The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-07-09

CHAPTER xxxiv,
Searching for Claire.

l was unconscious, yet not for long.
The first touch OF water served to re-
vive me, and l became aware that an
arm supported my head, although
everything was indistinct 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. Hurt badly?"
mo. l think not but utterly ex-
hausted, and weak from loss of blood.
They put UP a game fight"
only three on their feet when we
got In. Hullo, Lawrence, getting back
to the world, lad?"
YES" l managed to answer, feeling
strength enough to lift myself, and
vaguely noticing his features. SIS that
you, Farrell?" st~
1T certainly is" cheerfully 'Duval
has his arm about you. and the Cam
den boys are herding those devils
down below. You had some fracas
from the way things look. How many
men had your
rubbed my head, endeavoring to
recollect, staring down into the hall.
It was filled with dead and wounded
men. and at the foot of the stairs was
a pile Of bodies.
Twelve, altogether" replied Anal.
ly. "They-they we're too many for
u.s."
Three to one, or more, should
Judge. We got here Just in time"
/ was up now. looking into their
faces, slowly graspng the situation.
Yes" l said. feeling the necessity
Of knowing How did it 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 liz. He was too
badly frightened to tell a straight
story, but we got out of him that there
was 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 you
know anything about the girl?"
What girl? Do you mean Claire
Mortimer? Ia she here?'
Yes. her father Is lying helplessly
wounded up stairs, and she must be
with him. Eric is somewhere In the
hall, either dead or wounded. / saw
him fall just as we retreated to the
stairs"
Farrell leaned over and called to-
some one below.
Not yet, SIR" was the answer.
Well. hunt for him. Now, well go
up and find Claire. Major, can you
climb the rest Of the stairs? Help him,
Duval."
I experienced no great difficulty, my
strength coming back rapidly. There
was wounded Dragon leaning
against the wall, and halfway down
the hall lay another body, face down.
Without doubt this was the guard Fa-
gin had stationed there Duvalpaused
to help the wounded man, but Farrell
and moved on across the dead guard
to the open door beyond. Colonel
Mortimer, unable to move, was
propped up on his pillow, one hand
grasping a pistol. With shaking arm
he levelled it at us.
Who are you? Quick, now!" he
quavered. I've shot one, and I'm good
for more"
You know me, Colonel" and Far.
rell stepped inside. II am Bull Far.
lrell; this lis Major Lawrence" He
looked at US with dull eyes, his hand
falling weakly.
a4e Farrell arrell--surely, the black
smith. What Lawrence The--ths Of
fcer Claire knows?"
Yes; he's a rough-looking object /
admit, but there has been fight
down below, sir, in which he had
share. We've just cleaned out Red Fa-
gins gang. We came up here to tell
the good news to you and your daugh-
ter
The Colonels head sank back upon
the mussed pillow.
MY daughter-Claire--she 10 not
hefe. y" tt e
"Not here!" cried, aroused by the
admission. did she not return to
your "
NO; they came for her to 60 down
,stairs--a tall man with black beard,
and two others. They took her away
an hour ago, and haYesseen nothing
Of her since. heard the shots, the
sound of fierce fighting, but could not
move from the bed. Tell me, Major,
what has become Of my little girl?"
Il do not know" confessed, gaz-
ing about in bewilderment. "She came
up the stairs, am sure. It was Just
as the fight began. and | had scarce
ly a moment to observe anything be-
fore We were at It f1ercely. She shot
Fagin down, and then ran"