The Glenwood post., 1912-10-26

skate is out thar leadin' 'em off for
I'm ter come in wild yer supper; ye
slug me first sight, bind me up wild
the rope, and skip. 'Tis dirty job.
| but the friends of ye pay well for it,
SO come on now"
/ comprehended the plan in flash.
She had discovered a sentry money
would buy; to lead the others away
long enough to effect my escape, Peter
had taken to the woods with a gun.
Whether he escaped or was captl-ed,
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
mass of broken crockery, and bound
MIN 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
stant I paused 10 ask a question, mold
ing aloft the lantern SO as to see his
face.
Now, man, speak quick; you were
given some word for me? Some in.
structions how l 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 a horse in the thicket beyond
the summer house. Damnation, loosen
that ankle rope. will ye?'
gave it a twitch, 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. l met with no interference
and heard no sound, the house seem,
! ingly deserted. Only as l opened the
| front door could l hear distant, irreg.
ular firing to the northwest. Assured
that no guard remained, l 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 it unhesi.
tatingly. ! had made half the distance
when horse neiphed suddenly to my
right, and, startled at the sound, fell
fat, creeping cautiously forward into
the shadow of low bush. I had risen
/ to NY knees, believing the animal
must be the one lett there for my use,
when I heard the grOwl Of a voice,
mans voice, from out the summer
house.
An instant I could not locate the
sound nor distinguish it clearly; then
a sentence cut the air so distinctly
that recognized the speaker. Grant!
What was he doing here? Had we
delayed too long? Had Fagin's pur
suers returned? If so, why was he
there in the summer house, and with
whom was he conversing? l crouched
| back listening, afraid to move.
81 saw the gleam of your white
skirt as l rounded the house." he ex
claimed by Cad, I thought the
horse was going TO bolt with me. Fine
| bit of luck this, finding you out here
alone. What's going on out yonder?"
There was an attack on the horse
guard, and Mr.. Seldom is in pursuit
| But how does it happen you have re.
turned alone? Has anything occurred
to my father?"
/ judged from the sound that he
seated himself before answering, and
there was a hesitancy sufficiently no.
ticeable, SO as to cause the girl to ask
anxiously:
"He has not been injured?"
"Who, the colonel" with a 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
fighting Seldom. Trouble with the
colonel is he takes the affair too seri
ously; imagines he is actually on the
trail. and proposes to remain out all
night. l became tired of such foolish
ness and rode back"
You mean you left? Deserted?"
ooh, hardly that" lazily. You see
l was sent out with a detachment to
ride down the Lewiston road. I mere
| ly left my sergeant in command and
turned my horses head this way. /
! can be back by morning, and l wanted
, to see you"
/ "To see me, Captain Grant! You
disobeyed my fathers orders to ride
back and see me? hardly appreciate
the honor"
"Oh, l suppose not" his tone grown
suddenly bitter. But 1 am here just
| the same, and propose carrying out
my intention. What do you think l
am made of-wood? You treat me as
though I possessed no feelings to be
hurt. See here, Claire, don't draw
away from me like that. What has
got into you lately? You have led me
a merry chase all winter in Philadel-
phia, but now you have even dared
to fiaunt me to my face, and in the
presence of your father. Do you sup.
pose l am the kind to stand for that?
What is the matter, girl? Who has
come between us? Is it that rascally
rebel? No; you stay where you are,
and answer me. That is what came
| hack a1Ona for tn find ont