The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-10-12

That's plain to be seen; are these
all the bodies?"
Yes. sir. but the house is upside
down from end to end"
You saw no one? No British sol
diers?"
shook my head. conscious Of the
fierce grip with which l was being
held. A couple Of the men dragged
out the body from behind the stairs
and as the face came into the light
the colonel's eyes saw IT. heard the
sharp breath expelled through his lips
as he stared down into those ghastly
features.
Good Lord! Mike! What in the
name of heaven does this mean? He
was supposed to be with Claire!"
There must be some mistake
Colonel Mortimer" insisted the otheI
officer gravely. Perhaps We can gel
the truth out of this pumpkin. If we
take the lash to him."
understood In a flash, and as swift
ly chose a course of action. This
gray-headed colonel was her father
and would serve her in this emergen
cy without thought Of my own danger
No threat of whip would open my
lips, but memory would.
Come. you dog!" burst out the
colonel fercely. You know more than
you have told. Speak up. or we'll skin
you alive"
81 will, Colonel Mortimer" said
looking him straight in the eyes. mot
because Of your threats, but because
wish to serve you. Now know who
you are, and l will tell you all know
about this whole affair.""
WAS was my daughter here?" he
INTERRUPTED.
Yes, cir"
"My God! And Eric?"
Not to my knowledge-there was a
man called Peter. this fellow. and a
black slave or two. They were all !
saw"
But why should Claire have been
here" he asked as though dazed, "un-
less she came to meet her brother? !
supposed her safe in the city"
Il do not pretend to understand the
cause Of her presence. But II you
listen to my story perhaps you may
know what to do" l paused an instant
to get a grip on my thoughts. l need
not tell all. confess my identity. or
mention my personal relations with
the daughter. II am a soldier, Colonel
Mortimer, in Maxwell's brigade OF
Washington's army. What brought me
here hs3 nothing to do with the pres,
ent story l was in the fight over yon-
der near Mount Laurel night before
last when we captured Delavan's for
age train"
What" burst in the dragoon off.
Ger. WAS Deldvan defeated, then ?
Hadn't Grant joined him?"
Yes to both questions, sir. Della
van was killed, and Grant surrendered
He and his men were paroled, and
started for Philadelphia last evening
from here"
From here!" incredulously. THAT
must be lie, colonel. for Mount Lau-
rel is between here and the city"
Nevertheless. 1t is no lie." l re-
torted promptly, looking the young
fool in the eyes. II was hiding here
for reasons of my own when they
came tramping In along that road
about the middle OF the forenoon yes
terday. There was near a hundred
Hessians and Rangers. with two Ger
man officers, and Grant. l heard them
tell Mistress Mortimer this was the
nearest place where they were sure
Of finding provisions. and that they in
tended to remain until night. don't
know what happened after that, ex-
cept that the officers went inside, and
the men marched around to the back
to eat their breakfast"
What became Of your"
"Oh, had other business, and never
got back along here until Just at day
light this morning. Then l found
things this way"
You don't know what occurred,
then"
mo more than you do. But I've got
my opinion. It's this-Grant and his
fellows must have left as soon as 1t
was dark, taking the west road. which
was the cause Of your missing them.
1t is likely from this man Mikes body.
that your daughter and her party were
still in the house. 1t couldn't have
been much later when these others
got here and made the attack Mike
must have fought them at the front
door, but that was all the fight made;
there's no sign of any struggle inside. "
Then they never got Claire" de-
q kred Mortimer positively. That's a
qrtainty. Seldom"
V"She would have fought. eir?"
Like q tiger. I know my little girl
I'D, besides. Peter would have died