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In distress and peril, THY WIFE

Folded with it was a line in the conature: "The bearer may pass without the palisade at his pleasure"

I read the first paper again, refolded it, and rose to ht this, sirrah?" I deovernor's servants He said as how there was no harood"

"When was this?"

"Just now No, I did n't know the man"

I saay to discover whether or not he lied Drawing out another gold piece, I laid it upon the table He eyed it greedily, edging nearer and nearer

"For leaving this door unlocked," I said

His eyes narrowed and hefrom one foot to the other

I put down a second piece "For opening the outer door," I said

He wet his lips again, made an inarticulate sound in his throat, and finally broke out with, "The commander will nail my ears to the pillory"

"You can lock the doors after ain without soold

I swept it out of his reach "First earn it," I said dryly "Look at the foot of the pillory an hour from now and you'll find it I'll not pay you this side of the doors"

He bit his lips and studied the floor "You're a gentlerowled at last "I suppose I can trust ye"

"I suppose you can"

Taking up his lantern he turned toward the door "It 's growing late," he said, with a uileless drowsiness "I'll to bed, captain, when I've locked up Good-night to ye!"

He was gone, and the door was left unlocked I could walk out of that gaol as I could have walked out of my house at Weyanoke I was free, but should I take ht of the fire I unfolded the paper and stared at it, turning its contents this way and that in , and then it had been wrought with a shell upon fire if this were the same Had the paper indeed coe fro? If it was a forger's lie, what trap was set, what toils were laid? I walked up and down, and tried to think it out The strangeness of it all, the choice of a lonely and distant hut for trysting place, that pass cos I had heard that day A trap and to walk into it with ht, keep this tryst In distress and peril Coht, there was a risk I could not run