Eastern Colorado times., 1912-11-15
CHAPTER XVIII.
Before General Arnold.

Before General Arnold.
felt her hand withdrawn quickly.
and the swift intake OF her breath. yet
there was no sharpness In the voice,
Captain Grant. Peter? What can
the man want here?"
He claimed to be hunting desert.
ers." returned Swanson. as calmly de.
liberate Of speech as ever. But that
was false. He knew we were on the
road, and asked for you"
For me? And you told him"
| Merely that you rode ahead to see
that the road was clear. Then l left
at once, fearing he might Join you.'
| She sat a moment in silence, her
head bowed; then looked across into
my face.
This arrival must end our confer.
ence. Major" she said soberly. Gap.
tain Grant must not know that you are
with me-that would mean fighting"
Surely you do not wish me to run
away"
"Yes, this time. for my sake as we'll
as your own. II could have completed
my confession you would realize the
necessity. However, the fact that you
are the bearer Of dispatches should
be sufficient; your duty to the Colo
nies Is more important than any pri.
vate quarrel. You will go?"
"Yes-but you? Are you safe with
him."
Perfectly. l wish might be
clothed in my own proper dress. but
with Peter and Tonepah on guard.
Captain Grant alone is not danger.
GUS. Besides. wish to learn his pur'
pose In seeking to join U.S." She hes.
itated. you must not fear for me,
but-but I wish to tell you all. and
and I am sure shall need your help"
"You mean am to join you again
at Elmhurst?"
rs that asking too much?"
Claire" l whispered. bending to.
ward her, so Peter could not overhear.
nothing shall keep me from coming.
dear. will ride back the moment my
dispatches are in Arnold's hands. But
tell me. first, If you are not afraid OF
Grant himself, what Is it you need me
for?"
Eric" she answered swiftly. He
has disappeared. dead or deserted. oh.
! cannot believe the last Is true. 1t
| was to save his reputation that
| dressed in this uniform. performed the
work assigned him. feel sure Grant
knows where he is. what has become
Of him. went to him in Philadel-
phia, but he only sneered, and said the
boy had doubtless run away. know
better: that is not like a Mortimer.
But l cannot search for him: must
stay with my father. But If can only
be assured you will come"
"You can be assured"
Mistress Claire" broke in Peter.
some one is riding up the road"
Yes. Peter. yes. Major. walt here!
Don't move. We will go back and
meet him"
I held my horse steady. although he
made an effort to follow. Voices came
| back to me through the darkness
Grants loud enough to be clearly
heard.
What. is this you. Claire?" he
laughed gruffly. "By all the gods.
thought it must be Eric. l never ex
pected to find you logged out in this
STYLE By Jove. l wish 1t was day
light"
Whatever she replied must have
sobered the fellow.
Everything l say you take wrongly
OF course it's all right, for the coun
try is full Of stragglers out of bott
armies. Lord, don't care what yol
wear. as long as it suits you. ny
business? Oh, explained all that t
your putty-faced servant-Saint Anne
that fellow! But I'll review the mat
ter again. I'm drumming up Clinton!
deserters, but now I've met you In
tempted to go along with you as far al
Elmhurst."
Become a deserter yourself?"
"Oh, no, or at least only tempora
rily. There will be plenty Of fighting
yet in the Jerseys. Clinton's whipped
all right, and is going to have a TIM
getting away to the ships. In m.
judgment there will be richer picking
for a Jerseyman right here at home
than with the army in New York"
There was moments silence; thel
the girl asked, shade of horror II
her voice:
Surely, you cannot mean to all.
yourself with guerillas, Captain Grant
With-with Fagin?"
The man laughed, but mirthlessly.
THAT would be horrible. wouldn'
it? Well. personally fail to see VIII,