The evening world., 1915-02-15


small lamp in his hand, led tha
way up the broad stairs, nv lat
backward glance through The open
door revealed tho two sitting just a.
l had lett them, except that Harwood
was leaning slightly forward acroes
the table, and speaking earnestly. A
moment later ] was left alone IN a
small bedroom at the end Of the up
psr hall.
1t occurred to me now with nsv
clearness OF vision that Taylor had
some special object in his friendliness.
II ne was q Union spy his natural
preference Would have been to travel
alone. Instead, the fellow had nj.
most insisted on my companIonshin,
indeed. the taciturn. silent mountain.
cor had even endeavored to simulate
seniality to the end. But for what
possible reason? Suspicion no doubt
or my real purposes vague question
Ing OF my Identity. the truth of the
story had told. One thing was cer.
tain-I must break away from theso
men at once. or face exposure.
l extinguished the light, and looksd
out OF the window. II was quite a
drop, though not necessarily q dan
tgerous one. to the ground. Those
am outlines Of buildings were prob
Il
my horse. But desired to learn first
what these two men were .actualiy
up TO. Such Information might prove
moro important than my investiea.
tions In Green Briar. stole across
TO the door and opened Il 'noiseiessIv
surprised to discover It had bean ieft
unguarded.
The silence continued, and I bersn
70 steal passage down the carpstod
stairs, crouchtnS we'll back a4ainst
the side wall Little by little was Able
70 peer IN through the open door-the
chairs were vacant: there was no ons
there. Tho gieam of the lamp revssIsS
a deserted room. the table stili littsrsd
with dishes. What had become then
OF Harwood and Taylor? Could NAV
, nave gene to bed Alreadyf n moi
nAd they ventured Forth toretha, m,
some seoret mission into. ths nirht
or wore. they sitting beyond m The
darkened parlor? This last supnosi.
ton was possible. and I must BE- frliy
assured that neither remained In the
mouse before I sought to trail theo,
wNnout.. l crept. to the half closed
s,es; a9os; shd, endeavored to gain glimpse
Witnin. The room was black snd
silent, although could perceive dimiv
the outlines Of furniture. Nothins
appeared strange. except that ths
chair nearest the door had been over.
tuened. Surely every article of furni.
ture stood straight and stiff enough
when l glanced that way before. on
my nrst entrance.
Something-some vague sense OF
mystery. Of danger, gripped mo.
felt strange choking In the throat
and reached for the revolver at INV
belt. 1t was not there; the leather
holder was empty. My first ensatiou
was fear. a belief I was the victim
Of treachery. Then II occurred TO my
mind that the weapon might have
fallen from tho open holster as
rested on the bed-a mere accident
At least would learn the truth OF
that dark room. stepped within
circled the overturned chair. and q
cropping foot encountered something
touched II with my hand: II was the
body Of man. The whole truth
came to me In q hash-there hac
been a quarrel, a murder. unpremedi.
tated probably. and the assassin bad
escaped.
But which Of the two was the vic.
timf An instant ! stood there. star.
Ing about in the dark, bewlldereC
and uncertain. Then I sPaspsd thu
lamp from the table in the othel
room, and returned holding the ligh
In my hands. The form Of MajoI
Harwood lay extended on the floor
lifeiess, his skull crushed by an ugi,
blow. Beside him lay a revolver, III
butt blood stained. Beyond doubt thii
was the weapon which had killed.
picked II up wonderlngly--it was m,
own.