with
its mystery. the night shadows clos
ing in. InsinctiveIy l extended by
hand, and In the, sudden response of
comradeship she slipped her own into
my grasp.
IL believe / am actually afraid"
she confessed This is so different
from q real .danger-thiS-thiS haunted
feeling
do not recall what said. but
know I retained her hand in mine and
must have spoken words of encour-
agement. for when we emerged from
that dark hole of cellar into the mar
row hallway. already lighted by
hanging lamp, her eyes were smiling
and the clasp of her fingers had grown
firm
II shall want weapons. Miss Dens-
low" l said. as we stood looking up
and down the main hall. for whoever
this visitant may prove he will be of
flesh and blood and not impervious to
a bullet. You can trust me armed?'
''Oh. yes; l will get your own re-
volvers- They are left in the library"
She was back in a moment, and
snapped the belt about my waist. feel
ing renewed confidence as l found
both weapons still loaded.
Lamp in hand. I explored every
nook and corner. peering under furni-
ture and into closet recesses. until alb
solutely convinced that not even
rat could have escaped my scrutiny.
Having thus completed the lower floor.
not even forgetting to test the walls in
hope of thus locating the secret room.
/ was for following the same course
above. had not she begged me to de-
sist. her voice trembling. her face pa
thetic as she pleaded. Through the
partially opened door l caught Il
glimpse of the judge at the library Ia
BILE. his head bowed forward as If he
slept, but l did not venture to enter
the room.
Miss Denslow." said at last. stand
ing at the foot of the stairs. If ii is
true that any one Is hiding in the
house. as you suspect. the fellow must
be the murderer of Lieutenant Ma
varre. Naturally 1 wish to make that
man prisoner Are you willing to sit
here in the dark, thus helping me TO
draw him Unto the trapY'
Her eyes lifted to mine In a single
searching glance
YES" she said quietly, st know 1
am nervous. strangely so. yet am not
afraid"
l blew out the light placed two
chairs back in the denser shadow I'M
derneath the circular staircase and
made her sit down in the one nearest
the wall. Her hand was cold. tremb-
ling as I touched it. and l whispered
a few words of courage into her ear.
but she made no effort to respond
Perhaps we had been sitting thus for
ten minutes. In . stiffness SO profound
as to be painful. when l felt the girls
and press my sleeve. The movement.
unconsciously made perhaps. was elo-
quent of her distress of mind. and.
obeying the first impulse. clasped her
fingers within my OWL We sat thus
in the dark. like two lovers, listening
tntently. neither venturfng to speak
Was she right or wrong in her sus-
picion? Had overstrained nerves caus-