"That's all right, Corporal," I said quickly. "I had forgotten the major was here. Hardy, you must get out of the house--you, and Miss Billie at once." His eyes glanced back toward the door of her room which stood open. "I--I have no knowledge of where my daughter may be," he acknowledged soberly. CHAPTER XXXI THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLIE I stared at him in surprise, and then sprang forward, and glanced into her room. It was empty, except for a trooper kneeling at the window. I faced Hardy again with a question: "Not here! Where has she gone?" He shook his head, without attempting to speak. "You don't know? Conroy, have you seen anything of a young lady since you came up here?" "No, sir; all these doors was standin' wide open, and this Johnny Reb was prowlin' 'round in here. I didn't know what his business might be so I collared him. Ain't that right, Murphy?" appealing to the soldier at the window, who had faced about at sound of our voices. "Straight as far as it goes," was the reply, "but maybe that guard back in the ell saw the lady afore we come up." "What guard?" "One o' your fellows," said the corporal. "Anyhow he had his buttons cut off. I guess he's there yet." I was out into the hall as quickly as I could turn, Conroy and the major following closely. A dozen steps took us beyond the chimney jog, and to the top of the back stairs. There was no one there. The side doors stood open, and the narrow hallway was vacant. My eyes met the corporal's. "Well, I'll be jiggered," he exclaimed. "He was right there by the second door when I saw him. I was goin' to post Murphy at that end window, sir, but I didn't think there was any need o' two men there." "Did you speak to him?" "I told him what was up, sir, and that he better stay by the window." "Did he answer you?" "He said 'all right,' or something like that, an' went back. I never thought anything was wrong; all I noticed particular was he had only a revolver, but most o' yer fellows was armed that way. I meant to get him a gun as soon as I had time." He strode forward, looking into the rooms. "He ain't here now anyhow, and I'm damned if I know where he could o' gone. Did I make a mistake, sir?" "No, this is no fault of yours, Corporal, but it's strange nevertheless. We had no guard up here, but this fellow, wearing our uniform, has been seen before--Miss Hardy, this gentleman's daughter, saw him, and now she has disappeared. There was murder done in this hall this morning." The corporal crossed himself, his lips murmuring as he glanced about, and then into my face. "Murder, sir! The Confederate captain lying in yonder on the bed?" "Yes; he was waylaid here, and struck down from behind. I found his body out in front of that door, the skull crushed." "An' ye think that feller did it?"