gray hair of Judge Moran, as he hastened down the steps to greet them. I saw one man swing down from his saddle, an

expected this," she faltered,

r earnestness, nor her d

must get away. Are you ac

overy." She ran across the room, and flung open a door. "Go in there and lie down; pretend to be asleep. If the ju

the excitement she seemed

ling to do t

her voice. "When one once gets started into deceit there se

occupied the space between the two windows. The door remained half an inch ajar, and, before I could close it, some one entered the dining-room. The firs

no thought of m

oice deep, yet so low I lost an occasi

and they must go on at once. What bri

advance scouts; he

ons, Gerald, but send some man; have him kill his horse if necessar

alloped past. My head whirled--then it was not quinine for the hospitals which had brought her through the lines; she had deliberately lied to me, and instead, was a bearer of despatches. Sudde

have the straight o

hand me over prisoner to this squad of gray-jackets. Billie! The very person I was seeking; the only one who could hope to get through after all others had failed. And I had supposed "Billie" was a man,

rstand what brought you here, but wh

as an indig

"There was a man in your company when you arrived, dressed as a Yank. M

nce to the judge. Am I obliged to accoun

tion, and aware that driving would never do, changed his

I have some right to this information. Would you wish me

have no remembrance of ever interferin

th click, as though in an

ould think I were no more to you than a stranger. This is no light a

You remind me of it often en

overcome the slight restraint the captain still ex

threatened fiercely. "I know how to deal wi

sh his rapid breathing, and the slight rustl

to tell me? Or must

tlemen of my acquaintance have never been accustomed to question the motives actuating my conduct. You imagine yourself

ghed u

t in that way. Surely you understand I have

iscourtesy. I have not the slightest objection to answe

hold me at a

e best time to discuss that. W

ellow travell

he judge

d in the uniform of a Yankee lieutenant

hat informatio

an oath, evidently tried to the li

nt with me. It's merely accident that I rode in here this morning, and I immediately discover the woman I am engaged to marr

anation ought to

n! You have

Moran told you t

ghly across the floor

nothing! Who i

I don'

im alone all night, and took breakfast with him

esworth, but I don't know

ifference well,"

he lines to serve the Confederacy, but that is no evidence that I feel any personal interest in the man. Anyhow that is t

ething hidden here. You are pretending all this indifference so as to give

her feet, "do you venture to addres

. "There is something wrong here, and I mean to know what it is. If you won't tell, I'll find o

irred, nor spoke. Then the trooper entered, his heels

suspect there is a man hidden in that room yonder. I'

forward, and the g

"Am I to understand from this, Captain Le Gaire,

owar

sergeant to open that door--wh

rather un

y a way we have in the army, but if it w

on the waiting cavalrymen. Beyond doubt boldness was the best card to play. Before the rather reluctant c