The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-06-29
CHAPTER x-continusd.

! was obliged to loosen It BY the in
sertlon Of my knife blade. yet the
clamp yielded with but little noise.
and ! peered eagerly down the open
ing. There was . lamp burning in the
lower hall. the reflection sufficiently
bright to reveal the general situation
NO men were visible. nor did | hear
any voices In conversation. One thing
was certain-the upper hall was com
pletely deserted. for l could see along
Its entire length. | lifted my head. and
glanced back to where the girl re-
NAMED silent. and motionless My
eyes. long accustomed to the darkness.
could distinguish her outlines. even
the dim contour Of her face. She sat
upright on the rough flooring. appar.
emily regarding me intently.
DO you dnd the way left clear!"
80 far ~ the upper hall Is con.
oerned-yes. There Is 4 light burn.
Ing below. although l can perceive NO
movement They may be in the dining
room but do not believe they will
search up here again."
No" The slight rising infection
stung me. What did her action mean !
Why should she 20 suddenly assume
that tone with me! The sooner knew
the better.
Il beg your pardon. Miss Harwood, :"
said quietly, but l fail to understand
why you should speak to me in this
manner. You have shown confidence,
trust. In my former efforts to serve
you. and am Just as eager now to be
Of service"
You mean you wish me to have
complete confidence in your"
Certainly. can do nothing other.
wise"
There was an instant of silence, In
which her breathing was plainly audi
BILE. Beneath the shadow Of an uplift.
ed hand felt that her eyes were upon
my face.
Very we'll. then" she said finally.
her voice more expressive of interest
IL ts surely no more than natural that
should desire to know whom | have
the honor Of talking with"
But do you not know?"
no" firmly and decislvely. "You
heard what those men said-yet YOU
90 on pretending to me. You are the
onicer they referred to. are you not?"
Yes; | escaped when Fox's com.
mand was attacked"
"You were an officer In Captain
Fox's troop?"
NO; joined him by accident At
Hot Springs"
Under what name?"
The utter uselessness Of attem ntinr
to lie was apparent Her questions
were too direct. too straightforward
Tor any further evasion The slightest
Quibbling now would cost me her
friendship forever. II l hesitated IL
was scarcely noticeable.
Under the name." replied quietly
"of Charles H. Raymond. lieutenant
Third U. 8. cavalry. on recruiting
service"
OH" the exclamation burst forth in
surprise at my frank avowal. "Thep
you did not make that up merely to de.
csive me! You had been passing un.
der that name with others. You had
taken 1t for a distinct purpose-a-s
military purpose?"
Il took It," ! said slowly. and DELHI.
erately. my eyes looking steadily q,
her. because l knew such a Fedora,
off1cer had been detailed to service in
this neighborhood II have taken nv
life In my hands to serve the cause n,
the South. 1t was In obedience to the
orders OF my superiors."
Whose orders!"
General Jackson directly; although
Robert E. Lee was present, and gave
final instructions"
her hands concealed her face, and
could judge nothing as to its exures
sion: whether. or not my words had
any weight with her. She sat motion.
less. bent slightly forward. At last she
said slowly:
II know enough of-of army life
to be aware that men are not ordered
to such hazardous work-they are
asked to volunteer. Only q brave man
would assume such q risk: only ,
man who believed In himself. and nts
cause, IL like you better because
you have told me. l believe you are
honest with me now. I did not know
what to do. or what to say before.
knew you were not Raymond. and tha,
you were acting lie-but could no,
guess your purpose. What made 1,
harder = SA1ssstand." her voice hssi