d
he struck McVeigh a wicked blow, staggering him back against the
wall.

"You are a liar and a fool, Colonel McVeigh," he said in a choked
voice, his face white with anger.

The Judge and Masterson interposed as McVeigh lunged forward at him,
and then he controlled his voice enough to say, "Captain Monroe, you
are under arrest."

And the commotion and deep breathing of the men prevented them hearing
the soft rustle of a woman's dress in the hall as Judithe slipped away
into the darkness of the sitting room, and thence up the back stairs.

She had followed Monroe as he passed her door. She heard all their
words, and the final ones: "_Captain Monroe, you are under arrest!_"
rang in her ears all night as she tossed sleepless in the darkness.
That is what Kenneth McVeigh would say to her if he knew the truth.
Well, he should know it. Captain Monroe was sacrificing himself for
her. How she admired him! Did he fancy she would allow it? Yet that
shot alarmed her. She heard them say Pierson had escaped, but had he
retained the papers? If she was quite sure of _that_ she would
announce the truth at once and clear him. But the morning was so near.
She must wait a few hours longer, and then--then Kenneth McVeigh would
say to her, "_You are under arrest_," and after all her success would
come defeat.

She had never yet met defeat, and it was not pleasant to contemplate.
She remembered his words of love--the adoration in his eye; would that
love protect her when he learned she was the traitor to his home and
country? She smiled bitterly at the thought, and felt that she could
see clearly how _that_ would end. He would be patriot first and lover
after, unless it was some one of his own family--some one whose honor
meant his honor--some one--

Then in the darkness she laughed at a sudden remembrance, and rising
from the couch paced feverishly the length of the room many times, and
stood gazing out at the stars swept by fleecy clouds.

Out there on the lawn he had vowed his love for her, asked her to
marry him--marry him at once, before he left to join his brigade. She
had not the slightest idea of doing it then; but now, why not? It
could be entirely secret--so he had said. It would merely be a
betrothal with witnesses, _and_ it would make her so much a part of
the McVeigh family that he must let Captain Jack go on her word. And
before the dawn broke she had decided her plan of action. If he said,
"_You are under arrest_" t