The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-09-13
CHAPTER X.--Conltlnued.

"Uh see, d ldHilly idhSSLhOh'
We'll, Grant, this Is all very interest
Inc, but | am unable to conceive what
| have to do with It. / met Mistress
Mortimer by accident, and then was
fortunate enough to dance with her
once. 'Tis scarcely likely we shall
ever meet again. The daughter of a
colonel Of Queens Rangers Is not apt
TO come again into contact with an
officer Of the Maryland Line. ! don't
know why you shoUld single me out
In this matter. ! don't eve know the
lady's brother"
"Her brother?"
Eyes, the family renegade; the twin
brother on Lees staff"
| could not perceive the expression
Of the mans face, but he was a long
while answering.
"0h, yes. She told you about him.
ut was mentioned. Would | know
the boy from any resemblance to his
sister,"
Yves, at least ! should suppose
90. You must have become very init
nate for her to have told you that.
You see tit is a family secret"
Nothing for Tories to boast over,
sOuld imagine. However, 1t came
upnturally enough while we spoke Of
he sufferings of the American army
during the winter. 1t Is a sad thing
be way this war has divided families.
Has Mistress Claire any Colonial en-
Hments?"
How the devil do | know! She
would not be likely to air them before
me. | don't know what fool trick you
played on her last night, but she's on
the right side just the same"
81 think SO, too"
His manner was so dlsagreeable
that | instantly determined to have an
end. I had more important work be-
fore me than quarreling with this fel-
low, and, somehow, his claimed init.
macy with Mistress Mortimer grated
upon me strangely.
"If that is all you requested an in
terview for, Captain Grant" | said
coldly, "Ill trouble you to return to
your men"
Irritated that | had even condescend-
ed to question him, | turned back up
the road to where the men were yet
busy about the wagons, spoke a few
words to Duval, he explaining to me
the best route toward the river cross
ing at Burlington, and then swung in
TO the saddle and sent the black for
ward to the crest of the ridge.
permitted the animal to go his own
gait, and for a mile or more he kept
up a hot gallop, finally firing to a
trot. So far as could Judge from the
few stars visible we were travelling al
most due north. However, | was GER
tainly getting farther away from the
British lines, and could swing to the
left at daylight. 1t made little differ
enCe where ! struck the Delaware;
every mile north added to my safety.
My horse had fallen into a long,
swinging lope, bearing us forward rap
idly. The moon had disappeared, but
the sky was glittering with stars, and
could distinguish the main features
Of the country traversed. was on the
summit Of a slight ridge, but the road
sweryed to the right, leading down
into a broad valley. There were no
signs Of habitations, until we rounded
the edge of a small grove, and came
suddenly upon a little village of a
dozen houses on either side the high
way. These we're wrapped In dark
ness, apparently deserted. shapeless
appearing structures, although |
thought one had the appearance Of a
tavern, and another seemed a store.
There was a well in front Of this last,
and water sparkled In a log trough be-
side it. My horse stopped, burying
his nostrils in the water, and, sud.
denly made aware Of my own thirst,
! swung down from the saddle. My
hands we're upon the well-rope when.
without warning, l was gripped from
behind, and flung down into the dirt
OF the road. ] made desperate effort
70 break away, but two men held me,
ohe with knee pressed into my chest,
the other uplifting the butt Of a PTS
eol over my head. There was not n
word spoken, but | could see they
were In uniform, although the fellow
eheeIing on me had the features and
ohg hair Of an Indian. My horse
started to bolt, but his rein was
s'pped, and then a third figure,
Fsion.
search him for weapons, Tonepah,"
~ a boyish voice briefly. There
- pistols in the saddle holsters, but
NaS have others. Then tie him rp
MUCH os you can"
sNefe vas nc mistaking my captors