The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-07-11


apprehension riveted itself on the pos
sIbiIity OF the British getting back
before darkness gave opportunity for
putting her plans into execution. AS
to what they might be I cared moth
ing, being ready to assume any risk
which would lead to escape. AS the
gray Of twilight approached, my ears,
strained to the slightest sound, distin-
guished the changing Of sentinels. But
waited yainly for any visitor; dark
ness closed me in, but no one came
with food.
pressed my face against the bars
striving to look into the night. my
only reward the glimpse Of few dis
tant stars. Suddenly, as ! stood there,
voices sounded at distance, the
words indistinguIshable, and then foot
steps crushed along the graveled foot
path, as though a number Of men were
running toward the back Of the house.
They were below my range Of vision,
but moment later heard the sounds
Of scattered shots, and saw the sharp
fash OF firing. / was still clinging to
the bars, trying to determine what II
all meant, when the door was opened.
The light Of lantern In his hand
revealed a green and white uniform,
and the deeply scanned face Of a man
OF fifty.
Quick now, yer damned rebel" he
said hoarsely. BE up an lam me one,
and here's the rope"
what"
Didn't yer hear? or wasn't yer told
the game? Sufferin' Moses, it's got
to be played swift, or yen lie here
an rot. That's what that bald-headed
skate is out thar leadin' 'em of for.
I'm ter come in wild yer supper; ye
slug me first sight, bind me up wild
the rope, and skip. IT'S dirty Job,
but the friends Of ye pay we'll for it,
so come on now"
| comprehended the plan in flash.
She had discovered sentry money
would buy; to lead the others away
long enough to effect my escape, Peter
had taken to the woods with gun.
Whether he escaped or was captured,
the delay would be short. With the
knowledge came action. ! bore the
unresisting Ranger to the floor, hurl-
ing down the tray Of food he bore in
q mass OF broken crockery, and bound
him hand and foot, leaving the fellow
lying across the open doorway. He
was without arms. except his heavy
gun, which l left beside him. An In
slant paused to ask question. hold
ing aloft the lantern so as to see his
face.
Nov, man, speak quick; you were
given some word for met Some In
structions how was to get away?"
"sure; but ye drew those cords
Tight You are to go upstairs, out
the front door, and turn to the right;
there's horse IN the thicket beyond
the summer house. Damnation, loosen
that ankle rope, will yer"
gave It a witch, but felt little com.
passion for the fellow, and ran up the
steps, leaving the lantern below. /
knew the way even in the dark, and
experienced little trouble in feeling my
passage. / met with no interference,
and heard no sound, the house SEEM
ingsy deserted. Only as opened the
front door could I hear distant, irreg-
ular firing to the northwest Assured
that no guard remained. flung my
self recklessly over the porch rail onto
the smooth turf Of the lawn. The dim
outlines of the latticed summer house
could be discerned not thirty feet dis
tant, and started toward 1t unhesi-
tatingly. had made half the distance
when a horse neighed suddenly to my
right, and. startled at the sound. ] fell
fiat, creeping cautiously forward into
the shadow of low bush. had risen
to my knees, believing the animal
must be the one left there for my use,
when / heard the growl Of voice. a
mans voice, from out the summer
house.
An instant could not locate the
sound nor distinguish It clearly: then
q sentence cut the air so distinctly
that I recognized the speaker. Grant,
What was he doing herel Had we
delayed too longi Had Fagin's pur-
suers returned7 II 80, why was he
there in the summer house. and with
whom was he conversingi crouched
back listening. afraid to move
Il saw the CLEAN Of your white
skirt as rounded the house" he ex.
claimed. ''By Cad. / thought the
horse was going to bolt with me. Fine
bit Of luck this, finding you out here
alone. What's going on out yonderi"
There was an attack on the horse
guard, and Mr.. Seldom Is In pursuit.
But how does 1t happen you have re-
turned alone2 Has anything occurred
to my fatherS"
] judged from the sound that he
seated himself before answering. and
there was q hesitancy sufficiently mo-
ticeable, so as to cause the girl to ask
anxiously:
'He has not been inlured2"
''Who, the colonell" with q short
laugh. mo fear Of that while pursu-
ing those fellows; they ride too fast.
and are scattered by now all the way
from here to the Atlantic Probably
squad Of the same gang out there
arhfing seldom. TroubYe with the