edy With a Tragic Interlude by Cyrus Townsend Brady
(Copyright. 1903, by Cyrus Townsend Brady.)
CHAPTER IV.
sued Strong- Man.
S SHE heard his departing foot
steps on the porch the roor
girl threw herself down upon
her knee and lifted up her
hands.
The south and end he. mistaken but
fcUll-ah where la my duty? The ship
and Rhett Sempland! I love him. I can
Hot let him so! It would be wicked. God
Pity met But how, how to prevent It? If
X can only delay him until tomorrow. I
can tell the general everything, and 1
there a way, la there a way, oh, God?"
Bhe thought deeply, every atom In her
feeing concentrated on the problem which
tore her between lova and duty, devotion
to the cause of the south and thore other
appeals, which, finding lodgment In her
heart, moved her so profoundly. She wres
tled with the question aa to where her duty
lay aa Jacob wrestled with the angel of
old, and If aha did not conquer, at leist
lie decided. Determining on a desperate
course of action, she rose to her feet and
sharply struck a bell by her side on the
table. The bouse was an ancient mansion
when It had been rented by her aunt and
berself three years before. It dated back
to colonial tlmea. There was a strong
room In it, the windows of which were
barred. It would make a safe prieon for
anyone. He should be put in there and be
kept there until morning. He would be
safe there. No harm would come to the
hip an when the general knew he would
forgive her. Bhe would tell him the first
thing In the morning. It would cause, her
lover pain and grief, this summary action
of hers, but she could explain It to him,
too; and he would forgive her and she
would reward him with herself! There was
compensation, she thought proudly and
i tenderly.
"Caesar." she said as the aged butler
Biade his appearance in response to the
bell, "send Joe and Sam and Cato to me.
Boys," she continued as three stalwart
young negroes presented themselves befcre
ker soon after, "Mr. Sempland Is coming
here tonight to see me. I he " she found
tt somewhat difficult to explain. "General
"v. Beauregard wants him detained here. I
cannot let him get away. Show him Into
the strong room on the other side of the
bouse when he asks for me, and then lock
the door on htm. Don't let him get out
under any circumstances until tomorrow;
but on no account are you to do him any
hurt- Tou hearT Ton understand?
Ta-ss. Miss Fanny, I spec we does,"
answered Cato, the oldest and most Intelli
gent of the three.
"Caesar, you show him Into the strong
room. Say I will meet bhn there In a mo
ment He won't suspect anything, I
reckon. The rest of yon May In the pas
sage, and as soon ss he eaters lock the
door upon bum. Don't neglect that! He'll
try to get 'oat. He may break the door
down. But you must keep him there even
tf be attempts to kin you unless I say for
you to release him.
The . three slaves were devoted to their
young mistress and, accepting her orders
without a question, they at once began
their preparations to carry them out. Aa
they were talking together a light step
sounded on the porch. There was a ring
at the door. The men hurried to their
places of concealment. Miss Fanny Glen
bid In the dark drawing room, as Caesar
shamed along the hall to the front door.
"Tour mistress bas sent for me," said
t Bempland. And from where sle stood tn
the drawing room Fanny Glen's heart
leaped at the tones of his voice.
"Tee. sun.' returned the darky, obse
quiously ushering him through the haO.
, "Step right dla way, suh. Mass Sempland.
Mlas Fanny done axes you to go In dbi
room at de end of d passage, suh. An'
she told me she gwine be wtd yon tn a
minute, suh.
The room was one which Sempland bad
never entered before. It was small, fur
nished like a library or office, with sev
eral large closets and an old Iron safe, and
Toad two grated windows and one heavy
mahogany door. It had formerly been
used as an office and as a treasure room.
Seeing the visitor safe within. Caesar
calmly withdrew, and as he adroitly
coughed violently tn the paasage Sempland
did not hear the ponderous key turning
fn the old-faahtoned lock. He waited a
few minutes and then as time was precious
hm looked around for a bell. Seeing none
he walked to the door, laid his hand upon
the knob, and tried to open It It did not
ive.
"Locked"he muttered In surprise.
Raising his hand he struck a light blow
on the panels, but there was no reply. Then
m called out and received no answer. He
struck and called again and again, his
voice rising to a shout, while his hands
were bleeding from the blows he had rained
on the hard surface. Finally a voice came
to him faintly through the door.
"Wat's the matta, suh?"
"Impossible! For what reason T"
"Becaure I I "
"By heaven.", this Is maddening! Tou
don't know what you do! I am ordered
tonight on a hasirdous expedition. I must
be at my post In ten minutes. Let me out
Instantly!"
T know," returned the girl,
"Well, then, why don't you open this
door? I will say nothing of this -
"I cannot."
"Why not?"
"I I do not wish you to go out on the
h'P " said the girl so softly that he could
scarce hear her. "Tou will fbrgJv me
when you understand. I shall release yon
tomorrow. Mercy! Have pity on me, I am
almost crasy!"
"Do you know that you will dishonor met
If you care let me go.
"There Is another reason. I will not have
the "Wabash blown up. There Is a a
"Another man?" shouted Sempland,
"Tou are a coquette! Let me out, I sayl I
will get out! My God, wss ever a man tn
-THROW DOWN TOUR ARMS AT MV FKT, VU 1LACK HOUNDS!" SHOUTED SEMPLAND. "QUICK! OR I FIRST
"Open this door Instantly, vrm blurlr
dog! Where Is Miss Glen?"
"She's a-comin', suh."
"I wish to see her Immediately!" he
cried Imperiously, battering again upon the
door In furious rage, which was stilled the
Instant he heard her voice outside.
"Mr. Bempland?"
"What is the meaning of this action, this
outrage. Miss Glen?' he cried. "Tou sent
for ma I came. Why am I locked la
here? Open the door! I must leave Im
mediately!" "Tou are locked In bere by my orders,
Mr. Sempland, said Fanny Glen nervously.
David."
"What la It to you? How dare you Inter
fere? Tou said I had done nothing but
lie In prison," he .replied. "I will show you
tonight."
"Not tonight."
"This la madness! Think what you are
doing !'
"I can't help It
"Why not?"
"Because II .
"In God's name, what do you meanT
"I will not have you take the risk. It is
certain death, to you, and the admiral's
such a situation T" ":4fJ
He teat and hammered on the door until
his bruised hands bled again. He shook tt
In its frame Uke a madman. He was ex
hausted by the violence of his efforts and
of his passion. Through it all the girl
stood in the hall frightened nearly to death.
What mad scheme had she entered upon?
Had she strength .enough to carry tt
through? The three servants were terri
fied also, their eyes rolling in their sockets,
their hands nervously fingering their (
weapons. Suddenly another voice, '
Cae -ar's, broke through the turmoil, read.
lag even the ear of the desperate man oa ,