When she saw Dick her hand flew to her throat, but when the pulse ceased to beat so hard it came away and she looked at him fixedly.

Then a slow smile like the dawn spread over the severe, worn face.
"Come in, Margaret, and put down your basket," said the colonel in a genial tone.

"Meanwhile bid welcome to our unexpected guest, a young man of spirit and quality with whom I was holding converse before you came.
He does not wish to go out to-night, because there are many violent men abroad, and he would avoid them." Then he turned to Dick, and asked in a tone, sharp and commanding: "I have your word, young sir, that your unexpected visit to our city was not of a secret nature; that is, it was not of a lawless character ?" "An accident, sir, an accident pure and simple.

I answer you on my honor.

I have seen nothing and I shall not seek to see anything which I should not see." "Margaret," continued the colonel, and now his tone became deferential as behooved a gentleman speaking to a lady, "shall we ask him to share our simple quarters to-night ?" The lad slowly turned his gaze to the face of the woman.