CHAPTER XX
I MAKE TWO PRISONERS
I SAW him stare, open mouthed, as though at a ghost. There was a startled look in his face, but no recognition. The same swift glimpse had revealed to me a discarded belt on the end of the desk, in which glittered the pearl handle of a revolver. With one step forward I had the weapon in my possession, and sprang between both men and the door.
"Not a single move, gentlemen!" I commanded crisply, yet not enturing to speak loud, for fear of a guard outside. "Lieutenant, place your gun on the desk!"
He had it half-drawn, but my weapon was aimed straight at his head.
"What the hell!" he sputtered.
"Never mind! Do as I say first, and then ask questions—take it by the barrel; now slide it across to me."
My eyes glanced aside at the face of the other, who was looking up, scarcely comprehending even yet what had occurred, and recognized Colonel Pickney. So I had blindly strayed into headquarters! 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.
"It is your turn now, Johnny," he said sneeringly, "but it won't last long. There is a sentinel outside."
"I supposed so; and any noise either one of you make will be the last sound you'll utter in this world. That is no idle threat, gentlemen; so don't take the chance. My life is at stake in this game I'm playing, and I shall shoot to kill."
"How the devil did you get here?"
"We will discuss that when we have more time. Lieutenant Raymond, I will trouble you to step around back of the desk—no, the other way; I advise you not to be tricky. Colonel Pickney, sit up in your chair, and put your hands behind you in through the openings in the chair back. Oh, yes you will! Don't be a fool, man! What is this—a hair trigger?"
I never saw anyone more thoroughly angry; he would have killed me with the utmost pleasure, and, indeed, for an instant, I expected him to actually make the attempt. But my eyes glared into his, and the pearl-handled revolver was within six inches of his head, and the man was not insane. Slowly, reluctantly, as though actually forced into the action, his arms were thrust backward into a posture of helplessness. His lips sputtered, but he could not even swear.
"Now Raymond, take that belt and bind him," I commanded sternly. "Go to it, and be quick. Remember I have a gun in each hand. Pass it clear around his body, and across the wrists. Now draw it tight—oh! tighter than that! I expect it to hurt him! Good Lord, man, this is war! I am the one you have cause to feel afraid of—he cannot court-martial you for obeying my orders with a gun at your head. That's it—now catch the buckle."
Pickney choked with rage to which he dare not give vent, and the hands of the lieutenant shook as though from chill. His face was so white I began to think the fellow had a streak of cowardice in him, but his very fear might give him recklessness. I shoved the muzzle of a revolver against his coat.
"Now this other around his legs; strap them tight to the chair. Very good, indeed; you are learning your trade."
I tested the taut leather with one hand.
"That will hold you, Colonel, all but your mouth, and I hope you have enough sense left to guard that yourself. Raymond," and my glance swept the walls of the room hastily, "I regret troubling you so much; it is like adding insult to injury—but would you reach me those overalls hanging on the hook behind you. Thank you; now turn that chair, so the back will be this way, and—sit down."
He knew what I meant, and there was an ugly look in his eyes, but I gave him no time for action. The colonel was safe enough, and I felt free to give my entire attention to the younger man. Nor did I feel any inclination to deal with him gently. It was his jealousy and malice which were largely responsible for my position of peril, and he had exhibited petty meanness in his treatment of me when he possessed the power. Now, for the moment, at least, that power was mine, and the recollection left me no inclination to be gentle. I gripped him by the collar, twisting my knuckles into his throat, and thrust him down into the chair seat with a violence which caused the fellow to gasp for breath.
"You move when I speak!" I said threateningly. "This is no boy's play. Now put your hands back—oh, farther than that; cross them over each other. Come, do you feel the steel! I do not like you any too well, Raymond; I know your treachery."
"I did nothing against you," he protested wriggling about to gain glimpse of my face. "I had no authority here—"
"No, but you had influence, and used it against me. I got the story straight enough, and can guess the reason. You were going to call on me, but you failed to do so."
"Did Captain Fox tell you that?"
"Never mind who told me. We are not discussing the affair now. Sit back straighter; there, I reckon that will hold. Oh! it hurts, does it? I meant it should. Let me see; there ought to be some cord in one of these drawers. Ah, I thought so; now I will make a good job of it."
I stood off and looked at the two of them, surprised at the ease with which I had accomplished the result, but entirely at sea as to my next movement. All I had done since entering the room had been instinctive rather than thoughtful. I had accepted the only course open, but the work had been done without plan, without conception of what must follow. There was a guard on duty in the corridor without, and, no doubt, another at the door of the building. Apparently there was no other point of egress, and to remain where I was would result in certain discovery, and that soon. My success was but temporary, and my peril in no degree lessened by what had already been accomplished. No plan, no hopeful possibility, occurred to me; I could but stare vacantly at my two prisoners, and about at the walls of the room. Raymond was jammed back into one corner farthest from the door, his face white, every bit of nerve gone, and a red welt showing where my grip had contracted the flesh. The fellow actually looked pitiful he was so completely cowed. But Pickney was of a different kidney. He sat glaring angrily at me across the table, with face red as the rising sun, straining at the tough leather, his lips muttering incoherent threats of vengeance.
"I'll get you yet, you damned rascal," I heard him growl, "and stretch your neck without any trial."
"And I'll gag that mouth of yours," I answered "and keep it still for awhile. Oh, yes, you'll open up, my man! I know a trick that will make you bite the tighter I pull the cord. How about you, Lieutenant? Would you like a dose of the same medicine?"
I stepped across to him, a strip of cloth in my hand, but just at that instant the latch of the door rattled as though a hand without gripped it. I had barely time in which to leap back against the wall, hidden from view, when the door opened inward. All I saw was the glimpse of a man's hand and sleeve. The fellow must have perceived nothing to alarm him, for he merely held the door ajar.
"A lady to see the colonel," he announced briefly. "Just step in, miss."
I saw her advance two steps, and then stop motionless, with half-suppressed cry of surprise. The sentry could not have heard the slight exclamation, for he closed the door, the latch clicking sharply. Her eyes opened wide, staring first at the Colonel, 
"You!" she exclaimed. "You here—and free! What—what have you done to these men?"
"You!" she exclaimed, as though not yet half convinced of the truth. "You here—and free! What what have you done to these men?"
I laughed lightly, so relieved by her reception as to feel a new man.
"Merely turned the tables; this time luck was on my side."
"You have not hurt them?"
"Oh, no; there was no necessity. They were quite easily persuaded. I was fortunate enough to gain possession of all the weapons, and neither gentleman seemed eager to prove a hero. As you perceive, they are like lambs."
They hardly looked it, for if ever murder glared unconcealed in the eyes of men, it did then; but they were helpless to move, or express themselves—at least the colonel was, although he struggled fiercely. The younger officer made no attempt, his thin lips drawn back in a cruel snarl. I was certain there was a swift gleam of amusement in the girl's eyes, but it passed quickly as her glance again met mine.
"But you! Tell me; I must understand in order to know what to do. How did you come here?"
"The explanation is simple enough, and these gentlemen will be interested also in hearing about it. No doubt they think I dropped from the sky. When my father was the judge of this court, I was free to play about the building, and in that way I learned all its secrets. They chose the old record room as my cell, and I was aware that the big central chimney composed the greater part of its inner wall. My only problem was to break through, and this I succeeded in doing. There was a dance in the courtroom, and the noise enabled me to work without discovery. I crept up through the chimney, and came out in the attic. There are stairs leading down into the sheriff's office, just beyond there. That was where I found these clothes, but the door into the corridor was locked, and so I came in here. I had no suspicion the room was occupied, until I came face to face with these men. But they were more surprised even than I. I got the guns first, and that ended it; but I cannot hold you up that way."
"There is no necessity."
"No!" I could not keep the joyous note out of my voice. "You mean—"
"Merely, that I came here seeking your release, or rather to urge that you be given a trial at Charleston. It is scarcely likely under all conditions that I will prevent your escape, or attempt to do so. You saved me from a fate worse than death, and was captured while endeavoring to serve me. Surely you did not suppose I had forgotten? You received my message?"
"Yes, and was most thankful for it. I confess I had doubted before."
"I read your thoughts in your face; that was one reason why I wished to reassure you. I could not be ungrateful." She glanced across the room, and began again as though anxious to get upon another topic. "I—I requested Lieutenant Raymond to intercede in your behalf, and he pledged me his word to do so. Less than an hour ago I learned he was exerting his influence with Colonel Pickney against my wishes. I determined to come here in person, and learn the truth. Have you any explanation, Lieutenant Raymond."
"The fellow is a self-confessed spy," he asserted hoarsely. "There was nothing I could say to save him."
"Did you attempt to say anything?"
"Why, yes; I—"
"Lieutenant, I made no request that you would interpose to save this man from his just fate under military law. My father was a soldier, and I know a soldier's duty. All I asked was that he be sent to Charleston, to the headquarters of this department, where he could have an impartial trial. If you had so advised Colonel Pickney that would have been done. He would have gladly shifted the responsibility elsewhere. Now the full burden of decision falls on me. I must choose between two duties."
"Two duties?"
"Yes—two; my loyalty to the Union, or to my husband."
Raymond certainly was no more startled than I at this avowal, perhaps less so, for although the words choked in his throat, he managed to give them utterance.
"Your husband! Good God! do you mean to say you are married to this fellow?"
"I not only mean to say it," she said calmly, "but I have the proof with me. I tell you the fact merely to justify my action, for I intend to save him if I can. I wish Colonel Pickney to know why I do this—what conditions justify me in so rebellious a course. This man does not deserve death; he was captured while defending me from insult, and he is my husband. I should be unworthy the name of woman if I did not aid his escape."
She turned to me, her eyes eager.
"Tom, you must do just as I say."