The Southern herald., 1912-10-18

] Strengthened up bareheaded, the
faint star-glesm on my face. The lieu
tenant remained quiet. but Peter broke
his, sphinx-like silence.
'"T Amt him, is it?"
"No; he must have taken the other
road after ALL" with a slight laugh. |
We've been on wild-goose chase.
However. it's too late now to catch
the fellow on this trip"
Peter rubbed his bald pate, his eyes
on me.
An what1l we do with this ladf"
he answered drawlingly Turn him
loose?"
Bring him along. Wen find out to-
morrow who he is, and what his bust.
ness may be. Men are not riding these
roads at midnight without some pur-
pose"
He wheeled his horse, and, with a
touch OF the spur, disappeared in the
darkness ahead. Peter clambered back
into the saddle, and gripped my rein.
Come on" he said disgustedly, kick.
ing the black In the side IT'S a ways
yet afore yer lie down"
We rode steadily. and at a good
pace. Occasionally the older man
swore solemnly, but Peter never ut
tered a sound, not even turning his
head at my attempts to draw him into
conversation. The situation mystlfed
me, but it became more and more evi.
dent that should have to wait until
morning before learning the truth.
Neither Peter nor the Indian seemed
to belong to the class with which the
army was recruited. Peter appeared
more like a well-trained servant, and
his riding was atrocious. And the lieu.
tenant! There came back to me the
haunting memory that he had Joined
Delavan as volunteer-the Dragon
uniform sufficient proof that he was
neither Of the original foraging party
Of Hessians, nor OF Grants detach-
ment Of Rangers. Yet these others
wore green and white, and must. there.
fore, have been in Grants command.
How did the four manage to escape
from our attack, evidently animated
by one purpose! Why was Grant 80
anxious to learn II had seen the lieu
tenant, and whether we had a party
out seeking him? Not one Of these
questions could answer; not one
could even guess at with any degree
Of satisfaction.
We were coming out Of the low,
swamp lands into a more thickly set.
tied, and cultivated region. Rail and
stone fences could be seen on either
side the road, and we passed swiftly
by a number Of farmhouses, some sim.
pie log structures, although one or two
were more pretentious,
1t may have been two miles further
along, when the lieutenant, and his In
dian companion, wheeled suddenly to
the right, and, without slackenlng
speed rode through an open gate, and
up graveled roadway, circllng
through a grove Of trees to the front
door of a great square mansion. 1t
was dark and silent, wide porch in
front supported by huge pillars, a
broad flight Of steps leading from the
driveway. The Indian ran up these,
leaving the lieutenant holding his
horse, while we drew up some yards to
the rear. heard the boom OF the
iron knocker, followed by CLEAN OF
light through lower window. Then
negro's voice spoke, and the front
door opened, disclosing two figures,
one with suffering candle In hand
The two exchanged dozen words be-
fore the lieutenant asked lmpatiently:
rs It all right TonepahY
The taciturn Indian mado no at
tempt at speech, but gave an expires.
sive gesture, and the young officer
turned In his saddle.
Take the prisoner to the lower
room, Peter" he ordered curtly. TIl
decide tomorrow If he can be OF any
use to u.s."
The two fellows loosened the rope
about my ankles, and Peter waddling
ahead, the graybeard gripping my
arm, we climbed the steps, and en-.
tered the hall. "A tall, slim negro, evi.
, IDENTIFY a houseservant from his sleek
} appearance, cycling me curiously,
, handed the little fellow second light
ed candle, and the three Of rs went
tramping along the wide hall, ,ast the
circling stairs, until we came to a
door at the rear. This the black flung
, open, without word, and was led
down into the basement. The flicker.
: ing candle yielded but glimpses Of
| great rooms, beautifully decorated,
and, almost before realized what was
! occurring, had been thrust into a
} square apartment, the door behind me
closed and locked. The two guards
left the sputtering candle, perhaps a
! third burned, behind, and heard them
! stumbling back through the darkness
} to the foot Of the stairs glanced
about curiously. shaking the loosened