Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-11-20
CHAPTER vi.
The Mistress of the House.

: ksh0 v III EElA 10 t@cc1I '14-dAAAcA AAlr
panel fingers gripping the butt Of my
revolver An ordinary latch held the
door closed. and ] pressed this. open
Ing the barrier slightly The move
nsut made no. the slightest noise, and
gave me & glimpse within
IL front of q small CRATE fire, her
back toward me. Struggled comfortably
down in the depths of an easy chair,
Sal q woman reading. I could see little
Of her because OF the high back Of the
chair rising between us-only a mass
o. dark brown hair. a smooth, rounded
cheek, and the small white hand rest
ing on the chair arm. ] knew vaguely
hsr waist was white. her skirt gray.
and J saw the glimmer of a pearl
handed pistol living on q closed chest
81 her side Still she was only a
woman. a mere girl apparently. whom
had no cause to fear. The sudden
reaction caused me 10 smile with re
LEI. and 10 return my revolver silent
y 70 the belt Her eyes remained on
The page Of the book think I
would have withdrawn without a word.
but al that instant, draft from the
open door fiickered her light. and she
glanced about seeking the cause. !
caught the slArtled expression IN her
eyes as she first perceived my shadow;
tae BOOK fell 10 the floor. her hand
gripping the pistol. even as she arose
hastily 70 her feet. The Hzht was
o. her face, ane 4 knew Ter to be
NoreeD HARDWOOD
Who are you? Why ar you here"
she asked tersely. a e7emor ii the
To'cs but no shrinking in those eyes
that looked straight at me.
j moved forward from out Of the
shadow into the radius Of light. II
was Only & step, nut the girl recoiled
slightly The peari-handled pisto. -is-
Ing instantly to level with my eyes.
stand where you are! she orde~2d
What are YOU doing creeping about
lais house IN the dark"
Not in the dark exactly" ] an
sReTed seeking TO relieve the strain.
and holding my hat IN one hand. as ]
OoTsa gravely. Tor my lamp is on
The stairs"
! marked the quick change Of ex-
pesslcn IN her eyes as they swept
over ne There was no evidence Of
recognition; scarcely more than q faint
acknowledgment that my appearance
vas not entirely unfavorable. Yet
surely that alone was all could hope
ior E1ceif for that one chance en-
counter on the road We mad never met
since We we're children. and she would
A0t nicely associate the son of Judge
wyatt with the man now confronting
lef' atured in the wet and muddy uni
lOFn o. Federal lieutenant. Indeed
" vas better she should not, ar q
ieelng o. relief swept over me as !
fsaAzed her failure to connect me with
'ae past No memory Of my features
'o0nd expression in her facs. as her
eyes fell from mine 10 the clothes l
wore
You are Union? al officer Oft
@'a4rF1 I-can scarcely comprehend
way you should be here" Ser attj-
suae 10 longer threatening. the CLEAN
lg pistol lowered. There are Federal
troops al Lewisburg. but-but ] do
aot recall your face
Ny being here is wholly an acci-
oent' ] explained quietly. u supposed
me house deserted, and sought en-
rance 10 get away from the storm
mere was a broken window"
Yes. she interrupted. her eyes
sssla a mine quesuoningiy. y found
e4l when ! came; someone had
broken in"
Robbery, 70 doubt"
/ an not sure as 10 that. ! have
,oena nothing q any value missing.
'-1eeo We left nothing here TO stttact
,@1oals She besitated. as though
eoaa.iol q the propriety Of further Ak
s'--al.on 10 & stranger II belong
Acne
-, les; ! supposed as much. you are
ass Norsep Earwood?"
9eF blue eyes widened. her hand
sss-5piag more ti~huy the back Of the
les. Sse admitted You knew ny
o4goLy; enough 20 be aware Of rs
's'eacs o. ais daughter. and tnst this
vas his plsntzion
A. men you must be connected with
- garrison al Charlestonr
30. Hiss Harwood. ] belong 20 the
@y q the Potomac. and am here
~ e recruiting serTtce L word Of