Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/323

THE TESTIMONY OF A WITNESS is here alone; both Donald and Calvert Dunn are absent. I pledge you my word no harm shall befall you if you will go with me at once. If this strange woman is your wife Jean Denslow will know it. If not, then we must all unite to find out who she is. No matter what bitterness of hatred this feud has put in your heart, you don't want these cowardly murders charged against you. You are a fighting man, Daniels; now meet this thing square."

I could read the struggle in his face, yet I must have spoken the right words, for he managed to say at last: "I'll go to her with yer, Leftenaut, I'll go; but I never thought I'd ever go ter one o' thet breed on no mission o' peace, an' blame me if I would to nary one but her. I allers reckoned she was squar, an' I ain't got no fight with her, but thar'll be hell ter pay if I run up agin any o' ther rest o' 'em. Yer'll bear thet in mind, sir."

"All right, Daniels," I responded, glad to get this much consideration out of him. "I am risking trouble, as well as you. The fact is I am practically a prisoner, but the girl has opened a way for my escape during the absence of the others. If they arrive before I get away, my game is up. In such case we shall have to stand together." He was gazing down the black passage. "Come on, there is no use hunting in that direction. You came from there, and if the woman escaped through this tunnel she is beyond reach now. Will you go with me to Miss Denslow? Give me your hand on it."

He was not yet satisfied, but the desire to find his wife, [ 305 ]