MY
LAW
TM
By RWALL
COPYRIGHT, 1909. BY A.
CHAPTER VII.
WITH JEAN DENBl.OW.
WE attained the east bank of
Snlter's creek early In the
afternoon, still riding In ad
vance of the main body, but
encountering no force of the enemy
8o:iiclent to dispute our progress.
Guerrillas had suddenly swarmed forth
from the mountain lairs, swooped down
tmon ho vera I 111 guarded supply trains,
firlveu off the guards from at least two
and Titled the wagons.
Ilosecruus ordered me to rapture
Donald. "If you succeed it will mean
captaincy." he said. I routed Dan
iels und O'Brien from a comfortable
eamptire and set them to the uisessary I
preparations. I cared nothing for bis
feud spirit It seemed a small thing to
me then.
'Where would you suppose. Daniels,
is the best place for us to begin our
8eurchV" I asked.
"Long Sand crick. I don't know
wunr Donald holds out right now. but
reckon if we took thet ol' villain
Dunn an", held h's feet in ther fire fer
awhile he'd come mighty nigh show
in' u ther spot."
"Daniels." I asked, "what have you
got against old Judge Dunn?"
"What nev I got? Didn't he hold
me fer murder? An' wouldn't he bev
hung me if 1 bedn't got away? An
"K1NU-HOW HOW STIUNUE!
wasn't tliet son o' Ills with Big .Toil
Donald when they shot Inter my cabin
up at I'.aid inottnthig'f An' didn't br
bead ther posse that run uie across
tber Cumberland? Maybe tlxT of
ledge ft 1 ii t In ther feud, but he's get
an eiieny in Bill Daniels .list ther
same."
It was a lo!! night's tramp I crept
silently forth from the cleft where mv
party !epl. Some stivnrre Itnpuls"
drew CjO toward the Dunn house. It
nay have biv;i .the ineniory of .lean
Densldw. yel I permnleil myself It
was tiope of learning there snniet Ulna
r the whereabouts of this Big Don
olit for whom we were senrehtiur.
1 Paw her first, yet with no opportunity
to escape, for almost Instantly she per
eelved my presence and flung up one
hand, her ecs tilled with apprehen
sion. Fearful lest she should scream
I rcinuiued motionless, but managed to
aay: "Do not be uluruied. 1 am not
hero to do injury."
"Dut wUat are yon doing here? You
you are a Yankee!"
1 commund a scouting detachment
lr oe mm
Of
TM
i
mm
IPaBURBSM
C McCLURG & CO.
back in the "hius." T euaieJ. "an!
came down here seeking information I
j thought might be gained from your
negroes."
"Perhaps you would like to question
me?"
"I will test yon. Where can I find
Big Donald-Big Donaid is the name
he is known by in our army-the guer
rllla leader who holds a Confederate
commission."
"And if I knew, do you suppose I
would ever tell you? 1 know nothing
of Big Donald."
I could see the fush spring to her
cheeks, the swift rising and falling of
her bo'om. but her unflinching eyes
were rjion mine.
"Whose house Is this?"
"You know nlready-it Is Judge
Dunn's plantation. Ftiirvlew."
"Are yo-.i his daughter?"
"No; merely a guest."
"Of whom does the family consist?
She hesitated, biting her lips.
"Why do you ask all this? Are you
pnllantly contemplating an attack on
the house?"
"No." I said: "we uie soldiers, not
guerrillas. I confess it Is curiosity more
than anything else, and -because
like to talk with you."
"With me. Indeed! You have the l:i
solence or the north. Who are yon?"
"A lieutenant on the staff of Gen
eral noseernus."
"What Is your name?"
"King."
She drew a quick, startled breath,
her hands clasping tightly.
' "King-how-how strange! Do you
know au Elbert King of your army?
A a sergeant of artillery?"
I waited as If thinking, endeavoring
to determine which would be best, to
deceive her or confess the truth out
right. Something in her face forced
me to the falsehood.
"Yes. Reynolds' battery- fie was re
ported killed In our last battle. Did
you know him?"
"No. not really: indeed. I have nev
er seen his face. I wondered If you
could be the same'." her voice falter
ing over the words.
"That sounds strange that you
should know his nnine and all about
him. yet never have Peep his face."
"He was not killed, only wounded
lie came to our plantation In the night
endeavoring to escape Into your lines.
I-1 aided him."
"Theu you surely don't hate all Yan
kees." 1 exclaimed, almost eagerly.
"You mistake." with dignity. "lie
was nothing to me. 1 assisted bim tin
intentlaliy. not even knowing be wns
u Yankee."
"If you had known would you have
betrayed him?"
"Not merely as n fugitive perhaps,
but as a bearer of Important news to
our enemies 1 would."
"And me?"
She looked at me. her eyes almost
angry In their gray depths, her lips
pressed closely together.
"We are enemies, not friends." she
returred calmly. "W your mission
peace.'
"So far as this bouse Is concerned
I coiuo iu peace, but I come seeking
the men Donald. Is he concealed In
tin house?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"If I return with my men and search
the promises"-
"We could not pre out such au out
rage." she broke In swiftly. "But It
will be needless to call your force
The house 1". open. Yon may make
the search yourself."
Had I been older, more experienced
and had the invitation come from
some other than this quick wilted girl
I might easily have questioned its hon
esty. "You meau you will act ns my
guide? Who nre within?"
"Judge Dunn, bis daughter Lucille
and a few house servants; no one you
need fear." a touch of sarcasm In the
low tone.
'And you are?"
'Jean Denslow, at your nervlce."
W&ir Story
dropping me a courtesy.
"Very well. Miss Denslow. If you
cau satisfy mo that no guerrillas are
harUired here I will see that yon are
left undisturbed In the future."
We entered the house. 1 was Im
pressed by the air of elegant comfort
displayed in furnishing cud decora
tion. We wont forward to a door that
opened to the left of the stairs, and
the girl knocked lightly. A deep vol-e
nnswered. and I followed as she step
ped within. I saw dimly the motion
less figure of a man dlre-tly facing
us. The shoulders were broad, her
culean, the heed large, massive, croon
ed by n shaggy mass of Iron gray hair,
the eyes looking out from cavernous
depths, no must have observed my
uniform with the first glance, for he
burst out in a gruff, snapping voice.
"What's that Yank doing here?"
"Walt. Juc'-re." exclaimed my fair
guide. "It Is all right; he is a'one.
and has c-cered on my invitat'on
This is Lieutenant King of General
Rosecrans' staff."
"You are the first Yankee who ever
put foot In my house, sir, and I hope
you'll lie the last What do you
want?"
he pi-rmiiicd mo no opportunity for
reply. stand'Hf: almost directly between
us
Ll 'iitcu.-Mit King Ins a force of men
o"cl; Pi tl;.- hi!N bunting after By
Iih)'(1 lie "jkup lu-re alone, and I
vol:ntecr"d to let him seap-h the
house I tho'n'it vou won'd prefr
bavliiL' It done by one alone rather
than by u lot of rough soldiers. L.en
tenant King is a gentleman."
I'he Judge evidently was struggling
wi'li a temper hard to coutrol.
It will be merely a matter of form
I endevored to explain. "We know of
your sympathy with this outlaw, and
I shall be only too glad to relieve you
of all suspicion of harboring him."
Oh, jon do know that, do you, you
young whlppersnapper. I'm an old
mau -an old mnn. I could have fought
you once, but not now. Go on nud
search the house; you are safe enough
alone with only a paralytic and two
women to oppose you. Lord! but I
wish Donald was here."
The girl stepped back, hr cheeks
flushed from extltemeut, and touched
win
'tis'
I BTOfinro I HF.LKAHIKO TUB FXTIHR
LENGTH OK I' LA NR.
my sleeve with her band. "Come." .she
said softly.
In the hall she avoided looking at
me. apparently merely eager to finish
as soon as possible n disagreeable task.
"I feel quite ashamed of thus Intrud
ing" 1 began, conscious of the grow
ing restraint In her manner.
"I have long siuee learned this part
of the luclvlllty of war. My own home
has been searched often enough by
your soldiery. It Is to save this house
from such outrage that 1 have asked
you to act lu person
"And I shall perform my duty with
all respect
I felt the swift glance of her veiled
eves was full of thanks, but the long
lashes dropped quickly. Yet even this
set my heart throbbing as I opened the
door nearest my hand,
As I emerged from the dining room
she pointed to a small door farthest to
the left.
"'Hits Is being utilized ns a store
room, and the key Is kept lu the kitch
en." She wns back In a moment. The
room wns. dark, nnd I took n single
step within. The door crashed behind
me. nnd 1 beard the sharp click of the
key In the lock
Tor the first moment I doubted ev
erything? fT mus! oe some mistake.
sudden gust of wind liau slammed the
door Hhut. 1 coulJ not conceive this
cs the deliberate act of Jean Dens
low. 1 even called her name, believ
in'; she wou'd hasten to release me.
But there was no resin'tise, no sound
of any kind from without. The
knowledge of the girl's deceit hurt mo
more at first than my own physical
condition. I was merely an Itupilsitlvc
Yankee olhVcr searching for one she
felt obligated to protect. Tin- man
I might even be concealed within tho
bouse, on if not. some clew leading to
his whereabouts was to be discovered
there. For n long time 1 smoked my
pipe nnd made no effort to ecape.
Then I struck many matches, exnmln
In"? everything carefully, yet this was
the sum total of my discoveries. There
was no why out. and the fact that not
the slightest sound reached me sug
posted an unusual till kness of walls.
There wus uot much to encourage
a single strip of flooring, slightly warp
ed nt the Joint. Scarcely hoping for
pr ii i.vwv
niiy practical result. I Vegan C'gglng
out the dirt that had U'tame packed
hard lu tho narrow space and even
succeeded In splitting off a sliver from
the plank Itself. I f ..t a broken cb.iir
leg wedged lno the oritiio In such a
manner as to utilize it as a lever.
I was bending over this crude con
trivance when the door was opened
hasMIv a foot or two and something
I'd t'oi"v."nl along ihe floor. 1 lociit
d u plate heaped with food and a
mall ot of smoking hot coflee on the
fiou- and took a glance at my watch
hr thirty; I had been Imprisoned
for hours!
I aie li'-e a famished wolf. There
was no sound wit bout, no evidence
that I was under any special guard.
With heart rapidly beating I -rept
across to where I had previously heen
nt work. fiMy determined now to test
the elili ien. y of my Improvised lever
The board came up slowly, the only
.sound a slight rasping of the nails.
By moving my apparatus I thus sue-
ceded In releasing the entire lencth of
the ph'tik Except for the joists 1
on tl Icel nothing below, yet It was
necessary to !isim!::o a second hoard
before I -nim nuccooit In squeezing my
body ihrnii'-'li the narrow opening. I
swung down tii rough the opening t mis
made and lot ro mv hold. The fail
ould not have been more than a few
feet, yet my knees doubled under as 1
struck, and I pit hed forward upon mv
hands
I was l:i a cellar, the floor paved with
irregular blocks of stone, the side walls
of sol d poster. 1 felt iuy w.iy cau-
tiuusly an und the three sidc-i of th
place before discovering the door, which
stood ajar, opening fonh Into a sec
oiid apartment uot greatly dissimilar,
although more Uttered up with various
odds and ends. I arrived finally at the
opposite entrance. Ihis door was
closed, but unlocked, opening Into the
uarrow had through which Miss .lean
had first conducted me into the house.
My heart bounded with exultation
us 1 struck a niatcli and recoguized my
surroundings. The exit leading to the
garden wns at my right, and before
the flame died I had my hand ou the
latch. I found the door securely lock
ed, the key gone. I tested my strength
vainly against its solid panels; evident
ly I must discover some other passage
leading out. and the only opportunity
would be found on the Boor above. I
overheard voices from the library.
"Put this Isn't war." There was no
mistaking Ju'ge Dunn's voice'." "Tu
bus uo rights as a soldier, for he Is not
here In course of duty."
"What do you mean?" It was a wo
man who asked this, but not Miss
Denslow, and I thought of the Judge's
daughter.
"He means," said some on- else,
quickly breaking In ns If impatient,
"that this man came here as un out
law. Bill Daniels has returned. I
don't know who he Is. and I don't care,
but he's working with Daniels and
probably wearing that uniform merely
to gain entrance hnre. He's no mem
ber of Rosecrans' staff, but Daniels'
spy, and I'm for treating him as such.
It was Donald he asked after, wasu t
it. .lean?"
"Yes." the reply so low I could bare
iv hear, "but I believe he is what he
claimed to be."
"Oh. you'd believe anything. 1
haven't seen the fellow, but J under
stand he Is young and good looking
That makes virtue enough for a wo
man. 1 suppose he whispered some
sweijt things to you also."
lie behaved line a gentleman. - iu
voice grown stronger from Indignation.
"He treated me with respect, which Is
more than you seem Incl'ned to do,
"You uie extremely tender toward
Yankees since you rode off with one
the other night."
"I certainly have discovered that the
color of the uniform does not make thr
mnn."
What ore you two quarreling
over?" tho Judge's voice broke in im
patiently. "Miss Jean hns done her
full duty nnd needs no chiding from
any of us. if 1 knew who this man
wns nnd what brought him here I could
decide his treatment mighty quick."
"What would you do?"
"if he's a Yankee otllcer, turn him
over to Johnston us a prisoner of war;
if be Is a spy for Bill Daniels, hnug
him to the nearest tree."
In the Intense silence 1 could dls
Ungulsu the quick Indrawlngof breath.
I BrAHKD AT ONLY ONt OBJECT.
a murmur, ol eruff tones, and then a
woman's vol' e.
Have bim in here and let htm inakt
answer for himself. Mirely the three
of vou are not afraid of one man?"
1 heard a new, deeper Voice speak.
"Did you say he was armed?"
"He carried two revolvers in his
belt."
"Then we shou'd go prepared. Have
fu weapons with you. lieutenant?"
"No; they are in my room, i wll'
run up nnd get them "
Crouching bthind the batrnck, I
caught merely a glimpse of the man's
back as he raced np the circular stair
case three steps at a time, but be wore
a short gray Jacket and long cava I
ry hoots, well splashed with mud Per
haps I could get upstairs before the
officer had so tired his weapon and slip
luo some pMitn having a wlriow. It
would not be much of a drop to the
ground. I turned to the right, circled
the head of the stairs and opened the
first door yielding to my touch. I took
a single step within and stopped as
helpless to move as though paralyzed,
one hand clutching my revolver, the
other still Umui the knob of the door.
I stared at only one object n motion
less body lying outstretched upon the
floor.
Could It be possible this was th.
same -officer who h"d Just passed up
the stairs? 1 would be connected with
the crime.
I sprang forward, aroused to action
by the fear that gripped me and peer
ed out. As I lor nod across the window
si.l my hand touched soiuoth.ui; moist,
and 1 lifted it to the light, perceiving
the red stuln of blood. 'Ihe murderer
had hung ther an Instant betore he
dropped.
1 would face this like a man. I
would ally hiyselt with her and her
friends. 1 would help to trace dowi
the tiend guilty of so foul an a u i
oencd the door and came faie to lace
with Jean Denslow.
(To Be Continued.)
KSTIMATR CP FXVKNSK KOIl CASH
IOUKTV I'OIl TUN VKAIt itili
An Mndr hjr (he llonrd of County
CiimiiilHMlonrri) of Cnxn County,
January 0. lUllt.
Court House expense .f 12,000 00
Commissioners' alarv
Z duu.uu
County Superintendent's
salary 1, COS. 00
AKHi'HHinK county 3,l00.00
Making tax list 700.00
Hooks, blanks and supplies.. 2,000 00
Ktcctlon expense 2,300.00
Fuel i r.oo.no
.lull expense 1,000.00
I'aupeM and poor fnrm 2,000.00
Countv attorney's salury .... 1,200.00
HrhlKes 32 000.00
lioinlH 30.000.00
Incidentals 5,31000
Soldiers' Keller .' 1,000 00
Court Kxpense 13,000.00
Sheriff's Salary 1.710.00
County Clerk's salary 1,(160.00
lieputy Sheriff's salary.
540.00
Total $115,550.00
I). C. MOHOAN, County Clerk.
Majestlo for St Mary's Guild.
Next Wednesday evening, Jan
uary 17, at the. Majestic theater,
will be SI. Mary's Guild night, as
the proceeds of I lie entertainment
will go to the Guild. Tickets are
being sold bv niemborH of the
Guild for the occasion, and it
tnichl be well to slate that these
tickets will be good for this night
onlv. Manager Schlaes savs he
will have an exceptionally strong
program for this occasion and the
attendance should bo large. When
you are nsked lo huv a ticket re
member it is for a good cause and
buy all Ihe ladv has left and lake
the entire familv. nemembor the
night, Wednesday, January 17.
Sheriff in Wreck.
Sheriff Quinton was in a rad-
way wreck on the M. P. Wednes
day evening, when the passenger
(rain from Omaha to Falls City
was derailed by a split switch at
Berlin. The passengers were all
tnoro or loss shaken up, but none
seriously injured. The train was
delayed for about six hours and
the south-bound passengers were
taken back to Weeping Water aid
detourcd via Nebraska City.
Cold Interferes with Work.
From Frlday'i Dally.
K. W. Zavgren and his force of
men, who have been working at
the riprap on the Iowa side of tho
river, walked over to Plattsmoulh
on the . ice this morning and
boarded the early train for Oma
ha to meet tho pay car. The cold
wind yesterday was too much for
the inen, nnd they had to quit for
milder weather.
Social Dance at Murray.
The Murray Dancing club will
give- another one of I heir social
dances at Jenkins' hall in Murray
on Saturday evening, January 20.
The music will be furnished by
Ihe Jacobs' orchestra of Omaha.
There will be n good lime in store
for all those who wish to allend.
Fop Sale.
Pedigreed Duroe-.Tersey male
pigs. V. K. I'errv,
Mvnard. Neb.
1'. M. Slogdill of Henderson,
Town, who has been visiting his
sisler, Mrs. Philinglon, for a few
days, returned to his homo this
morning. Ho was accompanied
homo by his litllo niece, Jose
phine Philington, for a few day9
visit.
RURAL1STS VISIT
SOUTH OMAHA
D:lep!es lo Farcer's Congress
tats cf Un!oji Stask Yards.
TO MEET IN OUAHA IN 1913.
Visitors Return Thanks to Women at
Home Doing the Chores Al.ied Or.
ganizations Elect Officers For Next
Twelve Months.
Omaha. Jan. 12. The delegates at
tending the Nebrask.1 fanners and al
lied orgumatlons congress are the
guests of the Un.on Stock yarda.
South Omaha, today. Special cars
took the visitors to the stock yards,
where they were shown over the yaids
and taken through several of the pack
ing houses. A luncluon was given
them in the Exchange dming hall, alt
er which n talktest was held. liruce
McCullough talked on shipping and
marketing live mock. O. G. Smith of
the Cooperative Shippers' association
delivered a abort address on "Farmei
Shipping Associations." "Farmers'
Congress" wiib fully d'scussed by fc.
C. I-awson, president of the Farmers'
congress.
Crain Men Select Omaha.
Omaha v. as selected by the Farm
ers' Cooperative Grain and Live Stock
State association ns tho place for next
year's meeting.
The following officers were elected:
President. J. S. Cnnaday of Mlnden;
vice president, E. P. Hubbard of
Juniata; secretary treasurer, J. W.
Shorthlll of Hampton; directors, C. J.
Peterson of Teknmah, Hans Selck ot
Elgin; J. S. Canaday of Mlnden. 13. P.
Hubbard of Juniata, J. W. Shorthlll ot
Hampton.
A iinnnlrtf-us vote of thanks was gtv
en to the women who stayed at home
to milk the cows and feed the plgB.
The vote to the women was made on
motion of E. E. Price of Shlckley, see
onded by E. P. Hubbard of Junlnta,
who admitted that he was ashamed to
hnvlng come away from home, leaving
tho "women folks to do the chores,"
with the mercury below lero.
Mr. Price said It was the women
who had mado the convent'on a suc
cess In spite of the fact that hut one
woman 'was present at tho session.
He sn'd If the women hndnt been will
in?' to do tho chores, the men couldn't
have come to Omaha.
Farmers' Congress Elects Officers.
The Farmers' congress elected th
following: officers: President. L. C
Lawsnn of Clarks; vice president. J.
D. Reem of P.rokcn How; second vice
president. Frank Tannlhlll of Nor
folk; third vice president, J. B. Grhi-nell-
secretary treasurer, W. S. Dolano
-r 1 Inroln.
At the meeting of the allied organi
zationsthe c.oopeiatlve men andtha
Farmers' congress Willis E. Reed ot
Madison delivered nn address on
prices. Scientific Investigation, ho
said, shows that prices of a given
commodity rise and fall In cycles ot
certain duration with such regularity
that Inflation and depression can be
UiretoM. He suggested that the farm
nun advocate that the government ln
vcrtlgato the facts of these cycles and
make them public. This, he said,
would warn people ngaliiBt making
their contracts tall due In times of
dci resslon and would avert wi.ole.sal
bankruptcies.
Ihe alteinoon session of the coop
erative men wns taken up with a live
ly discussion as to whether the man
ager of n farmers' elevator, not an
owner of stock In the company, should
i. ii member of the association. In
the scrap, J. W. Shorthlll of Hampton
and G T. Rrlggs of Cook, who had
been elected directors resigned be
cause thev were not stock owners.
Mr. Shorthlll qualified at once by buy.
ins stock from the president of Mb
company, the transaction takln? plae
before te eyes of the delesates. Mr.
Rrlggs wns unable to qualify on short
notice end Hans Se'ck of Elgin wra
chosen In h's stead.
v. p Hubbard nf Juniata BBked for
j n vote of the farmers on parcels post.
I T, Vr,t wns practically unanimous In
fnvor of It.
Herman Butcher Pleads Guilty.
Lincoln, Jrn. 12 The food onmls
Kimior's office hns received word that
Joi n Will, a butcher of Herman, had
I ,,),,,(.-., eul'ty to selling unhea'thy
ri r ri t nnd had heen fined $50. The fine
vnp the re?u'tof the nrtivit'eii of Mrs.
Harriet McMurphy, deputy Inspector.
Fto Marshal's Report
Lincoln. Jan. 12 Strte Fire Mar
she! Rnrdail Is preparln his annual
i,-o't ird expects to have It ready
for the printer within a few days. It
s''ows there were in-my more fires in
I '.111 tbnn In 1910, but tl-nt the total
fire- los wns about $.100 (Kill lens.
Officials Burned Alive by Natives.
Lisbon, Jan. 12 Horrible atrocities
have been committed by the tribes In
Portuguese Africa during n rising of
the nat'ves there, according to a dis
patch received from Angolo. A nutn ,
ber of Portuguese ollcla's, who werc
captured by them, were burned alive.
CunkePs Funeral to Be Held Sunday.
Grand Island, Neb., Jan. 12. The
funeral of Sheriff Dunkel, who wns
killed by a Union Pacific tram at
Chapman, will be held In the rotunda
of the court house Sunday afternoon
at 2 o'clock.