Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-06-29


but her face went instantly white. and
startled surprise
therein my room?"
rs this your room?"
Yes Why did you go thereF'
Merely because it was the first
door / found unlocked
But it was not unlocked See. I
have the key here in my pocket
Yet you must have been mistaken.
for the door was certainly unlocked
when I came. even standing very
slightly ajar.''
From the expression of her face
doubted If she believed me. / felt
obliged to continue speaking
81 was endeavoring to escape. but
now have decided otherwise and ask
you to aid me. / feel that you SYM
pathize with me, that you still have
faith in my statements. A few mo-
ments ago l overheard you attempt
my defense In the library
Il do not think 1 defended you"
the color coming back into her cheeks.
What is it you do ask"
THAT you will go with me now d.
rectly to those gathered in the library.
i want to tell them my story and let
them judge as to its truth. We have
not known each other long. and 1 am
a Yankee, your war enemy. yet L sin
cerely desire your good opinion
cannot run away. leaving you to be-
heve me coward or worse"
IL do not quite understand she
admitted at last. almost reluctantly.
You must not do this believing that
l can help you or-or that L am even
inclined to do so. 1t was my trick
which imprisoned you"
THAT has left no sting. Miss Dens-
low" 1 returned. THAT you outwit-
ted me was natural enough. and
hold no malice
My mind was full of strange con-
f1ict as l followed her to the lower
ball. Circumstances pointed directly
at me as the murderer of that man
above. and 1 realized how exceedingly
weak was my defense. Yet this vol
untary surrender would surely have
weight. even upon those prejudiceo
minds. and L had faith-strong abid-
ing faith-that Jean Denslow would
believe the truth of my statement.
Somehow just then to retain the con-
fdence of this girl meant infinitely
more to me than all the rest. Step
ping softly within the library and
drawing slightly to one side SO as to
reveal me standing erect in the door
way, she announced clearly:
Lieutenant King.
caught it all in one swift glance
the book lined walls. the glass front
of the cases rejecting back the glow
of the clustered lights suspended from
the ceiling; the heavy mahogany CEN
Ter table; wide sofa. with man and
4 woman seated upon 1t. both with
dark eyes and hair and strongly re-
seHabling each other. the man wearing.
a Confederate uniform. the woman at
tired in some clinging brown material:
behind the table. sunk low down with
in his cushioned chair. his deep sunken
eyes staring across at me as if he saw
a vision. was Judge Dunn. while to his
right another man-big. burly, his hair
closely cropped and iron gray-leaned
forward as if to spring. Even as the
ready weapon flashed deadly in the
light spoke. my hands held up
1 am not here as an enemy. gentle
men. If | were l could have easily
shot first from the hall. 1 merely wish
to be heard. and as evidence of good
faith 1 will deposit my weapons on the
table"
None among them uttered a word.
although the judge was suffering as
if endeavoring to gain control of his
language.
mo. gentlemen" l said. 'I have
come to you voluntarily to make a
statement. In one sense am your
prisoner. yet. had | chosen TO do so. I
could have been well out OF your hands
by now. l am Federal officer. de-
tailed upon the staff of General Rose
Grams and temporarily in command of
scouts But n short time ago ] was
ordered to take two men and examine
this neighborhood for the purpose of
discovering. if possible. the rendezvous
of a guerrilla leader known to US as
Big Jem Donald" l gaZed directly
into the eyes of the giant. who was
now leaning back in his chair Are
you the man:'
You may assume so for sake Of ar
g-!ment. Go on"
Understanding that Judge Dunn
had some connection with this band
of raiders. ! left my men asleep this
morning and ventured here alone. hop
ing to discover opportunity for inyeSti-
CATION. In the shadow of the grape
treIlis I unexpectedly encountered
young lady. who offered to permit my
searching the house While prosec:lt-
ing that search I was suddenly locked
into Storeroom and made prisoner
The deep voice or Donald interrupt
ed with question