Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/199

ANOTHER MYSTERY "As you are Miss Denslow's prisoner, rather than mine, he answered carelessly, "I propose doing nothing more serious than to see you do not escape. She, I believe, has placed you upon parole within the limits of this house. Is this true, Jean?"

She lifted her eyes to his face as if to read his real purpose behind the kindly banter of his voice; then, smiling, glanced at me.

"Yes, paroled, on the word of an officer and gentleman."

"Good; I accept the same, believing Lieutenant King will justify my faith. Now let us work together, and search the house, beginning with the library."

We passed into the dimly lighted room together, but I permitted the two to advance, thinking it best not to arouse the vitriolic tongue of the Judge, and hence keeping well back within the shadows. His was a strange posture in which to sleep so long, his head lying sideways upon his arm, with face partially upturned toward the light. Suddenly Jean uttered a startled cry, so full of alarm as to cause me to leap forward. I saw Donald lift the head of the old man, then drop it, and stare about in dazed bewilderment. The man was dead; dead, with a knife wound in the throat. [ 185 ]