The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-10
MY LADY OF DOUBT.
Continued from Page 10.


crumb, toying with It is desperation,
when a voice spoke apparently from
the head OF the stair. The Ranger
turned his head to answer, and at the
instant paper pellet was crushed into
my hand. Instinctively my fingers
closed over It. and as the guard turned
back again, grufdy ordering us to
hurry up, Peter was at the opposite
side Of the table gathering up the
dishes. his bald head shining brilliant
ly, his eyes as dull as those OF a fish.
leaned back watching him, clutching
the paper pellet in the palm of one
hand, until he passed out with his
tray, and the door clicked behind him.
Not once did he glance toward me, or
acknowledge my presence. Fearful
lest I might be spied upon, my heart
beating wildly In anticipation. lay
down in the bunk with face to the
wall, and unrolled the pellet It con-
tanned but few words. hastily scrib-
pIed, IN a Iady-s dencaoe handwriting.
Don't despair; If they are away un-
Ill after dark I viii arrange. Can do
nothing before There was no sigma.
ture, but need~d none TO know whose
fingers had he the pencil. MY lips
pressed the paper ere tore 1t into
fragments, and scattered them outside
the bars.
The hours Of that afternoon dragged
themselves along with exasperating
slowness, as / listened for hoofbeats,
imagining every sound the approach
Of returning horsemen. With no
longer any doubt Of her intention, my
apprehension r4veted itself on the pos.
sibility of the British getting back
before darkness gave opportunity for
putting her plans into execution. As
to what they might be / cared moth.
ing, being ready to assume any risk
which would lead to escape. AS the
gray Of twilight approached. my ears,
strained to the slightest sound, distin.
guished the changing OF sentinels. But
/ waited vainly for any visitor; dark.
ness closed me In, but no one came
with food.
pressed my face against the bars
striving to look into the night. my
only reward the glimpse Of a few dis.
tant stars. Suddenly, as stood there,
voices sounded at a distance, tbs
words indistinguishable, and then foot.
steps crushed along the graveled foot.
path, as though a number of men were
running toward the back OF the house.
They were below my range of vision,
but a moment later heard the sounds
OF scattered shots, and saw the sharp
fash Of firing. was still clinging to
the bars, trying to determine what it
ell meant, when the door was opened.
The light of a lantern in his hand
revealed a green and white uniform,
and the deeply scanned face Of a man
Of fifty.
Quick now, yer damned rebel" he
said hoarsely. BE up an lam me one,
and here's the rope"
What"
didn't yer heart or wasn't yer told
the gamef Sufferin' Moses, it's got
to be played swift, or yen lie here
an rot. That's what that bald-headed
skate is out thar leadin' EN- of for.
I'm ter come In wild yer supper; ye
slug me first sight, bind me up wild
the rope, and skip. IT'S a dirty Job,
but the friends Of ye pas well for 1t,
so come on now"
comprehended the plan in a fash.
She had discovered a sentry money
would buy; to lead the others away
long enough to effect my escape, Peter
had taken to the woods with a gun.
Whether he escaped or was captured,
the delay would be short With the
knowledge came action bore the
unresisting Ranger to the floor, hurI
Ing down the tray of food he bore in
mass Of broken crockery, and bound
him hand and foot, leaving the fellow
lying across the open doorway. He
was without arms. except his heavy
gun, which left beside him. An in.
slant / paused to ask a question, hold.
ing aloft the lantern SO as to see hia
face.
Now, man, speak quick; you were
given some word for me? Some in.
structions how was to get away"
"Sure; but ye. drew those cords
ightl You are to go upstairs, out
the front door, and turn to the risht;
there's horse in the thicket beyond
the summer house. Damnation, loosen
that ankle rope, viii yer"
gave 1t twitch, but felt little u.
passion for the fellow, and ran up me
steps, leaving the lantern below. I.
knew the way even In the dark, and
experienced little trouble in feeling my
passage. I met with no interference,
and heard no sound. the house seem.
ingly deserted. Only as / opened the
front door could l hear distant, irreG
ular firing to the northwest AssureA
that no guard remained. / flung my.
self recklessly over the porch rail onto
the smooth turf Of the lawn. The dim
outlines Of the lattioed summer house
could be discerned not thirty feet dis.
tant, and started toward It unhesi.
tatingly. had made half the distance
when horse neighed suddenly to me
right, and, startled at the sound, / FED
! fat, creeping cautiously forward into
the shadow Of a low bush. had risen
to my knees, believing the animal