TANKOO
stairs to the second story. I bent to look at it and found that it was a drop of dried blood. And then I found others—all the way down.
I went to Evelyn's room and said:
"Did you climb those stairs and send that message?"
"What message?" laughs she.
"Mallory caught by Federals. Badly wounded. Will die," repeated I.
"It wasn't quite true, was it, daddy, was it? Is that what you're cross about? I'm not going to die!"
"No, Evelyn, it's true," says I, "you didn't know but you were dying then. I tracked you by the blood."
"Are you satisfied, daddy?" she begs. "I did the best I could—to save us!"
"You did the best you could, God bless you, girl!" I says, and we both cried together. "You are a brave girl!"
"I really think, daddy," she sobs, "that I've saved us—don't you?"
"Yes," I says.
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