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''I|I• §B If iv. .. iM? *1 4 'S I TM Colonel Donald. AMOMENT Colonel Donald ap peared to hesitate, then his ex pression became more natural and he made a weak effort to smile. "King—King? Oh, certainly. I re member now. your men came, and I"— He stopped, evidently struggling to recall what had occurred to him after the arrival of the troopers. "It was a troop of Federal cavalry dispatched to my aid. Colonel Donald. 1 sent Miss Denslow up tbe stairs, in tending you should thus have an op portunity for escape, uud was still par leying with tbe fellows on the front porch when a squad of concealed Con federates poured a volley into us. They hit a few, but the remainder made the house and drove the others back when they attempted to rush us. iWe've been defending the house ever Eince, and 1 made a search for this secret passage. I found my way into It at last and discovered you lying here apparently dead, with a wound in your throat just as those others had." He put his hand up to the gash as LABY @P \h ®Y RANDALL PROLOGUE OF THE STORY. Elbert King. :i northern soldier H-ft for dead on :i southern battlefield, re rovers consciousness near a farmhouse, fivhere lie hears Joan Donsinw, a beau ill daughter of the smith, toll her ?sxn servant. .loc. tlint soon she must Jnnrr.v Lieutenant Culvert Dunn, whom ho does not. love. Kill .' learns of Jiiovenient to surprise the Federals, .inxiotts to cot away with the.' infor Mation. he intoivopts the ]irospeetivo liridogroom. appropriates his uniform mid is mistaken for him. l'nder cover of his disguise and to save himself he is married to .lean Denslow. Still un detected. he starts on horseback with his liride to I mini's home. En route she discovers the deception and. furi ous. gallops off to warn the Confed erates. Her horse falls and breaks its neck, while .lean injures her ankle. Hopelessly she accepts King's proffer of assistance to Dunn's home. King's kindnesses partially win her. He later reports to the Federal commander, ltosccrans. who appoints him lieuten ant. of a body of scouts, including Dan iels. head of a feud faction fighting .lem Donald, a Confederate guerrilla chief. The expedition leads King to Dunn's home, where he again meets •loan, who leads him into a trap. He escapes, only to stumble across the body of a slain Confederate officer. Fearful lest he be stigmatized with tile crime, he voluntarily surrenders to Hig ,!ein Donald and is accused by Cal vert Dunn. King shows light, but is subdued and linds himself a prisoner in the cellar of (he house until visited by Jean, who wants protection, as all but Judge Dunn, an invalid, have left the house. She releases King on his word of honor not to escape. 'While watching lie has an encounter with what he thinks is the assassin, find ing himself overpowered by Big Jem Donald, 1o whom Jean explains her faith in King's innocence. The reclin ing figure of Judge Dunn attracts their attention. They find he lias been as sassinated. King is suspected. O'Brien King's aid. arrives with soldiers, who are surprised by Calvert Dunn's Con federates. The Federals intrench them selves within the house, where King nnd O'Brien seel: to discover the se cret passage through which Donald es caped. Held ui by Jean, they are locked in a room, from which they es cape with difficulty, disarming and im prisoning Jean. Searching for the hid den passage, the fireplace opens, re vealing the insane features of a wo man, which instantly disappear. They explore the passage and find Big Don Hid wounded. COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY A. McCLURG & CO. fU^PK.. wk V'. ^N--X liv.^ a? n*A -VT/-jr/iV wmi. fMff/{•&"/, you with Jean. Intending to search this 1unnel. I had opened the fireplace and was lighting the lantern when" your men came, and I stole back as far as the head of the stairs to learu what was happening. Then .lean came up with your message, and I decided to escape to my own men as quickly as possible. Having no longer any thought of search and knowing the way perfectly. I blew out the light and came down the ladder in the dark. I have made the trip in that manner a dozen times and felt no fear. I must have advanced through the tunnel for a hundred feet or more, one hand touching the wall to keep the direction, when something struck me so unexpectedly that 1 reeled backward and fell. I have no recollection of seeing anything only of feeling the blow and realizing 1 was falling. The next 1 remember is look ing up into your face, wondering where I was." The man was far too weak and dazed to be questioned at any length in his present state it would be useless to describe the woman's face we had seen wr Miss Jean's effort'to hold us prisoners. Here was an explanation of why no attack had thus far been made upon us from the rear either no one outside knew of this passage, or else Dunu. if he was present and in com mand. lacked the nerve necessary for directing such an assaulting party. Whichever was the cause, I desired to satisfy myself—I must seal the tunnel, or eNe (the idea coming to me as au inspirationi lead a sortie through it. and thus take the unconscious be siegers in the rear. "How far are we from the entrance?" I questioned. "Not over fifty feet. I should say. You pass out through a trap door into a log storehouse." "Could you manage to walk that far':" lie held on to O'Brien and the wall, thus succeeding in lifting himself until he stood crest, but his movements were so uncertain I hat I grasped him also. In this manner we advanced slowly along the passage. Twice we permlt led him to lie back on the packed earth Ooor to rest. He was swaying dizzily when we finally attained the foot of a short ladder leading upward. The trap was closed, yet as I held the lantern higher 1 could perceive the outlines of the door. "Is the trap locked?" His eyes opened slightly, staring deeply at the lantern flame. "No all yon need do is push against it." I climbed the few steps of the lad der. leaving the light below, and with out great effort lifted the door, turning it silently back until it rested securely against some obstacle. I could per ceive little outside the narrow zone of light radiating from below, yet the small room into which my head pro jected appeared unoccupied. Satisfied as to this, I returned below, consid erably puzzled as to how Donald was to be got up the ladder. Water from the canteen applied externally, with the last dregs of the brandy flask as inward stimulant, brought the injured man once again to his feet. I buckled the sling strap of tbe carbine beneath his arms and led the way, O'Brien boosting sturdily from below, and thus, aided a little by his own efforts, we succeeded in dragging his almost inert body up the short reach of ladder and out upon the floor above. The man fainted as his head fell back upon the planks, and he lay limp and scarcely breathing. My own exhaustion, complete as it was temporarily, was not lasting. 1 held the lantern before Donald's face, bending dowu to make certain he still breathed, and then began searching for the door of tbe cabin. We were dl- Iines of a well curb with a sweep above It. and beyond that rose the trunk of a large tree. This comprised about all 1 could distinguish with any certainty. I called to O'Brien in a whisper. "See If you can fill your canteen there at the well without making a noise." and I pointed toward the vague outline. I elu watchfully to the doorway until the boy came safely back. "There was wather in the pail, sor." he explained, letting me feel the wet canteen, "an' there's two or three fellows sittln* there on the back porch." "Well, you go Inside and remain with Colonel Donald. Don't permit him any opportunity to get away or sound an alarm" I crept cautiously forth, moving slowly backward down the short line of negro cabins, until I attained the edge of a small grove. Under this concealment I envied to the right, purposing to advance through the weeds along the east of the grape arbor. I felt convinced that (he force of attacking Confederates would be drawn as close in to the house as the shelter would permit. 1 began worming my way in toward the grape arbor, discovering nothing to obstruct progress. Tbe thickness of the vines finally prevented further advance in this direction, and 1 con sequently turned more toward the front of the house, heading directly toward a great tree, at the north end of the arbor. The spreading branches cast so black a shadow that 1 was almost within arm's length of the trunk before becoming aware that two men were standing there to gether. their backs toward me. The sound of a voice first awakened me to the peril of the position in which I had unwittingly placed myself. "Theilen certainly will be here by daylight, and then we shall have enough men to turn the trick. That was his messenger who just left." "How much of a force will lie bring'.'" It. was Calvert Dunn who asked the question. "He should have a hundred men. with my fellows picked up on the way. He was scut over to Hitter Creek to waylay a Yankee foraging party." There was a pause: Dunu kicked restlessly at I he root of I he tree. "Well, it can't be more than au hour now until daylight." lie said at last, "and altogether that will give us about KM. won't it?" "That or more: my fellows have been dropping in here all night and you brought five with you." "1 didn't expect to fall into this sort of an affair." in a tone of evident dis gust. "I merely came over to take back that Yankee prisoner to ca.jp. Did you count ihe blue bellies?" "No: but there are about twenty of them. 1 reckon, and ilie.v uinst have bottled up the colonel or bed have been out here will) us before this Those fellars can shoot, too. better':! an.v troopers 1 ever come up against before." lie paused, thinking "Didn't you say awhile ago. iieiileuani. that you knew a way leadin' into the house that would let us lake em in the ra'ar?" "Yes. I did. Dodd. but there's no use trying to mrn that trick until we get more men. If Theiien readies here by daylight we'll gobble up that whole i. -Jj? 1 itHv ititmnwwtitf z, is "WE'LL GOBBLE DP THAT YANKEE OUTFIT." Yankee outfit easy, but it's belter to wait and make a clean job. As things are they can't possibly get away." "Some of 'em will sure get hurt if they ever try it. Well. I'm goiu' round the lines again, lieutenant. Maybe you better wait here, where I can find you easy. Besides, this is about where Theilen will strike for when he Mmes. He'll follow that path up from the creek most likely." The guerrilla sauntered off. gun across his shoulder. Dunn remained quiet a moment and tlieu moved slow ly round behind the tree trunk. I heard him scratching a match. A window of the house spit (lame to the sharp crack of a carbine, the ball tear ing along the bark ot the tree. My rascals within evidently were awake, and the startled lieutenant dropped the blazing match as though it had burnt his lingers. Allother carbine spoke from a window farther to the left, the missile whistling throng eivil men enough to safely risk the attempt, and he was the only one ill the party who was aware of its ex I Then my work was cut out for me—I must take care of Dunn, There was brief time in which to I arrange the play, with both daylight and Theilen already so closc at hand. Theilen! Why, of course, a report of his approach would throw Dunn off his guard, and 1 might inveigle (lie I fellow far enough back from the lines to make an open attack possible. Here, I at least, was the only course which seemed to promise success. 1 tore off my jacket, turning it inside out to hide (lie gleam of buttons: ripped off the in siguia from the front of my slouch hat una pulled the wide brim low over my eyes. There would be nothing natty about 'Xheilen's irregulars, and tbe color of my clothes could not be easily guessed at in tbe gloom. All else was sheer luck and audacity. 1 was with in live feet of tbe lellow before be even saw me. Before he could draw his weapon. 1 asked hurriedly: "Is this Captain DoddV" "N-no: I am an officer of Johnston's stair," peering forward iu a vain en deavor to decipher my face. "Who are you? What do you want?" "1 have Deen sent forward by Cap tain 'i'beilen. He wants to know where be is to bring his men." The lieutenant stiffened up. the slight faltering ot his voice vanished in an effort at command. "Oh, I see: Well. I am technically in command here, being or the regular sen-ice. Where Is TheilenV" "Hack yonder oti the creek. He's wanin for orders an' a guide." "Well, hurry back and bring him up You know the way. don't you?" 1 stared off into- the black night, as though it hid a thousaud mysteries. "Well, 1 don't exactly know," I con fessed unwillingly. "I got here all right because tbe tiring from the bouse sorter guided me, but them weeds Is luighty cont'usiu.' an' I reckon It will take me a right smart white to find my way nack again. You couldn't go along, could you?" There was nothing In the reqnpst to arouse suspicion, yet be hesitated, ap parently at first Inclined refuse, perhaps considering such a service be neath his dignity. "Maybe tt you got me as far tbe head ot that path I might make the rest all right." 1 suggested doubtfully. It was plain enough he would prefer remaining where be was. but anxiety to have ihese welcome re-enforcements hurried forward caused him grudging ly to consent. "How large a force have you?" "A few over a hundred. I reckon." "Well: come on: I'll show you to the path. You could follow that with your eyes blindfolded" I had forgotten the wny myself, or. rather, the night confused me as to I the points of compass, yet as be stnrt ed oft to the right I followed, perfectly satisfied so lony as every step took us farther away from the Immediate vicinity ot the house. We had trav ersed the orchard and were upon the edge of the weed patch when he came to a sharp halt. "Mere's where the path begins lend Inrc down to tbe creek It's not very straIghi. but you can't lose It. for tile growth is solid on both sides" "it all looks ihe same to me." starini' beyond him "Where did you say tbe entrance was?" "Right here In front." half angrily. "What Is the matler with vour eyes? I'll lead you into it. and then, perhaps, yon can follow your nose" He gripped in.v sleeve, forcing me forward. The next instant I had my leg twined about his. I never had an easier job at laming man. and be fore he got his scattered senses to gether I pressed a revolver barrel against his temple, threatening instant death If he so much as moved. What ever other ambitions Lieutenant Cal vert Dunu may have possessed, depar lure from life surely was uot included, and I doubt il' be winked an eyelash while I stripped him or weapous and tightly buckled his waist bell about his arms, binding ihein helplessly against tbe body. "Sorry to be compelled to treat you in ibis manner," I remarked coolly, "but it seems to he your luck to get in my way constantly. Besides. I believe you advocated banging me only a few hours ago He recognized me then, nnd the sud den gust of auger overcame bis pru dence. yielding him voice He burst forth into a volley of oaths. "Stop that the words like bullets, the grip of my hand shutting off bis wind. "I hold your life In this one linger and you either obey me or die. How many men are about this house?" He squirmed under the pressure of the gun barrel, but comprehended the necessity for an Immediate answer. "About sixty." "All Donald's guerrillas?" "Except the small squad I brought with me." "How are they posted?" "Thirty or so in front of the bouse perhaps a dozen at the rear, the others scattered so as to watch the side win. dows." "No patrols thrown out to protect the rear?" "Not so far ns I know. There may be a picket ou the main road. WP had no reason lo expect any Yanks from thfs direction." There was no occasion to doubt tbe truth of his replies, and they coincided exactly with my own conception ot the situation. These were irregulars and not disciplined soldiers, tratued mere ly as raiders and uaturally careless as to guard lines. Besides, they Dad ev ery reason to suppose the small body was to my liking, but what could I do with Dunn? The only feasible method was to take the lleutenaut with me back to the hut. where O'Brien could stand guard over him, while I gathered together our men for a sortie. With this In view 1 gripped him by the col lar. "Now. Dunn, kpep exactly one step ahead of me along tbe edge of these lA&esa. I NEVER HAD A.N EASIER JOB AT TAUINC1 A MAN weeds until yon reach |the orchard. Yes. I know wbere we are golug, and auy effort lo break away or any noise will put you beyond rescue. Step out lively now, only be quiet about IL" I beard him swearing fiercely under his breath, but he pushed on as I or dered. We slipped within the shelter of the cabin, where O'Brien promptly held us up with leveled carbine. We Organize a Sortie. 0 'BltlEN was very clearly in a mood to shoot first and make luquirles afterward. Yet even lu that darkness he recognized my voice and consented to lower tile gun which was jammed against uiy breast. Donald had not recovered cou sclousness. I paused long enoiigu to feel nis pulse, which appeared rapid and strong, yet there was nothing we could do to relieve bis condition be yond the application ol water. I used O'Brien's pelt to strap tbe lieutenant's feet together, placed tilui in as com fortable a position as possible and then, with strict Injunction i„ (he trooper to remain close beside both men. took up the extinguished lanieru and groped my way down tbe snort ladder to the dismal lunnel. closing ibe trap behind me. While tie tirisu action of tbe past half hour had served somewhat to steady my nerves, yet the memory of that ghostly woman's taee still haunt ed me. and I telt no inclination to at tempt that parage alone Ihe dark ness. The possibilities ot murder lurk ed at every step. and. while I was not truly afraid. I felt m.v flesh creep at the thought nnd took precaution to light the lantern the Instant I was safe at the tool ot tbe ladder. Hold ing it well In advance, yet not so as to blind my eves. I hurried forward, watchful of the shadows, but with uiind busy vviih details ot ihe coining attempt at escape. Here certainly lay our only chance of getting away. If we delayed until after daylight atid Theilen's command arrived meanwhile we would be caught like rats lu a trap, r.ut it we could manage to strike Dodd's scattered followers from the rear, surprising them by sudden ness of attack, we might succeed iu breaking away nnd by swift marching attain our own lines in safety. This plan offered a lighting chance tit least, and the more I studied it ihe stronger became its appeal. I arrived at the bottom of the lad der stairs, having seen nothing hut the bare stone walls, and the hard packed earth floor, reflected bv the yellow glow of the lantern, r.ut at tbe top I met with a surprise ihat left uie staring blindly, for the mo ment distrusting ui.v own eyes: there was no opening into the ball! The mantel had been swung back Into place, leaving uie fronting an appar ently solid wall. Surely that heavy mantel would never have swung back into position without human as sistance. Who In the house would have an.v reason lo operate it except Jean Denslow? The possibility of her escaping from that room in which I had locked her had uot before se riously occurred to me. yet hers was a nature to dare much, and achieve. If she bail done the trick, then she would lie on guard within. I rapped against the front of the chimney, pausing to listen, but hearing no sound in response Then I put my lips dose and spoke loud enough so 1 felt certain my voice would carry to the ball without. "Miss Denslow. are you there?" Nothing beyond the dim echo re warded this effort, yet so convinced was I ot her presence that I perse vered. "I am Lieutenant King: we found Colonel Donald seriously wounded iu the tunnel, and I have come back after help. For the sake of his life open tills door." "Are—are yon telling me the truth?" "As flod ts my witness, yes I an alone, and O'Brien is with Donald. If you care to save bis life you must let ine through." "But I cannot! I do not know bow the door opens." "Pull straight upward on tbe and iron farthest to the north." She obeyed without the slightest hesitation, and the mantel swung so suddenly I barely escaped being struck. The next tustant, lantern sllll tn band. I was beside her. noting bow she shrank hack, half frightened, at my quick appearance from out th* black recess. "Don't be alarmed," I exclaimed hastily, feeling uothlug must longer delay my plans. "No. you are not to go into that hole alone. There Is some thing mysterious about the passage we found Douald with bis throat slashed exactly as those others were, only lis still lives, and I believe will recover. I mean to take you to blm In a mo nieut, but you must watt here until I come back. You will, will you not? I can trust you?" Her face was white, her eyes full of appeal. "Yes, yes. but—but are you certain he will live?" ICven then these words, the deep feel ing lu the voice, hurt, almost angered me. "There Is no apparent reason why be should not." 1 answered, not alto gether pleasantly. "There Is nothing particularly serious about his injuries so far as I could discover. A surgeon and a nurse could bring htm around In short order. The Important matter is to get back to him Just as soon as possible. No. Miss Denslow." and I caught her by the arm In restraint "you are not to venture Into that pas sage alone. I shall be back here lu a moment to accompany you." "But why cannot I go? Yon say he Is hurt aud suffering, and yet order me not to go to him." "1 merely request yon to remain here for a moment until we can guard you through the tunnel." "Cuard me?" her eyes searching the dark opening. "From what? Is there an.v peril there?" "Honestly, I do not know, but It Is no place for you to attempt to trav erse alone. I will not permit It. See, 1 a in going to trust you fully to wait my return. 'J'nke this revolver nnd watch Ihat opening until I coma back." She accepted it, our bauds touching for au instant, before a vague sus picion of my real purpose dawned upon her. "What-what are yon planning to do? Take your men through here?" "Yes." I acknowledged, already at the head of the stairs. "This Is our opportunity for escape." "And you believe I will be an ac complice? oil Intend to use me for the defeat of my own people?" "No. .Miss Denslow." and I catne hack, looking directly into her ludig mint eyes. "There Is no manner tn which you can possibly prevent our escape iti this way unless you delllv erately choose to kill me. You can do that, for you have mv weapon In your a a I a a tSI a you willing to do thai for Ibe Confed eracy?" I saw the Mush sweep Into Her cheeks, the gray-blue eyes tailing be lore untie. "No-no." she faltered, "not that." "Then you are helpless to interfere I desire to take vou with us to the as sistance ol Colonel Donald, hut It it Is your Intention to make trouble, then we shall have to lock you up again uud leave you behind. Which is your choice?" She could not doubt my sincerity, for the earnestness with which I spoke was convincing. Her eyes uplifted to mine tor one single questioning in stant. "I will wait," she said slowly, "hut but I, believe I hate you." "I would far rather you felt thus. Miss Denslow," returned quietly, "than to be utterly Indifferent toward me." I caught ber sudden look of surprise, (lie quick uplift of her face, but be lore she could find expression in words I bad slipped down the stairs to the ball. They came straggling forth from the various doorways, blackened with pow der smoke and sleepy eyed from the long night vigil, yet a tutrly tough looking bunch ot lighting men. aud ranged themselves before me. They bad scarcely had opportunity to ob serve me before In tbe rush of (hat first attack, but the cavalry officer'* uuiform I wore had an immediate ef fect. and they remained respectfully silent. Ir-anlng on their carbines, wait ing lor me to s|enk "Well, men." I said soberly, "we're going out ot this, but we are liable to have bit ot stiff light lug before we get away. I'll explain the situation, because you will have to operate in the dark, and each man must use bis own judguieut to some extent, although we will try to keep together. Those fel lows out yonder are part of Donald's band of guerrillas, with a small squad of regular cavalry. They'll outnumber us a lirile over three to one. but are scattered around the house, the main force bunched iu front. I've been out and looked them over, and if we can strike them suddenly In the rear we ought to have them on the run In live minutes. They haven't any guards out, and I have found a secret passage leading underground to a negro cabin hundred feer west of the house kitch en. Itjit we've got to act at olice, and before daylight, for another bunch of those fellows are marching this way ft il