The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-09-20

h the only known way out. for ! dare
d not venture to use the window which
was In plain Yiew Of those soldiers
g resting on the lawn, Whether Peter
had retired or not, | possessed nc
means OF knowing, yet ! opened the
door silently a bare Inch to make sure.
? At the same Instant my ears caught
Z the Hcutenant's diminishing order, ever
az my eyes had glimpse OF ~swanson's
Z broad back blocking the open doorway
Of q room nearly opposite.
That viii do, Peter, for the present.
Have the table prepared for three
{ guests at once"
lie backed out, casting a quick
glance Of caution In my direction, and
disappeared down the hail, rubbing his
bald head lndustriously, | opened the
door wider, wondering II | dare ven,
ture upon slipping by unobserved
Then Grant spoke. his voice loud
enough to be- easily heard:
How did we come here? Why.
where elso could We 60? The damned
rebels stripped US clean; we had to
have food. This was the ncareat
place where We were certain of getting
any, OF course I didn't know our
toragors bad left Ehmhurst alone, and
'hht-for some cause which mystiAps
NlInton-theao Jersey outlaws have
been equally c~onstderute. There was
plenty to be had here, and | meant to
have It in spite Of the servants"
You must have marched straight
past your own place" the boyish voice
Interrupted.
well, what II 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 Il 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"
We'll, 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, indeed! That would
have proven a friendly act"
Necessity does not take much ac-
count of friendship, | was responsible
for n hundred starving men. Under
such conditions force would be tustI-
fed. ! doubt II | could control the fell
lows now If provisions should be re-
fused"
There is no necessity for Indulging
in threats, Captain Grant" said the
boys voice coldly. "Elmhurst has
never yet turned a soldier away In
hunger. Peter will Instruct what few
servants remain to attend to the i'm.
mediate needs of your men. May | ask
.sanLt C.Hr " 'ehi"ih'
n'SDS"' 1,"nt va" "uiNlhg nerV-
How long? Until night. probably.
Then with a bite In our h~ayersacks
we'll take the road again. That ia.
plo'lo'aH 1o1 ooNuSstSIu 70 act as
IVA m0'' y -" 'ons d tlHle' odds life!
.hi",nr@a - not over warm to
my lhinh'"s'
on,h, &c "o' " t"'erH' Sir
w. ou' lne nome OF a loyallst~-the
,'l'"iGnUe' VI nn'l nose men out yon-
81, h,o"''o' am NOT pleading for
'"Gin' Jul mSse't personally. What
"o'eoNle nave 1 " ny all the gods,
, ""S "i,'oSt Ion'pel%u 10 night that
palu.Aeu'eo uiu 'ool 10 even gain ad-
n'','"''o ". ~ '"o nal' were those your
0'oe'''
'Assuredly not. But you must con-
oloe' CI~l'uWS'ahoes' Il Forgive Peter
~ "t'"h o'e' Z"a'ous IN my service,
! ''''l'eu you IN sooh as knew who
YOU "'ae'
les, somewhat molllied, Il pre-
sumo mat Is Il although you are
emmy enough the Lord knows. But
what brings you here2"
Ihat must remain my secret. Cap
tain Hrant~~tor the present"
ON, very we'll, | thought It might
have some connection with Erlc's pres,
cnce in this neighborhood." :
With Eric! What do Won mnanq =
Have you seen hlm?" /
All! so I've got below the s~prfoce /
at last! | thought 7 might with that
thrust, Yes, | saw him iast niah, |
didn't know what tbo dovjI +hn sa,,aul y
was m Ia. but / tho,ant "a e.. et n G
NAV nnt bio gamn - g nim I