Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-12-20
The
Trail of a Traitor
BY C. C. HOTCHKISSi ,
Copyright-The Frank A. Munsey CompanyI]
BY C. C. HOTCHKISS;


way to save his life; that Is, he sud.
denly threw down his sword and ran
from the room.
However, would not let him get
away In that fashion, and 80 / put af-
ter him, cursing him for coward as
pulled open the door he had slammed
after him, and which led into the hall
Of the great building. / was out In
time to see him 60 bounding up the
front stairs, fear having put wings to
his heels.
Up went after him, both Of us
meeting the wench, who flattened her.
self against the wall to let us pass,
and who screamed again as abe saw
my face. At the top Of the stairs he
turned, and seeing me following,
sword in hand, he, too, screamed, Civ.
ing vent to yell that could only come
from the throat of coward in fear of
sudden death; then he tore up the
second flight to the attic, SO close
behind that by the time he was on the
top step was at the bottom.
I thought to have him then, there
being no higher spot save the cupola,
but, to my surprise, he made for the
little flight of steps leading aloft, and
As ! reached the level Of the attic he
had got to the door at tho foot of the
boxed stairway and ran in. drawing
the door close and holding down the
fall Of the latch 30 that could not
open it. He had escaped me for the
moment, but had him treed, though
I could spend little time on him just
then.
But whatever else happened Melton
must not be allowed to become aggres.
sive AS he had made prisoner of
himself, a prisoner he should remain,
at least until Agnes and / had gone.
For now my rage and exertion had
cooled my blood somewhat, and as the
way OF escape appeared open, l was
rather glad that i had not slain the
man in a moment of passion. Howev-
er, made him fast, aud it was an easy
matter. The attic contained plenty
Of ancient furniture, and l dragged
piece after piece against the cupola
door.
Then I went downstairs and met
the girl In the room she had run from,
her round cheeks white with fear.
She whimpered as she saw me. Did
did you kill him." she whispered in
an awe-stricken voice.
mo, don't kill cowards," said.
'Do you know Mistress Agnes Bar.
row."
Her face frightened "Of course"
"She is outside now. She has been
prosecuted by that villain. She is wet,
thing for her"
Heaven bless the wench! If she
thought of Agnes as political ref
ugee she gave no sign of it, and she
was all solcitude at once.
And | patrolled the house from
front to rear, my ear trained for what
might be happening in the cupola, my
eye on the road from the north, watch.
ing for the returning horseman. Agnes
had recovered sufficiently to walk, and
I was to give the alarm the moment
the troopers hove in sight. Then we
were to go. / had already robbed the
governors blanket closet and had
boat. Agnes should suffer no more.
But not sign of dragoon did !
see, nor threatening sound did /
hear. Finally, as the dusk deepened,
I determined to go.
And go We did. taking bundle ct
blankets for protection from the rain,
and also Melton's sword for trophy;
and the sword have now. supported
the girl, who was still weak, and thus
we went from Governor Robinson's
house, not pausing until we had pass.
ed over the rear lawn and reached the
head of the stairway leading to the
river below. There the girl halted to
rest. and at that moment, through the
drip of the rain l caught the ruffle of
hoofs and knew that~we had escaped
none too soon. Il think we may laugh
at them now," / said, passing an arm
around the girls waist. She turned
and looked back toward the great
house we had left, and was about to
make some answer, but instead, she
grasped me by the arm and pointed.
"See there! See there" she ex.
claimed.
j followed the direction of her ex.
tended finger, and then knew that my
prisoner had escaped--or almost es.
capped: that Is, he had got 10 the roof
Of the mansion through window in
the cupola. and 1t was now plain that
he was going to attempt to descend to
the ground by means OF the vine.
could mark his every movement, his
figure being clearly silhouetted
against the gray sky. ! do not know
what he hoped to accomplish; do
not believe he suspected the nearness
Of the coming dragons. only know
that, with lack of hesitation speak.
ing loudly of his determination, he de.
liberately swung himself from the cop
ing. and grasping the vine. began to
lower himaelf hand under hand NV