Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-29
CHAPTER XII.


Interview PeteFr
/ accepted the wine gratefully, and
sat in silence while he served the
meat, wondering at the odd character
of the man, and striving to determine
how best to win his confidence. ! was
hungry, and, not knowing what to say,
fell to work with some zest, insisting
on his doing likewise. Yet ever as |
disposed of the food that stolid face
opposite fascinated me, and held my
gaze. The fellow was not SO big a
fool as he looked, for while the fea-
lures remained exprsssionless and va
cant, there was a sly glimmer to the
eye, betraying an active, observant
mind behind the mask. ] began to
suspect some purpose in his play act
ing.
What rs your name, my man." ]
asked finally, made nervous by his
silence.
Peter Swanson, sir" humbly.
"Oh, a Swede7"
by ancestry only, sir" he explained,
wiping his mouth with a corner of the
napkin, but not lifting his eyes from
the plate. "T is a hundred years since
we crossed the sea-"
And you've been good Kings men
ever since?"
He cooked one eye up at me.
at would seem 30, sir"
THE fellow with the gray chin beard
was Irish, was MT he?"
He might be, sir"
"A Swede, an Irishman, and an In
dian" l said musingly. That makes
q nice combination for the Queens
Rangers. Come now, Peter, give me
the straight of all this"
He stopped with his fork in q bit of
meat. favoring me with another stare.
Il think I fail to comprehend, sir"
mo, you don't, you rascal" a bit Of
anger in my voice. Did you bring
this supper yourself, or were you sent
herer"
"Under orders, SIR
1.-THE lieutenant"
He bowed solemnIy, and asked:
Would you object if I smoked, SIR"
Certainly not; only answer my
questions. Good heavens, mani do you
think / am a log OF wood2 Act like a
human being. Who is the lieutenant"
"a Dragon, sir"
"Peter," l broke out, irritated be
| yond patience, 81 have some reason to
| believe you a liar. But I'm going TO
| get the truth from you If l have to
choke 1t out"
yes sir; very good. indeed, sir.
However. there would seem to be no
need Of your resorting to such ex-
treme measures, sir"
"Then you will tell me what wish
to know"
ut will afford me pleasure, sir"
Somehow | could not rid myself OF
| the suspicion that the fellow was Sc
cretly laughing at me, yet his round
face was innocent and placid, his eyes
disoreetly lowered.
"Then kindly inform me. first Of all,
who this young lieutenant is"
II fear, SIR" solemnly, that ] may
have misinformed you when ! said
he was a Dragon"
"Yesl" eagerly.
ri would correct mt statement some
what-he is a Light Dragon, sir"
In spite Of my effort at s~elf-control
I swore, tempted to batter that stolid
face, yet realizing the utter useless
ness Of such violence.
"Now, see 'here!" I broke forth
hercely. Have done with your play
You are no soldier; I doubt If you
were ever on a horses back until to
night. And those fellows with o are
not Queens Rangers, I'll swear"
How do you know, sirf' he inter
rupted gently. "Are you in the army
sir?"
"Of coure I am" I cried, answering
without consideration.
Il thought SO, sir; although YOU
clothes do not proclaim the fact. May
l ask which armyG"
He had turned the tables most neat
ly, and I glanced down over my rough
garments, awakening suddenly to tn
knowledge that I was also In mas
querade. To be sure l had n al
vantage knew these men had beer
part Of Delavan's ~foragers, and henc'
at heart must be loyalists.
THAT is not a question / intend an
swering to every ruflan who stops M
on the highway" I returned shortly
II wish to know what this outrag'
means7 l will know, you vooden-head
ed imagel I was about my bushes
when the four Of you attacked me.
wasn't the man you were after at all
and yet I am held prisoner. shut u
here behind iron bars. What 10 thi
place. anyhow"
ut is called Elmhurst,' SIR"
"Emhurst? A country estatef"
Yes. sir. one Of the old plantations.
"it's Z name l never heard. Wher
- that precious lieutenant"
" presume he is In bed. sir" m
Peter rose quietly 70 his feet and b
gan replacing the dishes on his tny
Apparently there was not = nervou
throb to his pulse, and h rsnatns
blissfully Indifferent to my preesac>
I stared helplessly at him. svsa weTA
. tAittnG ne.