Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-07-03

his OWN course, confident we were
headed toward the river. was suf-
icientlyt acquainted with the valley of
the Delaware, when daylight came, to
decide upon the nearest ford. AS to
the British patrols, must run the risk
Of lodging these, but felt safe from
such any encounter for several hours.
In truthlI met no one, having no occa-
sion to even draw rein, although we
passed through two small villages, and
by number Of farms. / could not
even determine that these houses were
occupied; they were dark and silent,
even the galloping hoofs of my horse
falling to awaken response
1t was already daylight when drew
up on the bluff summit to gaze down
into the river valley. In the middle
distance small villages faced each
other across the stream, and toward
these most Of the roads converged-
proof Of the existence of ford
could not be mistaken as to the town
Burlington on the Jersey shore, and
opposite Bristol. l should be safe
enough in the latter, even If we had
no outpost stationed there. l knew
4 homes along those shaded streets,
where food would be Forthcoming, and
where could probably procure fresh
horse. 1t was the nearer town, nestled
on the Jersey bank, that l studied
with the greatest care, but, SO far as
could see, the single street was de-
serted. TO the south, certainly two
miles away, a squadron of horse were
riding slowly, surrounded by cloud
Of dust. Without doubt this was the
British patrol that had left the village
at daybreak.
1t was hot, close morning, and the
padded Rangers coat heavy and tight
fitting. took 1t Off, flinging it across
the saddle pommel. AS | did SO a
folded paper came into view, and l
drew it forth, curiously. My eye caught
the signature at the bottom of brief
note, and / stared at it in surprise.
Fagin! How came Fagin to be writing
TO Captain Grant? He pretended to
be Tory to be sure, yet both armies
knew him as murderous outlaw
plunderlng loyalists and patriots alike
There came to me n memory of Far
: rell's chance remark that Grant had
: some connection with this fellows ma
rauding. / had not seriously consid
cred 1t then, but now-why, possibly
it was true. read the lines almost al
a glance, scarcely comprehending al
, first, and then suddenly realized the
/. base villainy revealed:
Have the money and papers, but
the girl got away. Will wait for you
: at Lone Tree tonight. Don't fail, fol
the whole country will be after me
as soon as the news gets out abou
}, Elmhurst. FAGIN."
!. So that was the reason for this rait
Grants personal affair. He had re
turned to Elmhurst, leaving his mel
to trudge on into Philadelphia unde
u their Hessian officers so that he nigh
communicate with Fagin. What pit.
u 1t was had failed to kill the fellow
!, instead of leaving him unconscious.
The papers! Perhaps they were II
u the coat also. Surely Grant had n,
y time % chane--SISd destroy them, as h
: must have 49, gre ctly to Efmhursi
;, | searched the pockets of the carmen
hastily, finding a note or two, hi
orders to escort Delayan, and a small
: packet tied securely by cord. l fel
y no hesitancy in opening this, and as
: pertaining it's contents The lines
, read hastily seemed to blur before m.
eyes; could barely comprehend thei
!, purport Little by little grasped tn
meaning of IL all, and then my min,
leaped TO recognition of Grants pun
pose. They were notes Of instruction