Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-08-08
CHAPTER xxxIv.
Searching for Claire.

was unconscious, yet not for long.
The first touch of water served to re-
.vive me, and became aware that an
arm supported my head, although
everything was indistinet before my
eyes.
more water, Mike" said voice
close at hand. yes, that will do.
Where is Farrell? Oh, Dan, this is
Major Lawrence"
"One Of the Dragons said he was
In command. HurPbadly%
mo, think not; but utterly ex-
hausted. and weak from loss of blood.
They put up game fight"
only three on their feet when we
got in. Hullo. Lawrence. getting back
to the world, lad?"
"Yes," managed to answer, feeling
strength enough to lift myself, and
vaguely noticing his features. rs that
you, Farrell?"
1T certainly is" cheerfully. "Duval
has his arm about you, and the Cam
den boys are herdlng those devils
down below. You had some fracas
from the way things look. How many
men had your"
rubbed my head, endeavoling to
recollect, staring down into The hall.
1t was filed with dead and wounded
men, and at the foot of the stairs was
pile Of bodies. =
Twelve, altogether,"I replied final
ly. "They-they were too many for
u.s."
Three to one, or more, I should
Judge. We got here just in time"
was up now, looking into their
faces, slowly grasplng the situation.
"Yes," l said, feeling the necessity
OF knowing. How did II happen
What brought you? Washington"
"All natural enough. Clinton got
away night before last with what was
left Of his army. Left fires burning,
and made forced march to the ships
at Sandy Hook. Left everything to
save his troops. Washington, realiz.
ing the uselessness OF holding them
longer, sent most Of his militia home
About six miles out there on the pike
road half-crazy preacher named
jerks came up with us. He was toe
badly frightened to tell a straight
story, but we got out Of him that there
was a fight on here, and came over as
fast as our horses would travell" His
eyes swept the hall. Five minutes
later would have been too late"
But Farrell, the girl Do yol
know anything about the glrl?"
What girlY DO you mean Clair;
Mortimer? Is she here"
Yes, her father is lying hclplessl!
wounded up stairs. and she must b,
with him. Eric is somewhere in TIL
hall. either dead or wounded. | say
him fall just as we retreated to IT,
stairs"
Farrell leaned over and called 4
some one below.
mot yet, sir" was the answer.
well, hunt for him. Nov, Wen G
up and find Claire. Major, can yo
. climb the rest of the stairsG Help hin
Duval."
l experienced no great difficulty, m
strength coming back rapidly Their
was wounded Dragon leanin
against the wall. and halfway dow
: the hall lay another body, face dowI
Without doubt this was the guard III
gin had stationed there. Duval pause
I, to help tho wounded man, but Fare
and moved on across the dead guar
10 the open door. beyond. Colon'
, Mortimer unable to move, wa
!, propped up on his pillow, one han
. grasplng a pistol. With shaking arr
' he levelled 1t at us.
Who are you? Quick, nowl" b
: quavered. 1--we shot one. and I'm goo
for more"
. you know me, Colonel" and Ta
l rell stepped inside. 81 am Bull Ia
Il rell; this is Major Lawrence" Il
G looked at US with dull eyes, his har
o falling weakly.
= Continued next week.