Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/301



T WAS one o'clock before Stella recovered from the first collapse of terror for the fate of her lover. And then the imperious will sum moned every energy to the struggle for his liberty and life.

She changed her riding habit and, taking Maggie, started at half past one in the morning to find Ackerman.

She had gone half way to Mrs. Wilson's before she recalled the startling fact that her relations to Ackerman were unknown, and the still more painful fact that all knowledge of her relations to the detective must now be concealed with the utmost care. She felt instinctively that if John Graham discovered her plan to entrap him into a confession and her betrayal of his generous trust in her love, he could not forgive it. She shivered at the thought of his anger and disgust.

"We'll go to the jail, Maggie," she said, with sudden energy, "where is it?"

"Right down de nex street, I show ye," Maggie answered. "I been dar lots er times. I wuz