MY
A RMft AciiMwirsiiiry WW
COPYRIGHT. 1909, BY A. C McCLURG & Ca
CHAPTER X.
ANOTHER UYSTERT.
THERE was that in both tone
and action to urge me for
ward. "It is odd you should trust
me so wholly." 1 ventured, "a Vnnkce
and a stranger and one under such
grave suspicion of crime. Why should
you trust me, Miss Denslow Y"
"Indeed 1 do not know," as if the
thought bad but Just occurred to her.
"my the act is natural to me. 1 ei
ther trust fully or not at all. 1 have
been like that from a child the serv
ant of first impressions."
"Yet you bave not forgotten my uni
form." "No. although there are times when
I seem to forget," her voice hesitated.
"1 was brought up to bate my ene
mies, to fight them bitterly and to the
death. That was the feud spirit, and
we took this feeling with us into the
war. We of the south ciung together.
I sincerely wish I could take a broad
er view."
"And you do already. You are here
now with a Yankee whom you trust.
Peculiar conditions have brought us
into sudden Intimacy. We are really
friends, aro we not 7"
"I-I am hardly ready to promise
that 1 feel kindly toward you. but 1
do not know you, Lieutenant King,
and and all my friends are on the
other side."
"Oh. no they are not. Miss Denslow.
I am your friend In spite of every
difference between us. So long as I
live there will be oue heart under a
blue uniform you may feel confidence
in. 1 do not even believe you are as
hard hearted as your words would in
dicate. Shall 1 be entirely forgotten
as soon as this episode is over? Will
you not retain some kindly memory
of me?"
"1 could nol be Indifferent to the
claim of gratitude."
"Nor can you refuso friendship
while I show myself worthy, can
your
She remained silent, a silence 1 did
not understand, yet I was unwilling
to accept It as a negative.
"You gave me your band a few mo
ments ago because you were frighten
ed and nervous. It was a comfort
then for you to feel the nearness of
one upon whom you relied for protec
tion. Will you not give me the same
hand now in token of friendship?"
It seemed to me 1 waited u loug
while, my own heart beating like a trip
hammer, as she sat there motionless
in the dark. Then there was a slight
rustle of her loose sleeve, as her baud
slipiMHl hesitatingly along the arm of
my chair. I held it for n moment In
silence, not daring to utter the mad
words That came TTirongliig lo Tiiy Tip.
"1 thank you." I said at last: "your
friendship will mean tunch to me."
"1 do not know why I am so foolish."
mIk confessed, as though the words es
ned her control "Somehow yoii
make me do things, even against my
will l-l haven't liked Yankees, you
know, and It Is pretty hard to learn to
Hie even one Yankee.
"Hut you are going to try?"
1 could l:enr the breath between her
ilf opened lips
"I don t think I hnll have to try
very hard. Somehow you do nt
ocm like n Yankee at ull."
"Jood! I am not going to seem like
one at 'east not in the sene yon
rwean "
IT I could have read the expression
In her eyes I might have dared more,
but In that darkness, her words barely
audible I mm the cautious whisper In
which we conversed, my courage fail
ed Already I had gained much, more
even than I could Justly have expected
She had trusted herself to me, and
were I to take unfair advantage of the
situation It might cost me ull 1 had
already gained of her good will.
I tiptoed forward and peered Into the
IfTorj. .ludgo Dunn. But Jjistas be
LAW f
Stony
fore, his posture unchanged, his head
bent forward upou the table. Sud
denly my ears caught the creak of a
board sounding from the top of the
stairs. I was not even certain I actual
ly heard It. yet I stepped aside Into
tbp deeper shadow of the coat rack,
every nerve a-tlngle, my baud reach
ing for the revolver at my belt.
1 "could see nothing, the circular
staircase a mere dark blur barely dis
tinguishable, yet, faint as the sounds
were, I was convinced some oue was
stealthily descending siep bystep, feel
ing a way cautiously through the
gloom. Who could it be? What pur
pose could account for such a pres
ence? I felt no doubt that this was
the murderer, seeking to complete his
work of blood, but how could I meet
him? With a shot, ending his career
with oue pressure of my finger against
the trigger, or should I attempt tak
Ing him alive, thus the more thorough
ly vindicating myself of all suspicion?
nad I been older undoubtedly I
would have chosen the safer method
but as It was I felt confidence In my
strength and in the advantage of sur
prise and was urged Into recklessness
by a desire to prove before .lean Pens j
low the extent of my courage. Thrust- j
i;ig the Uci drawn revolver back Into j
the belt. I crept forward to the fool j
of the stairs, crouching down' within
the pfindow of tile parlor doorway
Step by step the intruder came down :
toward me. yet he was almost within !
reach of iv arm before I could make
out even the dim smudge of his form.
a shapeless shadow, but looking burly
THE NEXT INSTANT I 11 AO U1M.
enough. A step more and I could see
n hand grasping the banister and thai
u clrcuiar cloak hung dangling over bis
shoulders. With teeth set. crouching
for a spring at his throat. I waited
until he pu;nted both feet on Hie llooi.
h's head turned away, peering Into the
blackness of the rear hallway. The
next instant I had him, my left arm
under his chin, my right hand bind
ing his cloak about In tu so tightly he
could not lilt an iirm
We went down together, crashing
against the lower stair, but I fell on
top. roufldent of victory, my knee
crushing his chest, my hand gruplny
his throat A moment I thought hirc
unconscious, stunued by the hard fall
then I knew I was In the grasp of a
giant, fighting for my life. I clung
to hliu madly, not dtrlng to releuse ruj
grip even king enough to grasp at a
revolver, every muscle exerted, strnln
las my, mrorJU ia-l)oiL Jiiuuduwu.
There were few tricks I did not know
in the wrestler's game, but this niau's
Btreugtli offset Hhmu Inch bj Incb b
forced me back, bis grip tairly nidging
Into my flesh, his arms pressing about
me like iron bars. There were uc
blows" nTTuTT, liti Vor33 sltolien-jusi
the heavy breathing of desperate fight
the scuttling of bodies, the sheer strain
of muscles exercised to their uttermost
1 had the advantage of posture, he ol
strength, but at lust he got me. Ills
arms crushing me n If I were in the
grasp of a hear, tearing my fingers
from his throat and forcing my body
over against the wall and my head ta
the floor. The round barrel of a pistol
was pressed into my cheek. "
A sudden gleam of light swept ovel
us both and 1 caught a glimpse ol
Jean Denslow standing white faced,
holdlug a lamp in oue outstretched
baud, the other grasping at the balustei
rail. The mau gripping me turned his
head to glance toward her. the rays ol
light falling upon his face. With
a gasp of astonishment I recognized
my antagonist to be Colonel Ponald
"Itriug me something to tie the fel
low with, Jean." he called, still crush
ing me relentlessly down. "The belt
I here on the coat rack will answer."
She acted like one unable to compre
hend the siuni'on.
"Don't you hear, Jean? Itrlng me
the helt "
"Yes. hear." she had found her
voice at last, "but what does ull this
mean? What are you doing here?
That Is l.leiiten: ut King, and there
is no reason why you should hind
him."
lie brought his eyes from her face
to mine, loosened his grip of me and
rose to his knees.
"He Is not trying to escape. I let
him out of the cellar, and he gave ine
his pledge not to run away. lie was
here with me watching the bouse,
only I fell asleep That was all I
knew until I heard you struggling."
"You released him? What for?"
"Miss Denslow was frightened." I
said, cntchlnif my breath painfully.
"She believed the murderer of Lieu
tenant Navarre was still concealed in
the house. I was here In the dark
waiting when you came down the
stairs. I supposed you to be the as
snsstn."
Donald laughed, rising to his feet
and bending forward to grasp the
girl's hands
"So that was It. .leon. denr. And
I gave yon a bad scare. You must
X forgive me. for It was unintentional,
I came back hurriedly, without wait
Ing for my men They are widely
sen tiered, and It will require several
hours yet to bring them together. I
conld nut bear to think of your being
here ;il ne I came through n secret
passage, never dreaming any ono
would be hiding In I his darkness "
lie glanced down at me. where I
had lifted myself upon one elbow.
"You should have shot me, II uienant.
"And I tun very gled I did not."
I rciur'.ifd ho'iertll.v. "I hoped to nip-
tnre the prowler so ns to vindicate
my-eli of cr!i:!f "
'S:-! e:o'v i w !i von might have
preved so f,i:imi::!e, foi I urn far from
boitiL' lo'ivm oI iiivself Hint you are
eaiilil:!' ( ''I' ll ! deed. M.v little
Jeiiu. Invc. tim-'l possess great confl
den-c In yen."
"I do. she Irnke in earnest Iv. "1
wniiM -ir;s'.:e tny ll'e upon his Inno
pence. '
"You II bare "lie b"lieflt of the
doubt. I.'i u'ciian! K ng." said His Don
ald somewhat sternly, "for 1 have rea-
ion to trust this young lady's judg
ment. However, as a mere inil.tary
precaution 1 must ask for your weap
ns." An Instant I hesitated, feeling that
uow be had come my pledge to Miss
Denslow hud been fulfilled; that any
jpportunity to escape was Justly mine.
This gin nt might be ablo to crush me
In his arms, yet with weapons In our
bands we stood on even ground, aud I
was tempted to fight It out then and
there. He read the temptation In my
eyes, his Hps smiling, his hand extend
td for my revolvers. What a tine look
ing fellow be was, his face representa
tive of character, strong, manly, his
entire bearing indicative of force and
cool, resourceful courage. The light
of the lamp revealed his clearly chis
eled features and the threads of gray
In his hair. Suddenly, In a flash, there
came to me a strange thought here
was a man to be loved, to be loved of
woman. "Dear Jean," he had ca'.Ied
ber "dear Jean." The words seemed
to burn mo as I recalled them. He
seemed- the older, twenty years or
more. But what of that?
Hesitating s'tlTT T saw her leaning for
ward, eagerly watching our faces, puz
lied by our attitude. Her hand touch
ed his sleeve, the light of the lamp
glimmering in her hair, her eyes full of
plendlng. My mouth hardened, the
grip of my fingers on the revolver butt
tightening. It seemed to mo 1 under
stood. It was Donald, not Culvert
Dunn, who stood between us.
"Please, gentlemen, do not quarrel,
at least not here, not now. See, 1
stand between you."
"Lieutenant King Is very Blow in de
livering his weapons." said Donald
quietly. "He lias perhaps forgotten I
a in the victor here."
The words were plainly a threat, but
it was the look in her eyes that decid
ed me.
"You overpowered mo with your
strength." I returned coldly, "but tho
only one I have surrendered to In this
house Is Miss Denslow. I give her my
weapons, not you."
"Oh, as you please," his Hps still
smiling. "Jean, dear, disarm the fel
low and let us get nt other work."
"Jean, dear!" Tin words stung, they
were so coolly uttered, bo redolent of
endearment, yet as she held out her
hands I placed my revolvers in them,
noting THe IIusU upon Tier Tear cbeek,
the sudden drooping of lashes over her
eyes. I felt that I understood It all
now, my heart heavy from the discov-
ery - her dislike of Calvert Dunn arose
from her love for Jem Donald. I had
been u fool, dreaming the bright,
tinted dreams of a fool. Rut I would
keep that secret to myself; neither
be nor she should ever know.
"And now that I am disarmed,
Colonel Donald, what do yon propose
doing with me?"
"As you nro Miss Denslow's pris
oner, rather than mine." he auswered
carelessly, "I propose doing nothing
more serious thau to see you do not
escape, sue. I oeiieve. nas ptaceu you
upou parole within the limits of this
house. Is this true. Jean?"
She lifted her eyes to his face ns If
to rend his real purpose behind the
kindly banter of his voice; then, smil
ing, glanced nt me.
"Yes, paroled, on tho word of an
officer and gentleman."
"flood! I accept the same, believing
Lieutenant King will Justify my faith.
Now let us work together and search
the house, beginning with the library.'
We passed into the dimly lighted
room together, but I permitted the
two to advance, thinking it best not
to arouse the vitriolic tongue of the
bnb'e and hence keeping well back
within the shadows. Ills vn a
strange posture in which to sleep so
long, his head lying sideways upon
h'.s arm. with face partially upturned
tcwaid the light. Suddenly Jean ut
tered n startled cry, so full of alarm
as to cause me to leap forward. 1
saw Donald lift tho head of the old
man, then drop it and si a re about In
dazed bewilderment. The man was
flead-deaii. with u knife wound In the
throat.
We realized the truth, all of us at
the same moment, yet were unable to
comprehend its full significance, star-
lug first ut the dead man and then
into one another's faces In a bewil
derment beyoud expression. To me It
cume like a fresh accusation, a new
link In the chain binding me. Dead!
Killed In the same manner and by the
samo hand that had stricken down Na
varre! 1 saw tho girl drop upon her knees,
burying her face upon the nearest
chair; then Donald, with Hps firm set
and white face, lifted the emaciated
form tenderly, crossed the room with
it In bis arms and pluced it outstretcn
ed upon the sofa. For a moment of
silence be stood there motionless, gaz
ing down upon the ghastly counte
nance, bis shoulders bent, his giant
form casting a shapeless shadow upon
the wall Then he turned nnd looked
mo sternly, senrchlngly in the eyes.
"What have you to say to this?" he
questioned bluntly, pointing with one
hand back at the body. "If you have
been on guard, sir, how could this
have happened?"
"The deed must have been done be
fore I was released. When first I look
ed In here Judge Dunn rested In the
samo position in which you found
bini."
"Neither of you came Into the
room?"
"No; not so us to approach the table.
Miss Denslow thought the sight of me
would arouse his anger."
"I c:mio In after the revolver belt,"
she said, her voice trembling, "but
Lieutenant King did not even enter
the room.''
Donald's form straightened, his voic
gruffer than I remembered hearing it
before.
"But you were usleep, Jean, when I
came down the stairs. Lieutenant
King bad left his chair and was in the
frout of the hall.
I took a deep breath, realizing afresh
tho peril of my positiou. Tho girl
spoke pleadingly, brokenly.
"But Lleutenaut King could not bave
done this. He is not a murderer, but
a soldier."
Donald stood between us, erect, mo
tionless.
"I do not know what to think, Jean,
he said with a grave dellbcratcness.
"I only know every circumstance
points to this man and leaves no doubt
as to my own duty. If Lieutenant
King can clear himself I will be first
to take bis band." Ills flngors drop
ped to the butt of his revolver. "You
are my prisoner. Unclasp your belt"
(To Do Continued.)
Former Residents Here.
From Wednemlay's Dally.
Michael HolTarl, Jacob IIofTart
and John Weber, all of Pierce
county, Nebraska, and living 12
miles from Plainview, came in last
night to visit relatives nnd friends
at their former home. They came
down with cattle for the South
Omaha market and thought it an
opportune time to slip down nut
visit n short time. Those gentle
men went, o Pierce county several
years ago, when the country was
new, and they have all been very
successful in farming and stock
raising and it, pleases the Jour
mil to learn of the prosperity that
lias attended them. These gentle
men were pleasant callers on the
Journal this morning, and while
here Mr. Michael lloffart, who has
been a palron for a number of
years, renewed his subscription
for another year, and also n
vanced the subscription of Mr
Henry (I. lloffart., who resides in
the sainn vicinity, for another
year.
"Had dyspepsia or indigestion
for years. No appetite, nnd what
f did oat. distressed me terribly
Ilurdnck Wood Hitters cured me.
'. II. Walker, Sunbury, Ohio.
FOR LADIES, GENTS
We are in a position to give you better values in
woolen, fleeced and cotton hosiery than you have
ever gotten before. We have a large stock and are
giving some special prices.
I
ZUCKWEILER& LUTS
SHEARS & SAWBUCK.
Shears & Sawbuck kepi a store,
Such as never was before,
City folks I hey wouldn't sell,
Wouldn't let 'em have a smell;
Fetched their money, hut, by Jing,
Couldn't buy a blessed thing.
Couldn't ineel 'em face to face,
An' then sell 'em willi good grace.
Country trade was what they
sought,
Folks w'd pay for what tliey
bought,
'Fore they saw it hide or tail.
They sent catalogues by mail
Out to every blessed one
('Sell in mail at Possum Run.
We set up at night and read
When we'd orler been in bed.
Hooks was 'bout, as big as sin,
Had a lot of pictures in,
And a bolt of merchandise,
Vry kind and ev'ry size,
Oivin' prices that they swore
Knocked out every country store.
Looked so straight an' seemed so
true
bit at it Jim did, too.
Jim, my neighbor 'cross the way,
Nest man ever worked in hay.
Just let him top off a stack,
Shed's rain like u turkey's back;
Pleasure just to see him work,
Never knew of Jim to shirk;
Swings the syclhe like it was
play,
I.ove to watch him work in hay.
Well, we like a pair of fools,
Sent of, got, some Maying tools.
Jim got harness and a plow,
r, a range I sec it now
Drat the thing, it was so light
Used it for a torch one night,
Towed the darn thing in the yard,
Use it now for rendering lard.
'Fore Jim used the plow an hour,
Fn'd the blamed thing wouldn't
scour;
Tried the harness, broke a tug,
Went to Olsen's stole his jug.
In the cooler all that night,
Jim reflected on his plight,
In the mnrnin' old Al Stout.
Hardware merchant, bailed him
out.
Since he left the Possum jail,
Jim savs he won't buy goods by
mail.
Home merchants are cheap; any
how Might have saved Jim on the plow.
Jim says, "We can't sell no truck
To sich folks as Shears & Saw
buck. They will lake our cash away,'
Hut won't buy our corn or hay.
That seems pretty strange to me."
So I told Jim t hat I'd see.
Asked 'em what they'd pay for
oats,
Couldn't they use some likely
shoats,
Or a few good cords of wood;
How about four tons of hay,
I could ship them right, away?
Could I furnish Mr. Shears
With his family roasting ears?
Also, would my friend, Sawbuck,
Huy some of my garden truck?
THE BURLINGTON EXHIBIT GAR
Containing samples of grain, grasses, fruits and vegetables grown by
farmers in the Big Horn Basin and Yellowstone Valley, will stand nt the
Burlington Depot, Lirrioln, Neb., Until February I Oth, 1912
You are especially invited to come to this Exhibit Car and talk over with
me the various opportunities to acquire farm homes and to establish
mercantile business institutions in these two rich irrigated farming districts.
1 Come Any Day.
D. CLEM
Pin
fo)W
on u
AND CHILDREN!
Answer came one summer day,
Said they couldn't use our hay,
Couldn't use our oats or shoats,
Didn't like our Hilly goats,
And no wood, for they use coal.
When they needed truck to cat,
Hotight it down on Water street.
Sorry, but they must refuse
Anything but cash to use.
I sat down and wrote 'em then,
"Hale to trouble you again,
Hut I want to thank you, sirs,
For your bunch of cockleburs.
If you love your fellow-man;
Do him good, sirs, while you can.
While our merchants sweetly
sleep,
Shears & Sawbuck shears your
sheep.
Medicines that aid nature are
always most effectual. Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy acts on this
plan. It allays tho cought, relievos
the lungs, opens the secretions
and aids nature in restoring the
system to a healthy condition.
Thousands have testified to its
superior excellence. Sold by F. O.
Fricke & Co.
Oup Business.
The Platlsmouth Journal as
serts tliat Paul Clark's home is in
the west, and that he is a resident
of Lincoln for political purposes
only. This is unjust as well as
untrue. Paul Clark has alwayB
been a resident of Lincoln. True,
he has made a little money, and
now and then takes a trip to Cali
fornia, hut isn't it, about time to
quit damning a man because he
has made some money? The
longer we think about it the more
we believe that the man who is
cajiablo of managing his own
business successfully is a pretty
good man to choose when looking
for one to manage the public's
; business. Will Maupin's Weekly.
If Mr. Maupin will step down tb
Plattsmouth some time we will
soon convince him that wo are as
able to look after our own busi
ness as he is, and are not always
"hutting in" where we have no
business.
When given as soon as the
croup cough appears Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy will ward off
an attack of croup and prevent all
danger and cause of anxiety.
Thousands of mothers use it suc
cessfully. Sold by F. G. Fricke
& Co.
Fiddlers' Contest.
The Independent Order of nod
Men of Plattsmouth, remembering
the unbounded success which they
met with in their first tiddlers'
contest a year ago, have decided
to have another one this winter,
and have selected February 16 as
the date. Nebraska City News.
Miss I.ouretta KatTcnberger
and Fdward (Sabelman, of near
Cedar Creek, were in the city to
day to attend the marriage of Mr.
(Jabelmann's sister, Miss Clara
Ciiihelmann.
Mrs. H. F. Crook visited Omaha
friends for a few hours today, gt
ing on the early train.
Open Evenings Z
DEAVER, Immigration Agent,
1001 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska