The Irish standard., 1912-06-15

unmitigated, cold-blooded scoundrel.
and the treachery is his. You'll learn
that, II you wait long enough. Morti.
mer is either dead, or in Fagin's hands.
Good night"
passed out, and was beyond the
guard, before he could call me, even
had he desired to do so. had no
wish to talk with him longer. felt
disappointed, sick at heart, and real.
ICED this staff officer was strongly
prejudiced against young Mortimer. II
seemed to me I saw little light. al.
though not much. ERIC had been at
Elmhurst, and Claire was not innocent
Of his presence in that neighborhood.
She was shielding him, and 1t was
through her help that his first report
to Lee had been sent back by the In
dian. Then Erio must have been in
the house while was there. Indeed
1t must have been Eric who made me
prisoner. And to protect him she
had told me deliberate falsehood.
AS I rode back through the night,
finding path almost by instinct
through the maze Of military encamp.
ments, thought Of all these things.
generating her from wrong, and yet
wondering more and more at her real
connection with the various events
The chief had not stated what 1nfor.
nation Of value Grant had promised
to reveal: nor what Erics first report
had contained. In my sudden disap.
pointment l had forgotten to inquire.
And where could the boy be? What
could have happened to him? Some.
thing serious surely to keep him thus
hidden for nearly month. Claire
would know, but she was probably
long ago back in Philadelphia in the
heart Of the British garrison. And II
Well, was tied hand and foot by dis.
cipline; helpless to turn aside from
duty now In the face Of this new cam
paign. Every man was needed, and
no personal consideration would ex-
cuse my leaving the ranks even for
day. 1t was with heavy heart rode
into the camp Of my regiment, and lay
down on the bare ground, with head
pillowed upon the saddle, knowing the
drums would sound in a few short
hours.
1t was hard to work through tho
routine Of the next few days, although
some excitement was given us Of
Maxwell's brigade by scouting details
sent across the valley to observe the
movements of the British patrols. On
such duty passed the greater portion
of two days in the saddle, and, by
chance, met both Farrell and Duval,
who We're with the Jersey militiamen,
now rapidly coming, in to aid us, as
the rumors of an impending battle
spread across country. Farrell came
at the head Of fifty men, rough look
Ing. raggedly dressed fellows, but we'll
armed, and had word with him
while pointing out where Dickinson's
troops were camped Unfortunately
he knew little Of value to me. Nor.
timers column Of Queens Rangers
had passed his place on their return
/ to Philadelphia two days after my es-
cape. Grant was not with them. but
Claire was, while Peter had been left
behind at Elmhurst. Fagin had not
been overtaken, although the Rangers
had engaged in skirmish with some
Of his followers, losing two men.
Colonel Mortimer had been wounded
slightly. AS to Eric he knew nothing
no one had even mentioned the lads
name.
1t was thus clearly evident I could
| oil I I'D
a we'll defined theory Of just what had
occurred. TO my mind Eric was in
the hands of Fagin, either hidden Sc
curely away among the sand caves for
some purpose connected with Grants
treachery, or else with the intention
OF claiming the reward for his capture
offered by Howe. The former prob
ably seemed most likely in view Of
Grants failure to return to Philadel-
| phia with Colonel Mortimer yet there
| was no reason why the conspirators
! should not Wreak vengeance, and win
the reward also. But did Claire
know. or suspect the predicament Of
her brother? If she did, then she
was seeking to conceal the truth from
her father, but would never remain
long inactive in the city. / knew the
girls real spirit too we'll to believe
she would fail for long in lealning
the boys fate. And when she did she
would act quickly. Perhaps even now
she was back at Emhurst, facing peril
In the track of the contending armies.
striving to give the lad refuge.
In an agony of apprehension asked
for scouting detail in that direction.
but was sternly refused. Word had
come that Clinton was evacuating
Philadelphia; that his advance was
already across the Delaware. Any mo-
ment might bring to our little army
orders to press forward to intercept
him. l was q soldier, compelled to
Eemain,
CHAPTER XIV,
Forcing Clinton to Battle,