Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/146

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH to make of the fellow. If I knew ho he was, and what brought him here, I could decide his treatment mighty quick."

"What would you do?"

"If he's a Yankee officer turn him over to Johnston as a prisoner of war; if he is a spy for Bill Daniels, hang him to the nearest tree."

in the intense silence I could distinguish the quick indrawing of breath, a murmur of gruff tones, and then a woman's voice.

"Have him in here and ask him then. Let him make answer for himself. Surely the three of you are not afraid of one man?"

No one spoke immediately, but there was a movement of chairs, and finally out of the slight confusion I heard a new, deeper voice speak.

"Did you say he was armed?"

"He carried two revolvers in his belt."

"Then we should go prepared, as he is probably desperate by this time. Have you weapons with you, Lieutenant?"

"No; they are in my room. I will run up and get them and be down in a moment. I feel a curiosity to see the fellow."

Crouching behind the hat-rack I caught merely a glimpse of the man's back as he raced up the circular staircase three steps at a time, but he wore a short gray jacket, and long cavalry boots, well splashed with mud. What, in God's name, was I to do? There was no hope of passing that open library door unobserved. I dashed to the [ 136 ]