The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-24
MY LADY OF DOUBT.
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Continued from Preceding Page.
where I found my little squad Of dra.
goons prepared for their nights adj
venture. Arnold had kept his word,
the fresh horses being fine animals,
the ammunition in excess OF our
needs. Conroy was enthusiastic, and
somewhat loquacious, but cut his
conversation off rather sharply, and
ordered the men into their saddles
With brain clarified by sleep / real
lied the Importance Of the work be-
I fore us, and how imperfect my plans
were. could merely ride forth to
/ Elmhurst, hoping to pick up soms
! clew to aid me. AS We rode rapidly
/ along the deserted road leading to
! Farrell's I reviewed over and over
| again, every remembered detail, only
| to conclude that I must get hands on
/ Grant, and by threats, or any &~her
available means, compel him to con,
/ fess his part in the villainy. Dusk
settled about us, succeeded by night,
as we pressed steadily forward, the
men riding silently, the only sound
the thud of hoofs, and the slight jingle
of accoutrements. AS we passed the
black walls Of Farrel's shop, / re-
called the papers found in Grants
coat, and the reference In Fagin's note
to g rendezvous at Lone Tree. Prob
ably that was the spot where the two
had been accustomed to meeting. II
true in the past. why not now as welll
| Crrddnn1xy 20 xhnk
was at a place called Lone Tree that
the minute men had gathered for their
attack on DelAvan's wagon train.
Could this, by any possibility, be the
same spot? / drew my horse back
beside Conroy.
Ever heard Of place called Lone
Tree?" / asked quietly.
He rubbed his head thoughtfully.
mot just about here, sir. W.
camped over east Of there once, nav
be year ago, down IN hollow wher<
there was one big tree standin' all
alone, kind of an odd-lookin' tree, sir,
and seems to me, the guide said the
place was called something like that.
Say, Tom" to the nearest dragon,
"do you remember that Lone Tree
where we camped when We were out
hunting Tarleton?"
Sure; in east Medford. There was
a farmhouse across on the side of
hill. / got some buttermilk there"
Wasn't that what the guide called
the place-Lone Tree?"
"Derned If l know, sergeant. Don't
recollect hearin' the guide say any.
thin bout that, but the woman at the
house told me her place was called
Lone Tree cottage-so reckon he
might"
This was a chance worth trying
I'VE will take the first turn to the
left, and have a look at the place."
said. "Conroy, you and Tom ride
ahead, and keep your eyes open"
We reached the hollow where the
J big tree stood, about midnigh' but
found little reward. The hou on
the hill had been burned to the
} ground. Near the tree, however, we
discovered evidence OF recent camp
fires, one not yet cold, and apparently
there had been quite a body of men
camped there lately. Conroy manu-.
featured a torch, and secuted about
finally reporting:
II don't know how many were here,
sir, altogether, but there was a lot o.
horses piclseted over near the creek.
/ reckon the last Of them didn't leave
until dark tonight, an they rode north
toward the main road. There waa
maybe a dozen in that party"
We followed the general direction
the fellows seemed to have taken,
I Conroy and I on foot, scanning the
, trail By aid Of a pine knot The dust
lay thick on the clay road through
| the cut, where we had charged tbs
foragers, and It was easy to see the
band had turned east. There was but
one conclusion possible; IL this was
? Fagin's gang Of cutthroats, as / susI
pectei tn t. ! were either return
ing to their sand caves in Monmouth
0 county after raid, or else were start
Ing forth on some new project near
at hand. Whichever was true, Elm4
0 hurst lay in the direction taken. De-
. termined TO learn the ruth, wa
pressed forward, riding rapidly, yet
s exercising the precaution Of keeping
8 two scouts well in advance. It must
have been nearly three o'clock when
, we reached the summit Of the low hill
s within a few hundred yards Of the
house, and found the two scouts
awaiting US.
0 Ny first glance across the ravina
revealed the outlines of the house
[ ~