Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/158

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH "A kindly thought," I returned coldly, "and one worthy of a soldier. Miss Denslow, I do not really mean to question what has been said, but should feel better satisfied to hear your corroboration. Is this story true?"

Her eyes met mine frankly.

"It is perfectly true," she said simply, "only Colonel Donald has told but a small portion of it."

"Then, Colonel, I feel greater confidence in relating the remainder of my own tale. I have absolutely no connection with Daniels except that of command, nor have I any sympathy with lawlessness and murder. I escaped from the room in which I was confined perhaps an hour ago, by way of the cellar. Finding the door leading to the garden securely locked, I was driven to the main hall, seeking passage from the house. While hiding there, I overheard sufficient of your conversation to become alive to the fact that my situation, if again captured, would be a most serious one. You were about to proceed to where I was supposed to be still imprisoned, but first one of your number, a young officer, I judge, went up stairs to procure his revolver."

I paused as though in question, and Judge Dunn said gruffly,

"A friend of my son's, Lieutenant Navarre, and he is a long while about it."

"When this officer disappeared I sought in vain for some available exit from this floor. Finding none I hastily decided to slip up the stairs after him, and try a drop from one of the second-story windows. Just beyond the head [ 148 ]