Page:Randall Parrish - The Red Mist.djvu/247

 Rh Well, it was a ticklish position, but, for the moment at least, I had the upper hand. Now I must use my wit to retain it. The confused, startled look on the two faces amused me—Raymond gasped like a fish out of water, and the florid features of the colonel expressed a chagrin too deep for words. I thought he would explode, he sputtered so before he could give vocal utterance to his discovery.

"By God, it's that damn spy!"

"What!" and the Lieutenant took a step forward, only to shrink back as my revolver came to a level. "The Johnny we were going to hang?"

"Were going to—yes," and I smiled grimly, "but you are not quite so cocksure of it now. What have you here?"

I glanced sidelong at the paper on which the Colonel's hand still rested. My eyes caught but a line or two, yet enough to convince me it was an order of court-martial.

"Intended for my case, sir?"

He nodded angrily, growling out an indistinct word.

"Tear it up; I have decided against being present. You heard me—tear it up!"

He was raging inwardly, but must have read the meaning of my eyes for his hands tore the sheet across, and flung the fragments to the floor.