Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/179

ON GUARD WITH JEAN that she was deeply moved. "Surely every inch of the house could be searched, the negroes would do that."

"They have done that, unwillingly enough, I fear, yet thoroughly, under my own supervision, but I do not believe I know all the house."

"Not know all! What can you mean?"

"This house was built in time of feud, and in a feud country. Judge Dunn was then on the bench, and had made many dangerous enemies by his decisions. He was always a man to arouse animosity by his arbitrary manner and abrupt speech. As a girl I heard this house contained a hidden room, and secret passages, so arranged as to facilitate escape in time of peril or attack. Calvert Dunn has confessed as much, but he and his father alone know the secret. I have asked Lucille, but she has no information, and it would be useless to question the Judge."

"Where is he now?"

"Where you saw him last, occupying his chair in the library, his body perfectly helpless, his mind apparently as active as ever, but more bitter than before because of his physical weakness. I do not think he has slept for two nights, or that he has uttered a word, except to curse the servants who brought him food."

I had the full picture of the situation clearly before me now—the superstitious, unwilling darkies, knowing just enough to be frightened at their own shadows; the characterless and colorless Lucille, suffering from a headache and locked safely away within her own room; that vindictive old man, seated helpless in his chair, her strange [ 169 ]