“I got to go--there’s somebody knockin’ at the door--course, I won’t know what’s become er the d---- thing.” He left her with a grin, and Stella seized the bundle, hurried home and burned it. On the way she stopped at a hardware store and made a mysterious purchase which she carefully concealed, and there was a dangerous light in her eyes as she placed this package beside the travelling dress which she had laid out to wear on the train with John. The jailor passed Stella in the hall but looked the other way as he hurried forward with two soldiers who had called to see John Graham. They were dressed in the regulation blue suits of the army. The jailor, trusting implicitly their uniforms, allowed them to go up unaccompanied to John’s door. So complete was the disguise that at first the condemned man gazed through the bars with indifference at his callers. The taller of the two suddenly thrust his face close and whispered: “God, man, don’t ye know me?” John started. “Dan--Billy--what does this mean!” Dan put his finger on his lips. “Everything’s all right. Billy’s been up in the mountains with me at my summer resort.” “I wrote you, Billy, not to come!” John scowled. “I’m not going to see this infamy puton you----” “It’s all fixed, Chief,” Dan broke in, drawing a new sledge hammer from his pocket, and slipping the handle from his sleeve. With a loud cough to mask the sound he thrust the handle into its place. “You’re both crazy!” John said with anger. “It’s as easy as failin’ off a log,” Dan urged. “Billy’ll smash the lock, I’ll gag and tie the jailor. I’ve got the fastest horse in the county waitin’ fer ye at the corner. Git thirty minutes start, an’ there ain’t cavalry enough this side er hell to stop ye. When ye get ter my house, ye’ll be in God’s country. The boys are there waitin’ fer ye.” Dan handed the hammer to Billy. “Put that hammer down!” John commanded sternly. “I won’t--you’ve got to go with us.” “Do as I tell you, or I’ll call the jailor,” John said with a frown. “For God’s sake, come with us!” Billy pleaded. “Steve Hoyle’s going to have a crowd of Negroes here to laugh and jeer at you to-morrow as you come out. I tell you I can’t stand it!” John’s face suddenly paled. “You can stand it if I can, Billy! Get out of this, both of you, before you’re arrested--quick now. I won’t have it. Come here, Dan!” John called to the mountaineer who had turned away. “Give me your hand.” Dan thrust his hand through the bars and John grasped it. “Are you a friend of mine?” “Ain’t I a showin’ ye.” “Take Billy home and take care of him until I return--will you do it?” “Yes--but I don’t like this givin’ up a fight when I’ve won it.” “And one thing more, Dan, old boy, before I let your hand go, you’ve got to promise me not to kill Steve Hoyle.” “Who said I was goin’ to do it?” “I say it.” “He ain’t fit ter live.”