The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-06
CHAPTER TX.

he Rf4AL MOUSE IN The TRAP.
could not help wondering. after my two
friends disappeared III the darkness. at the
peculiar chance Of fate, or whatever one
might wish to call it, that left me now
standing here by the house had so longed
10 enter but few short days ago. with or
ders now TO enter it. but the inclination TO
DO so gone. Gone. did I say? Nay. hardly
that. for II any one OF US entered there, it
must De /; and. whatever might be the real
reason Of her going there. 1 could not let
her DC taken liz arrest as a common spy.
Why she should be there now. do not
want to guess. And indeed, the doubt OF il
growing on me- turned TO the sergeant Of
the troop and looked him over; a grizzly
bearded canpaisner. used 20 wars, but
honest End q staIwart Colonial, I'd be
bound. Twas. in fact, the picket who had
taken ne the night 1 reached Teller's
Point. What would he do with Mistress
1hnipse. Il De found ner there? / did not
Ike L. think. but spoke to him instead:
Callahan" said /. know We why we're
here"
That 90 not. hftinInt." said he. II am
ordered here. and here I be. Indade. sir.
I've outsrown sskin' quistions.
you can keep your mouth shut well?''
ASK the nftinint" and he jerked his
thumb over his shoulder towards the de-
parting troop.
Good Remember that should the time
GOMEZ take now two men and go around
that house 10 the left Leave two more here
concealed near the road, and let the other
go with me to the right"
AYE sir
1--WE must enter that house. search 1t, get
what may be inside. and lie low for more.
And look sharp. for tbs like there be no
less than a dozen red-coats there now.
watching for US"
Aye sir said he. saluting again.
1T you hear or see aught leave a man
and make vide circuit till you meet me-"
SO We started away crawling on our
stomachs and keeping a bright eye on the
gloomy house that appeared to be dark
from top 20 bottom. and that contained God
knew what
Fortuna teiy for US. there had grown VI, a
wealth Of undeFbrush on all sides, and by
keeping vel within this l turned the first
corner. skirted the broad side of the square
mansion. and. nothing appearing amis.
moved slowly and laboriously on. turning
the - conc corner.
There at last MAS "A light shining from an
open winaaw in what appeared to be a
room adjoining the kitchen. in an ELL or ex-
tension. OF the house itself Soon was up
10 1t. and seeing il unoccUpied. made bold
10 enter. sending one man TO call the 9TH
ers with Callahan.
Silence reigned throughout the house and
nothing changed III the few moments that
passed Til. silently. one by one. the five
men and Callahan slid over the sill and
stood waiting my instructions.
Some one is here. or this is a trap" said
], in a whisper. we must act quickly, or
be caught ourselves"
IT'S simple enough. sir" said the old
man. coolly.
And how"
Lay another thrap. An yen give me
lave
Go on" said l quickly
You. DuTgin.' ordered Callahan of one
ot his men. git out O. that winder into the
grass. and give us warnin wild a tap on
the glass eff anything turns up You. Bal
lard. shut the winder and draw thin cur
tins, and do yez stand by TO git the signal.
You two take thin two doors and douse
annywan. the divil cares who. that shows
his red nose through. Douse him wild yer
coats over the head and when we git him.
stick yer knee in the pit of his stomach
all this in a whisper. with a quick look
here and there. and gestures that alone
told what he wanted. An now. yer honor
We'll take this door that goes God knows
where-stl Pkwat the OWLS that?"
Twas q step coming along the hall, a
light. stealthy. though quick step. In a mo-
ment Callahan and 1 were behind the door,
and my cape was ready in his hands, held
az the height OF a mans head. Each OF the
others had taken his position silently as
soon as he get his orders.
There was a moment OF suspense as the
steps came towards the door Then the
door itself swung open and in an instant
Callahan vas on the ground on top of
some one. with the cape wound around the
new arrivals head
''The saints deliver met" rnuttered the
old man. "Diyn take me. but it's a wom-
an
And sure. twas so. For the door being
again quietly closed. we carried her to the
light. AID found a woman. speechless with
terror. gazing with fascinated glare down
the barrel OF Galatians pistol
''Do not utter sound. or you will be
deadr' said l. sternly. But she did not ap-
pear to take note of anything but the pis-
toll
who's IN this house?" ] asked.
No answer or move on her part.
l knocked up the sergeant's pistol, much
10 his disgust. and touched her.
who is in this house?"
She looked at me in a stupid clownish
way. ard then OF a sudden out came a lot
of gibbeTish that meant naught to either
OF Us.
"Phwat's that she says?" asked Callahan.
she'll wake the deadi'' And he doused her
again with the cape. until she lay quiet
Then we repeated the action with the PTS
toI and she sat silent before. But had
caught enough 10 know that she spoke
French.
Here We were. stumpedi Not one Of US
knew a word OF the lingo. and could do
naugh; but put my finger on my mouth and
vigorously shake my head. French-a
Freaeh n.aid-Nistress Philipse's maid. no
dorbt. Was she BATE We should soon see.
Eat must speak with her mistress hrst.
sne alone All this passed IN a moment