me to my enemies. The court-martial is the thing."

"As you say. But remember my prophecy."

He turned and again sought his chair. She arose to assist him into it.

"I wonder who that fellow could be! He knew it all."

"Did you not hear?"

"No. I have seen no one who could report to me. The details were
missing."

"Did you ever stop to think of the spy in the garden?"

"I did."

"That was the man, I am sure. You know his body has not been found, and
if I am not mistaken, it was present at that meeting hall."

"We shall learn of his identity. We shall learn."

"Too late! Too late!"

He again dozed off while she watched him. For several minutes they sat
in this manner until she stole out of the room and left him alone. Soon
he was wrapped in the arms of a gentle slumber. Some time later she
aroused him.

CHAPTER X

I

A fortnight later there came to the Allison home a messenger from
Stephen in the person of Sergeant Griffin. He appeared at the doorway
just as the shroud of eventide was being enfolded about the landscape,
changing its hues of green and gray to the more somber ones of blue or
purple; just at the time when the indoor view of things is about to be
made apparent only by the artificial beams of the tallow and dip.

"Hail!" he said; "I have business with Matthew Allison."

"From Stephen?" Marjorie asked with evident interest.

He shook his head.

"The trial----"

"Oh!" exclaimed Marjorie. Plainly she was relieved at the nature of the
message. Then she turned.

"Father!" she called.

"I am coming directly," cried Mr. Allison from the rear.

She had clear forgotten to invite the sergeant into the room, so
absorbed was she in the nature of the business at hand. Expectancy
breeds cowardice. When great issues are at stake every act wears an
awful meaning. For this reason she stood transfixed at the threshold,
before this unexpected arrival, whom she associated with the image of
Stephen. With the sudden and delightful lessening of her anxiety,
however, she bethought herself.

"Won't you come in? It was stupid of me not to have asked you before."

The sergeant acted promptly. Marjorie followed at a little distance, but
had no sooner entered the room herself than her father came through the
other door.

"What news? Arnold?"

"Found guilty," was the response.

"The court-martial has come to an end?" asked the girl.

"Yes, Miss. And he has been found guilty," he repeated.