The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-11-14

Strengthened up bnrehesded, the
faint star.gleam on my face. The lieu.
tenant remained quiet. but Peter broke
his sphinxlike silence.
"T amt him, lie til"
NO; ne must have taken the other
road after all, with a slight laugh
We've been on a wildgoose chase
However. it's too late now to catch
the fellow on this trip"
Peter rubbed his bald pate, his eyes
on me.
AN whatll we do with this lad p"
no answered drawllngly 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
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 tho side. IT'S a ways
yet afore yer lie down"
We rode steadily, and at a good
pace. Occasionally the older man
sworo solemnly, but Peter never ut.
tered sound, not even turning his
head at my attempts TO draw him into
conversation. Tho situation mystined
me, but 1t 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 well-tralned servant, and
his riding was atrocious. And the lieu.
tenant! There came back TO me the
haunting memory that he had Joined
Delayan rs a volunteer-the Dragon
uniform sufficient proof that he was
neither Of the original foraging party
OF Hesslans, 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 so
anxious to learn II had seen the lieu.
tenant, and whether we had party
out seeking him? Not one of these
questions could / answer; not ono
could | even guess at with any degree
OF satisfaction.
We were coming out Of the low.
swamp lands into more thIckly set.
tied, and cultivated region. Rail and
stone fences could be seen on either
side tho road. and We passed swiftly
by 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 slackcnlng
speed. rode through an open gate, and
up gravelcd roadway, circllng
through grove OF trees TO the front
door Of a great square mansion. 1t
was dark and silent, a 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 a CLEAN OF |
light through lower window. Then |
n ncgro'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 impatlently: |
us 1t all right Tonepah?"
The taciturn Indian made no at |
tempt at speech, but gave an express.
sive gesture, and the young officer
turned in his saddle.
Take the prisoner to the lower |
room, Peter" he ordered curtly. I'm |
decide tomorrow II he can be OF any |
use to u.s."
The two fellows loosened the rome
about my ankles. and Peter waddllng
ahead. the grayboard gripping my
arm, we climbed the steps, and en-.
tered the hall, A tall, slim negro, evi.
IDENTIFY house-servant from his sleek
cycling me curlously.
handed the little fellow second light.
ed candle. and the three OF US went /
along the wide hall. past the
stairs, until We came TO n
door at the rear. This the black flung
open, without word, and | was led
down into the basement. The flicker.
ing candle yielded bus glmpses of
great rooms, beautifully decorated.
and, almost before realized what was
occurring, ] had been thrust into n
square apartment, the door behind me
closed and locked. The two guards
left the sputterinE candle. perhaps n
third burned, behind. and heard them
stumbling back through the darkness
10 the foot Of the stairs. glanced
about curiously. SHAKING the la,ssasd