Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/145

AN EFFORT TO ESCAPE "He means," said some one else, quickly breaking in as if impatient, "that this man came here as an outlaw. Bill Daniels has returned; he was seen on Sand Creek last night, and this fellow was one of the men in his party. I don't know who he is, and I don't care, but he's working with Daniels, and probably wearing that uniform inertly to gain entrance here. He's no member of Rosecrans's staff, but Daniels's spy, and I'm for treating him as such. We've driven that gang out of this country once, and now we've got to keep them out, or have the same trouble all over again. It was Donald he asked after, was n't it, Jean?"

"Yes," the reply so low I could barely hear, "but I believe he is what he claimed to be."

"Oh, you'd believe anything. I have n't seen the fellow, but I understand he is young and good-looking. That makes virtue enough for a woman. I suppose he whispered some sweet things to you also."

"He behaved as a gentleman," the voice grown stronger from indignation. "He treated me with respect, which is more than you seem inclined to do."

"You are extremely tender toward Yankees since you rode off with one the other night."

"I have certainly discovered that the color of the uniform does not make the man."

"What are you two quarrelling over?" the Judge's voice broke in impatiently, and I could hear him pound the table with his hand. "Miss Jean has done her full duty, and needs no chiding from any of us. This man is her prisoner, and all we have got to decide is what [ 135 ]