“But they shall not--they shall not!” she moaned, clinging close to him. “You shall not let them! You shall not leave this house except to fly with me.”
Stella’s words choked into sudden silence at the shrill angry notes of Aunt Julie Ann’s voice ringing in the hall:
“Git out er dis house, I tells ye, ‘fo I bus’ yo head open wid dis door weight.”
“Mind your own business,” snapped the angry reply.
“I’se mindin’ my own business. Git out dat door, an’ knock ‘fo yer come in! An’ I lets yer in when I gits ready--when my mistis say yer kin come!”
“Faith, an’ I’ll slap ye head off ye shoulders, if ye don’t kape still,” growled the trooper.
“What do you want in here, yer low-life sluefooted Yankee?”
“If it’s just the same ter ye, I wants Mr. John Graham, me dusky maiden!”
John suddenly released himself from Stella’s clinging form and stepped through the door into the hall.
“You’re my prisoner, sir, ye’ll have to come with me!”
The sergeant took a step toward John, drawing a pair of handcuffs from his pocket.
Stella sprang between them, her eyes blazing with rage:
“How dare you enter my house without my permission?”
The sergeant stopped in sheer amazement at the fury of her outburst. Recovering himself with a smile he replied:
“Axin yer pardon m’am, it may be rude, but hit ain’t writ in our book of etiquette ter knock at the front door when we’re huntin’ fer a man charged with murder.”
“I believe ye, Miss--ye’d have an easy time with me. But I ain’t the Coort!”
“Leave this house!” Stella cried with fury.
“Sure m’am, but yer friend comes wid me,” said the sergeant, taking another step toward John.
“I tell you he’s not guilty! It’s all a mistake. I’ll explain to your commander in the morning.”
“Stella dear, this is nonsense. The sergeant is acting under orders. I must go at once.”
“Ye see, m’am!” said the sergeant with a polite bow.
“All right then, sergeant,” said Stella, suddenly changing her tone, “I’ll excuse you for your rudeness; I’ll go with you.”
“Yes, I’m going with you, but I’ve had nothing to eat. We must have supper--it’s waiting. Aunt Julie Ann, show the sergeant downstairs and give him supper. Mr. Graham will be ready in half an hour, sergeant.”
The trooper looked doubtfully at John and at Stella, smiling.