The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-03-20

49, aN~Aohp oak III Nv
must bear your disapproval. However,
we need discuss the matter no
longer"
She sprang to the door. and glanced
out into the hall, stepping back once
more as Peter appeared. His eyes
swept the room in silent observation.
Captain Grant and the two officers
with him have concluded their meal,
Mistress Claire" he announced calm
ly, "and one of them has gone for q
file of soldiers to begin the search OF
the house"
Very we'll, Peter; go back and as
sist them. | will see to the safe con
cealment Of Major Lawrence"
He bowed graciously. and disap-
peared.
You have not given me your par
dop," l implored as our eyes again
met.
There is nothing to pardon to my
knowledge. l respect you because OF
your sense Of propriety. but we cannot
talk longer now. You must enter the
passage at once"
you will give me your hand irst?"
Gladly" and | felt its firm pree-
sure, her face frightened by a smile.
Now let us remember rather the
danger, the necessity Of concealment,
and not delay too long. Wait a mo-
ment, major; is 1t true you absolutely
trust me?"
vt certainly is"
Il am going to put that to the test.
You have papers You desire to give
at ICE into the hands Of General
Washington. You may be detained
here some time, but | have with me
an Indian who could take them across
the Delaware tonight. 1t is not the
first time he has made that tourney.
Win you confide them to me?"
Our eyes were looking directly into
each other. l may have hesitated an
instant, confused by the unexpected
request, yet there was something in
the expression Of the girls face which
swept doubt swiftly aside. Without a
word l took them from an inner peck
ct, end gave them to her. The red
lips smiled, the blue eyes Frightening.
-"Touepah shall leave within the
hour" she promised. thrusting the
small packet into the bosom of her
dress. Nov step within, major, and l
will close the door"
/ did as she requested, hearing the
click OF the lock behind me. and be-
ing as instantly plunged into dark
ness. | waited a moment, my foot upon
the first narrow stair, listening. No
sound reached me from without, and,
with her animated face still before me
in memory, l began to slowly feel my
way down the circular staircase. There
vas nothing dangerous abost the pas.
sage, but with only the bare stone wall
to tolCh with the hand | was obliged
to gGope along blindly. The huge
chimney hsd evidently been erected
merely for C"oncealment, and l mar.
veled at the ingenuity Of its construc.
ton. l failed to count the steps, but
l went around and around so many
times, pressed against the smooth
wall, that l knew | must be we'll below
the basement OF the house before l
finally stood at the bottom. I CROPPED
forward in tho intense darkness, feel.
ing with outstsetched hands. The first
object encountered was a rough table,
the surface ~ which l explored, dis.
covering thereon a candlesSick with
flint and steel beside it. With relief
l struck q spark, and a yelfOw fame
revealed my surroundings.
What / saw was a low room some
fifteen feet square, the walls and roof
apparently Of stone securely nortared,
the only exit the narrow circular
stairs. The floor was Of earth. Op-
posite me was a bunk slightly elevat.
ed, containing a blanket OF two, and q
fairly comfortable chair built from q
barrnl. An old coat End hat hung
from a nail at she heTd of the bunk.
On q shelf neaS by was an earthen
crock, and two candles, and beneath
this. on the aooI. WIS a sawed-off gun
and two pistols, with a small supply
OF powder ane calls, the former
wrapped In an osleG cloth. L was In
truth a gloomy, ,lesolate hole, al.
though dry enough For want Of some,
| thing better to DIS l went over and
picked up the pistols; the lock of one
was broken, bur the other seemed
serviceable, and. after swapping the
flint, l loaded the weapon, and slipped
1t into my pocket. Somehow it's pos.
session yielded mo a new measure of
courage, although / had no reason to
suppose / would be called upon to use
the ancient relic.
There was little to examine, but |
trsmped about nervously, tapping the
wills, and convincing myself Of their
scHdity, and, finally, tired by this use
less exercise, seated myself In the
chair. 1t war like being buried in a
tomb, not . sound reaching my
strained ears, nut at last the spirit of
depression vanished, and my mind be.
gan to grapple with the problems con.
fronting me.
Heaven alone knows how long I 70
manned there motionless, my mind
elsewhere. drifting idly backward to
the old home. reviewing the years of
war that had transformed me from
boy II man as though by some magic.
(To BE coNTINUED)