The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-08-22
CHAPTER XXX.
we Attain the House.

We Attain the House
"Come on, Mortimer, and wen soon
find out what ia going on" turned
to the prisoner. where are the rest
Of your gang?"
You'll find out fer yerself. mister"
he answered sullenIy, FAN maybe
damn quick too"
"They are in the grape arbor TO the
south Of the house," broke in Eric.
"That was where Fagln told them to
lie quiet and wait orders"
"Then we will explore along the
north side. keeping the fence between
as. I've got q handful Of men over
there In the orchard. II you are both
ready wen 60"
! took q look myself at Toms rope
tying, and found It satisfactory. In
deed, In remembrance Of my own suf-
Hering, / even loosened the strain q
little, confident the fellow could never
free himself unaided. Then the three
Of US, Mortimer armed with his late
guards gun, crawled up over the edge
Of the bank, ran without stopping
across the open space. and crouched
In the shadow Of the fence. II was
stih dark, although a faint gray tinged
the eastern skyline, barely perceptible
through the intervening trees. The
great house, hundred yards away,
was but blurred outline, distinguish
able by the lights shining out through
open windows. At that distance no
sound reached us. However, II Nor.
timer was right, the way would be
clear for our passage along the front,
under shelter Of the fence, even
though sentry was posted there, and
we could creep up to the walls on the
opposite side unobserved. All we
needed 10 do was to advance with
caution. Whispering directions into
the ears Of the others, / moved for
ward slowly, Mortimer close TO my
shoulder. could see across the top
rail Of the fence, and the open space
beyond yielded no point OF conceal
ment.
"Tell me the rest Of your story" I
said, speaking softly, "as we 80 along.
Where did Fagin take your"
ITO sand cave; we rode a night
and a day to get there"
"Treat you all rightP"
well as he could, suppose. ! had
enough to eat, but was guarded close
ly. and the fellows were bit rough. "
"Did you gain no mixing Of what
they were up TOT"
mot the men ! saw knew nothing,
or pretended not to. only saw Fagin
twice. Once be came to assure him
self that I was really myself. Some
body told him ! was with Delavan in
q fight over near Lone Tree"
"That was your sister"
WHAT You don't mean It was
Claire7''
"But do. CHANGED to be IN that
affair myself, and saw her, Later she,
with three others Peter, an Indian,
and an Irishman--captured me. mis-
taking me for some one else, and took
me to Elmhurst. AS soon as she
learned my identity she acknowl.
edged her error. But / have not
learned yet why she was with Della
van. or for whom she mistook me"
The lad drew in bis breath sharp
~, gripping me by the shoulder.
"By the Lord .Harryl" ne exclaimed
excitedly. "TheTe isn't another girl
III the Colonies who would have done
It. I'll bet I can explain, but even
didn't think she would ever have the
nerve to perform such q deed told
you ] left my papers there. forgot
them where I changed my clothes, You
see came out wearing the uniform OF
q British dragon lieutenant, and had
It all planned out to Join Delavan. 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 g courier rid
ing from Philadelphia to New York
with Clintop's plans Of evacuation.
Hamilton seemed to know all about
this, and sent mc special instructions.
I talked Of Il s9en Claire. planned how
! was going to wayiay him, and to-
gether we liked up those servants as
soldiers to help me carry out the de-
ception."
He paused. chuckling. and ! 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.
Il she thought It was right; IL she be-
Iieved such an act necessary to save
my reputation. III bet she found the
papers in my pocket, and mistook you
FOR Clinton's dispatch bearer"
There Is no doubt Of &C." 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 q lie. by
riding into our lines day before yes: