The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-11-29

! lSAlNg me Tor some one elSeI ana tOOA
NE to Elmhurst. AS soon as she
learned my identity she acknowi-
edged her error. But / have not
learned yet why she was with Della
van. or for whom she uistook me-"
The lad drew in his breath sharp
ly, gripping me by the shoulder.
"By the Lord Harry" he exclaimed
excitcdly, There isn't another girl
in the Colonies who would have done
it. I'll bet | can explain, but even !
didn't thisk she would ever have the
nerve to ,rcrrorm such a deed. | told
| you l left my papers there. | forgot
them where | changed my clothes. You
see l came out wearing the uniform Of
a British dragoon lieutenant, and bad
It all planned out to join Delayan, and
guide him toward Philadelphia oVer
the Lone Tree road. Just before | left
Our camp at Valley Forge on this trip
| received orders from Washington to
keep my eyes open for a courier rid
ing from Philadelphia to New York
with Clint0n's plans Of evacuation
Hamilton seemed to know all about
this, and sent me special instructions
! talked of It with Claire. planned how
| was going TO waylay him, and to-
gether we fixed up those servants as
soldiers to help me carry u the de-
ception."
He paused. %chuckling, and I halted,
eager to learn the rest.
And when you disappeared; when.
perhaps. she heard Of your capture,
or suspected it, she assumed the dis,
carded uniform and went forth in
your stead"
That's it, Lawrence. She would,
If she thought it vas right; If she be.
lieved such an act necessary to saws
my reputation. III bet she found the
papers In my pocket, and mistook you
for C~linton's dispatch bearer"
There is no doubt Of it," l said so
berry. And that wasn't all she did
to protect you. It was the talk at
Lees headquarters that you had de-
serted. She stamped that a lie, by
riding into our lines day before yes.
terday, bringing an exact report Of
where Clinton was marching. | didn't
see her, but | heard all about 1t, and
you get the credit. Washington told
me with his own lips, and granted her
permission to remove your father, who
was badly wounded, to Elmhurst."
Good God! Are they here now?"
They must have reached here early
yesterday morning. l passed them on
the road at ten o'clock. Grant had
lust Joined their party, claiming to
be hunting after deserters."
He chung to the fence rail, staring
out toward the house.
Grant! Do you know, | believe
that fellow Is at the bottom Of this
whole affair. He's in love with Claire,
and-and he's working some scheme
to gain power ovcr her"
Several schemes, | think" l re-
turned heartily. 1--WE nIpped two OF
them in the bud already. Somewny.
Mortimer, he got possession of those
instructions you received from Wash
jncton and Hamilton. I ran into him
over there on the lawn, back Of the
summer-house. He was threatening
Claire. trying to drive her into mar
rying him offhand. We had a bit Ut a
fight, and I got the best of it. When
l left | wore his coat, and later found
your papers In his pocket. Do you
remember how they were addressed?"
He shook his head.
Simply Mortimer 1t occurred to
me he could turn them over to Cltn-
ton, accuse the colonel of treason. and
share In the ~confiscation Of this es-
tate. or else hold them as a threat
over your sister. l burned them" 4
He was silent for q long minute;
breathing hard; then he thrust out his
hand and cIasped mine.
, CTo BE CoNTINUED.)