Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-30
CHAPTER XIII.
A New Combination.

prove a trap, and | drew hastily back
behind the curtain, believing myself
justified In an effort at escape. Surely,
under such conditions, my word Of
parole to Peter had no binding force.
Yet | waited long enough to glance
forth again. The advancing body was
less than a hundred strong, Queens
hangers and Hessians, from their uni
forms, struggling along on foot, limp
ing, dusty and without arms. These
must be the remnant Of Delavan's
command, released by their guard Of
partisans, and now YEARLY seeking
refuge. But why were they coming
here? Surely this was not the Phila.
delphia road?
They turned in upon the open lawn
in front Of the door, and ! could plain.
ly distinguish the faces. There could
nc longer be any doubt but what these
were the men we had fought and de.
feated the evening before. Grant, with
the two Hessian officers, was In ad.
vance, and the former strobe directly
toward the house, while the majority
vi hlS loJIO MS lulS lutulbtl'tS At
full length on the ground, as though
utterly exhausted. Some strange fas.
cination held me m~otionless, watching
the man climb the front steps. The
iron knocker rang loudly twice before
there came any response from with
in. Then | could hear voices, but the
words reaching me were detached, and
without definite meaning. Finally the
door closed, and the two men passed
along the hall, beyond the room In
which l waited. Then Peters voice
said solemnly, as if announcing a dis
tinguished guest:
Captain Alfred Grant,"
There was an exclamation of sur
prise, a. quick exchange Of sentences
indistinsuishable, although l was sure
of Grants peculiar accent, and the
other voice was that of the young
light Dragon lieutenant. Uncertain
what best to do l stole toward the
door and gripped the knob. This was
the only known way out, for | dare
not venture to use the window which
was In plain view Of those soldiers
resting on the lawn. Whether Peter
had retired or not, | possessed Mt
means of knowing, yet l opened the
door silently a bare inch to make sure.
At the same instant my ears caught
the lieutenant's Diminishing order, even
as my eyes had glimpse of Swanson's
broad back blocking the open doorway
Of a room nearly opposite.
THAT will do, Peter, for the present.
Have the table prepared for three
guests at once"
He backed out, casting a quick
glance of caution in my direction, and
disappeared down the hall, rubbing his
bald head in~dustriousiy. l opened the
door wider, wondering if l dare ven
ture upon slipping by ~unobservai,
Then Grant spoke, his voice loud
enough TO be easily heard:
"How did we come here? Why.
where else could we go? The damned
rebels stripped us clean; we had to
have food. This was the nearest
place where we We're certain of getting
any. OF course I didn't know our
foragers had left Elmhurst alone, and
that-for some cause which mystifes
Clinton-these Jersey outlaws have
been equally considerate. There was
plenty to be had here, and I meant to
have it in spite Of the servants"
you must have marched straight
past your own place." the boyish voice
interrupted.
well, what If We did. There was
nothing there, as you know. The
house has been stripped to a mere
shell. Not a Niger left, nor a horse.
I'd like to know what influence keeps
this property untouched"
That's easily answered. You forget
we are a divided family, with fighting
men on either side"
Little these outlaws care for-that.'
"At least they appear to, as we re-
main unmolested. There has not been
a raiding party halted here since the
war began"
well, if you hadn't been at home,
there would have been one along
now" burst forth Grant rather rough
ly. Those fellows out there are des-
perate enough to sack the house if
that was their only method of getting
food, And I promised they should have
the chance"
"Oh, you did, indeedl That would
have proven a friendly act"
Necessity does not take much &C.
count Of friendship, l WAS responsible
for a hundred starving men. Under
such conditions force would be justi-
fed. l doubt If l could control the fell
lows now If provisions should be re-
fused"
There is no necessity for INDUCING
In threats. Captain Grant," said the
boys voice coldly. "Elmhurst has
never yet turned q soldier away in
hunger. Peter will instruct what few
servants remain to attend to tho i'm
mediate needs Of -FOUR men. May l ash
how long you expect to remain"
thought Grant was walking nerv'
ously back and forth across the room
How long! Until night, probably,
Then with = bite in our havsrsackl
wen take the road again. That -
providing o oondescend to act =