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MY LABY ®F *. IXTi Dunn attracts th.oir attention. They find he has been assassinated. King is (suspected. O'Brien, King's aid. arrives with soldiers, who are surprised by Calvert Dunn's Confederates. The Federals intrench themsehes within the house, where King and o'Hrieu seek to discover the secret passage through which Donald escaped. They are held up by Jean and are locked in a room, from which they escape with difficulty, disarming and imprisoning Jean. Searching for the hidden pas sage, the fireplace opens, revealing the Insane features of a woman, which in stantly disappear. They explore the passage and find Big Donald wounded and carry him out into a hut. King captures Dunn and extracts informa tion. The "specter" appears to Jean, also killing a soldier. The Federals make a dash for freedom. King is wounded. He reveals his identity to Jean, avowing his love for her. King sees the insane woman. She escapes. King in the act of again searching the tunnel for her is attacked. He finds bis assailant to be Daniels, who sus pects his wife of being the murderer and thinks Jean might know. While Jean is easing his suspicions Big Don ald confronts Daniels and offers to set tle the feud, but Daniels refuses. King and O'Brien attempt to escape, but are forced to barricade themselves within a hut occupied by Daniels' wife and children, who lend their aid in the do fence. Tlife Fight the Avowal. HE sight of Dunn robbed me of all judgment, left me reckless and desperate, lie was beyond range of luy revolver, but 1 emptied it: into the faces of those near er. For the moment our tiro staggered them, but there were loo many out there to be held back long by so small a force Then, with a yell, they rush ed us. 'Only luif leudy. we tired blind ly, scarcely able to see through the smoke. With a crash the end of the timber struck, splintering the boards and tearing the lower hu.lt ot the door lrotn us fastenings. The woman was flung backward, her l'i-o discharging us she leu, una ®tei?ss A FatfttMh Amvarsaify War Ste IBY IRAFSIDMX PAElte COPYRIGHT. 1909, EY A. C. MrCLURG & CO. PROLOGUE OF THE STORY. Elbert King. a northern soldier left for dead on ii southern 1 lattIt-IioiJ, re covers consciousness near farmhouse, where ho h*:irs .loan Denslow, a beau tiful daughter of tho south, tell her liogro servant, .loo, that soon she must marry Lieutenant Calvert Dunn, whom she does not love. King learns of 11 Movement to surprise the Federals. Anxious to got away with the infor mation. ho intercepts the prosper!ive bridegroom, appropriates his uniform nud is mistaken for him. T'mlor cover of his disguise he is married to .lean Dens low. Still undetected, he starts on horseback with his bride to Dunn's home. En route she discovers the de ception and, furious, gallops off to warn the Confederates. ller horse falls and breaks its neck, while .lean injures her ankle. Hopelessly she ac cepts King's proffer of assistance to Dunn's home. King later reports to the Federal commander, I!o«ecrans. who appoints liim lieutenant of a body of scouts, including Daniels, head of a feud faction lighting .1cm Donald, a Confederate guerrilla chief. The ex pedition leads King to Dunn's home, where ho again meets .lean, who loads him into a trap, lie escapes, only to stumble across the body of a slain Confederate officer. Fearful lest he be stigmatized with the crime. he volun tarily surrenders to ir .lorn Donald and is accused by Calvert Dunn. King is made, a prisoner in the cellar. He is visited by .lean, who wants protec tion, as all but .Imlgc Dunn, an invalid, have left the house. She releases King on his word of honor not to escape. While watching he has an encounter with what he thinks is the assassin, fluding himself overpowered by ftig Jem Donald. The tigure of Judge I sprang nsile. tripping over the boy and striking against something which rendered me for the instant helpless. Yet 1 managed to reach my knees and fired twice at the dim figures leaping toward me through the smoke. Then 1 went I jwii. grappled by dozeu hands, but struggling desperately un til pinned to tin- floor. Tin' hubbub ceased, the roar and shouting, the rattle of guns. The smoke blew out of the door in a cloud. -The elder Daniels boy was backed into a corner, the black muz zle of a gun at his breast: the younger lay on the floor apparently uncon scious. d'l'.rien was just getting up. his clothes in rags from the tierce struggle, while Maria sat on the bed. gun still in hand, glaring about her. but without a shot left. A fellow stni"k my arm a numbing blow, caus ing the revolver to drop to the floor. 1 had seen nothing of Dunn during that tierce rush, but now he stood fronting me. sword in hand and eyes gleaming in triumph. "Surrender. dirt.v Yankee spy." he shouted. "We've got you this time." In my excitement 1 laughed at the fel low. despising the cowardice of his words and scarcely real hung the power lie possessed. "All right, lieutenant." 1 returned, holding nut tnv hands. "This happens to be your turn Two cavalrymen strapped me up un til 1 lay like a log on llie floor, yet tile full significance ot this did not burst upon me until their work had been a'-comi'lislied. and I again caught sight d' Dunn's tare "What does this mean?" I insisted indignantlv. "Am I not to he treated as a prisoner of war?" "You'll lie treated for what you are. You've done the work of a spy. and von end as a spy." "i'.ur 1 am not one. and you know it. I came here as a scout in uniform. Jean's real love for Donald, but he did know of the form of marriage between us. and had every reason to believe that the Intimacy of the past few days had created a friendship dangerous to his ambition My rough treatment of him would never have led to such re prisal as compassing my death as a spy. There must be another cause, and that cause was Jean Denslow. lie stepped in between the guard and stood still staring at me. "King." lie questioned peremptorily, "is there any truth iu what I have just heard, that those murders iu the house were committed by a woman?" "Yes." 1 said, surprised ot the emo tion in his voice. "I saw her." "Yon saw tier! What was she like?" "A thin, haggard face, with wild eyes and straggly gray lu'.ir." 1 have made no attempt whatever to as sume disguise. I am in uniform how." That tie was hy disposition mean, spiteful iird cowardly I Had ample rea son to !""ow: now lie possessed means for revenge without danger to himself "l.ieulenant Dunn.' called after him. "1 might think you in earnest if von were not a soldier, but. 1 cannot believe this of a Confederate soldier." Without even looking at me he pass ed out through the dour, and 1 lay there on my side, watching the ser geant oversee the removal ot the oth ers. Maria and the older hoy were apparently unhurt, tun UT.rten had to be supported by two ot the men. while the younger lad was swung in a blan ket. After they had disappeared 6ve troopers remained, lounging in the doorway, with guns in hand, and the sergeant took nine to come over and examine my fastenings. "Your lieutenant is something of a joker, isn't lie?" 1 questioned. "Not that ever 1 heard about," he returned grufliy. "I've suspected him of most everything else, but never of that." "You mean he really intends to hang tne?" "1 reckon he dues. We all are sot diers." he replied dually, "an" 1 reckon what tlie lieutenant says goes. Far as I'm consumed, stranger, a Yank's a Yank, and l'ui uillin' ter string 'em all up if them's the orders. The boys mostly feels like that." They set me up where 1 could lean against the bud. my hands and feet strapped securely, mv limbs numb Irom the tightness of the fastenings. The sergeant sat opposite me in a chair tilted against the wall, his eyes partially closed, but his jaws busy ou the tobacco in bis cheek, the guard blocking the doorway. Dunn had reason to bate me—great er reason perhaps than he knew, and sufficient certainly to make him anx ious to get me out of the way for all time, lie might uot be aware ot He stopped gaining control of him seit with an effort. "Do you know what I'm going to do with you? I am going to hang you to that tree yon der as a Yankee spy." "That will be brave deed. Lieuten ant Dunn, but one you are no doubt capable ot. But there is oue thing you did not dare do—confess your purpose to Jean Denslow." "This lias uothiue to do with Her Oh. I know the trick you played on the girl, and believe she will rejoice to be thus easily rid of you. You may not be spy. but you have done a spy's work and are going to meat a spy's fate. Connors!" The sergeaut. who had been watching us through half closed eyes, rose to his I eel and saluted. "Here, sir" The sergeant grinned, looking me over coolly. Dunn evidently knew his man. for he snapped out his orders slia rply. "Unstrap his legs and get him on his feet. Take the fellow's jacket off: the collar is loo high. Here. Muun. you and Franklin hold him by the arms. That's right, men: outside with him. We'll give the lad another look at the sunshine." They were grimly in earnest, hold lug me roughly and forcing me for ward through the door. 1 saw the back ot the house a hundred yards away, most of the troop ol cavalrymen loung ing beside the well. The majority re mained where they were, staring curi ously at us, but a half dozen got upon their feel and strolled iu our direction Scarcely knowiug what I did. yet obey ing the pressure on either side. I tid vanced until jerked to a halt. Before uie dangled a tope with a noose at the end.' I heard a bird singing on the branch above, yet 1 saw nothing but a maze of faces and that daugliug noose which was intended to choke out my life. Some one struck me, and the blow broke the spell. 1 looked into Connors taee. then beyond him into the eyes of Dunn "You infernal cur!" 1 said coldly. "It von ifuuk this wins you the wom an you'll learn join mistake." A band leacfied over my shoulder, grasped the rope, anij I tell the uoose seltle about luy neck anu tighten. 1 know not lroiu helm- she came or how. In that tirst second 1 though', it a dream, vision, but it was Jean, and she looked quest ionitigl.v at the sergeant. "What are joti going to do: He stammered. "We were gntu to hnui a spy. nia atn." "Ibis man is no spv. Lieutenant Dunn, you are in command here. I this jest or earnest?" "This is a military matter." he began roughly, "and im affair ot yours what ever. .lean. I will not brook your in I lerference. This man his penetrated our lines. He lias taken information derived as a spy lo l-ederat headquar ters. In ordering his oxeeiuion I atn doing no more than any other officer would.' She looked directly into his face, her cleat eyes reading the truth behind Ills words. .Suddenly she turned, grasped the rope and lifted the noose orei my head "Thai is my answer." she said quiet ly "Yon shall not ham: this man: he is not a «pv: lie is not here as a spy tie is mv husband Wtia'ever venetii ut uent'eness (.'aI vert Dunn might assume i.-n occasion was gone uow With reddened face and blazing eyes he sprang forward, grasped her arm and tiung her aside, so tioively that she fell upon one knee. "Your husband!" he shouted, fairly beside himself with rage. "Yes. by a trick—a dirty, contemptible Yankee trick. Now I'll play another and di vurce you I saw only the girl's face as she staggered to her feet. It was white, tiie lips tirtii set. the eyes burning. "I have not said 1 dpsired a divorce.'' "Well, I d". and I'm going to hang this man. You can stay and see the job done or you can leave, just as you please. Connors, replace that rope!" I siiw a quick movement of the girl's hand, an outstretched arm, the glitter of a steel barrel. "Lieutenant Dunn." she said, her voice without a tremor. "I am a wo [mm, but you are going to listen to me. If yon move or one of your men puts ha ad on the prisoner I shall fire I acknowledge this man as my hus band 1 acknowledge myself as his wife. I dare you to lay violent hands upon him." "You think that revolver will pre vent." he sneered. "With one word uiy men would overpower you." "Not before 1 could pull this trigger. But there is still another reason—Colo nel Donald is now riding in through the gnje. Within two more minutes he will be here. He knows Lieutenant King." Her hand dropped to her side, and her lips smiled. "Now. if you wish to, show your authority." All Dunn's pretended bravado seemed to desert him at these words. Suddenly Donald trotted into the midst of the group, two men behind hint, and drew rein sharply. '•Ms "What Is the meaning of this?" he questioned. "Jean, what are you doing here? Dunn, 1 should like some ex planation of this." "I am not under your orders," growl ed the lieutenant. "1 belong to the regular Bervlce." Donald looked at the man contemp tuously. "Which you continually manage to disgrace," he said coldly. "Lieutenant King, what did these fellows propose to do with you?" "Hang me as a spy." 1 answered. "It would have been ovejr with me bj now but for the heroism of Miss I ens low." "Lieutenant Dnnn." he said tersely, "it's perfectly true that 1 have no :ui thority over you in the service, but I think you know, what it means to op pose me now. Irregular I hough I am. a word from me to Cenerr.l Johnston relative to this matter will bring you face to face with a court martial. This prisoner is not a spy ami has never acted in thai capacity You were thor oughly nware of that fact." "Then 1 hold him as prisoner of war Take charge of him. Connors." "Wait!" The single word rang nut like a shot, and the sergeant stopped instantly, unable to decide whom lie had better obey "He is not your pris oner. Dunn, bt'.t mine If a man of you lays hands on him again you shall an swer for It to me." "Your prisoner: My Cod. how? We captured him in light. That fellow cost us six men." Donald flung one liooted leg over the pomtnel of his saddle and calmly rest ed a revolver along it. his gaze on the excited faces. "1 am very sorry lor that, lieuten ant." he admitted quietly, "but j" should have let him alone. Most ine: tight when driven to it. King was prisoner and on parole when you at tacked him. 1 have special authority to parole prisoners whom 1 cannot send into headquarters. Lieutenant King is my prisoner, and 1 propose to hold him by power of thiV He touched the deadly black barrel resting in his right hand and smiled. "Fennel, untie Lieu tenant King's hands. Lieutenant Dunn, 1 shall expect you tn the library in ten minutes I sat down facing the table where Judge Dunn died, and in the silence my mind insensibly began to review those swiftly recurring events of the past few days. It seemed to me 1 had lived years since coming lo this house—years full of violence, death, danger and exeite- And how nient. And how greatly was cost her much to make that open avowal before Dunn and his men she was driveu to it by hope of saving my life. It would be harder yet to confess the truth to Donald. I had gone no further In my thought when he came iu. "I am picking up the ends of a rath er tangled skein, King," he said easily, "but little by little it is straightening out." We waited for, perhaps, five minutes In silence. Donald seemingly buried in thought. The lieutenant came in with a distinct swagger, his sword clatter ing against the door, as he stitlly came 3 1 I*™ 1 VTK WElli GOIN"' TO U.'.KO A 8r7, MA'AM." to attention. Donald smiled, gazing at him quietly. "Kindly take that chair, Lieutenant Dunn," lie said, "and I will detain you for only a moment. Is it true, as I have always been led to believe, that your mother died twelve years ago?" The man's face changed Instantly, his hands grlppiug the arms of the I chair. indebt- -jj ,. mother! Why—why do you ask nd to Donald ar.d lo Jean! 1 wondered that?" if she would .confess to him now the "Because Lucille said something yes story of our relationship. It must have terday which aroused my suspicion. A THRILLING RACE TRACK ROMANCE A Love Plot of Absorbing Interest, the Heroine of Which Is a Charming Widow I have just returned from Bartonvllle. The records of the asylum show she was taken away from there, uueured. by your father. Is this true?" "Yes." the v,oice scarcely audible. "Did she die later?" "No." "Where has she been kept concealed all these years?" Dunn wet his lips, his hands trem bled. "In the west attic," he admitted at last. "It—it was fitted up and she has been confined there ever since. It has been our family secret." "Your mother is not now in the west attic. The men who have met their death in this house have been attack ed by a woman. Did you know this?" Dunn rose to his feet, trembling. "Not until a short time ago. Colonel Donald. 1 feared it might prove to be my mother. What—what can 1 do?" "Go with us in search," and Donald stood erect. He crossed the room to the hall, as if the affair were settled, and we fol lowed without exchanging a word or a glance. Much as 1 despised Dunn I could not now but feel a certain sym pathy for him. "We'll try the tunnel, King," said Donald swiftly. "Lift the andiron. Who do you suppose closed tho trap?" "Jean probably, for fear some one might notice." The secret door swung as easily as ever on its pivot, revealing the In terior. "The man never took the lantern'!" 1 exclaimed iu surprise, straightening up and pointing at the shelf. Our eyes met in understanding. In our minds was the same thought—perhaps just below we were to discover an other tragedy. Donald descended first, after light ing the lantern and throwing the illu mination well down the shaft. 1 fol lowed, with Dunn loitering In the rear. Wo grouped together at the foot of tho ladder, all alike dreading the possibilities of the dark passage. Donald advanced a step or two, hold ing the lautern high so as to throw the ruys of light forward. There we saw revealed an outstretched hand. We were used to death—death by vio lence—but this discovery in that place, our nerves already strained to the ut most, came like a shock. It was a ghastly sight, that one white hand showing there in the ray of light. Dunn gave utterance to a single cry of horror, but Donald and I pressed forward silently, determined to know the truth. A dozen stops and we stood beside tho body, able at glance to comprehend the whole story. [To bs concluded.] & \r- iV"' mmM