The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-12-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
At Cross Purposes.

At Gross Purposes.
II could not be considered an un.
pleasant place OF Imprisonment, yet
1t was useless for me to contrive any
pans OF immediate escape, for the
door was securely locked, and two
heavily armed dragons sat within eye
Ing me rather inadvertently. My at.
tempt at approaching the window was
instantly checked by a threatening
gesture, and sat down in the reading
chair to await developments. They
could not mufile my ears. however.
ana ! heard the swift hoofbeats Of an
approaching horse being ridden furl.
ousIy up the gravel driveway. At the
door he was hastily checked, and a
voice spoke peremptorly:
Here you. take the RENT"
The fellow came up the steps hur.
riodly, almost ignoring the sentry at
the door.
Il haven't time TO stand here, you
fool" he exclaimed roughly. my uni.
FORM is pass enough | wish to see
Colonel Mortimer at once-at once
There was pause, and then the same
voice, and ! recognized It now as
Grants beyond doubt. "Ah. colonel
what in Gods name has happened
here? | heard that you were ont
hunting us m Farrell blacksmith
shop, and came back as Gwlftly as
could ride. But ! never suspected
this, Who were the mlscreants?"
That is n question not yet an.
swcred, Captain Grant" replied Nor
timer slowly. 1T looks like the work
OF Pine Robbers DO you recognize
this fellow"
"Ay." and from the munied tone he
must have been bending over the body.
that is Tough Sims, lieutenant of
Red Furln. there's one more devil
gone 10 hell But when did the ut.
tack occur? We left here after dark,
and all was quiet enough then.
Claire"
she was here, then? | hardly be.
liCyod It possible"
81 tnlkcd with hcr-QuarrcIcd with
her, indeed. Perhaps that was why
she refused to accompany US to Phlla. |
dolphin. But what Odd you mean. |
colonel, when you said you hardly be |
.icyed II possible she was here? Did
some one tell YOU"
Yes, we caught n fellow in the |
house when we arrived lie had no I
Time for roughloOking miscre. |
ant, claiming to he a Continental. We |
have him under guard in the library"
He confessed to the whole story"
Not n word; claimed to know moth.
ng except that Claire was here. Said
he saw you, and then went away, not
getting bnck again until this morn.
ng"
Tho fellow is a liar, colonel. Let
ne see him; I'll lash the truth out OF
lis lips. Where did you say he WIS
n the library"
mad barely time to rise to my feet
When he entered, His eyes swept
cross the guard, and then centered
pon me. Instantly they blazed with
although noticed he took
sudden step backward in the first
hook OF surprise, his hand dropping
the butt OF pistol In his belt.
by all the gods!" he exclaimed
harply, "lf it isn't the spy! I miss
he red jacket. but know the face.
lister Lieutenant Fortesque."
Major Lawrence. II you please" I
eturned quietly.
We'll not quarrel over the name
We had occasion to know you under
9th; bearing one you were a SOY.
eneath the other leader OF bandjtti
II hang you with equal pleasure I'M
err either" Suddenly he seemed TO
where we were. and his
ice flushed with newly aroused rage.
But first you'll explain what you are
ding here at Elmhurst. Do you know
hose home this is?"
Most assuredly." determined not 10
'se my temper. or to be moved by
is threats. 1T is the property OF
olonel Mortimer, OF the Queens
angers
"And-and you--you came here 10
gain see-the daughter" he cues.
oned, as though half regretting the
discretion OF such q suspicion.
on, no, captain: you do the lady
grave injustice. came here n
risoner very rtuch against my will,
Of even aware whose plantation this