The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-08-22

you get inc CESull. WdbuAHBbOu tOiu
me with his own lips, and granted her
permission to remove your father, who
was badly wounded, to Elmhurst"
Good Godl Are they here now?"
"They must have reached here early
yesterday morning. passed them on
the road at ten o'clock. Grant had
Just joined their party, claiming to
be hunting after deserters."
He chung to the fence rail, staring
out toward the house.
Grant, Do you know, / believe
that fellow IL at the bottom Of this
whole affair He's in love with Claire,
and-and he's working some scheme
to gain power over her."
Several schemes, think" ! re-
turned heartily. 1--WE nipped two Of
them in the bud already. Someway,
Mortimer, he got possession OF those
instructions you received from Wash
Ington and Hamilton. / ran into him
over there on the lawn, back Of the
summer-house. He was threatening
Claire, trying to drive her into mar
rying him ofFhand. We had bit Of a
fight, and / got the best Of 1t. When
left wore his coat, and later found
your papers in his pocket. Do you
remember how they were addressed?"
He shook his head.
"Simply Mortimer II occurred to
me he could turn them over to Gin
ton. accuse the colonel Of treason, and
share in the conflscation Of this es-
tate, or else hold them as a threat
over your sister burned them"
He was silent for a long minute:
breathing hard; then he thrust out his
hand and clasped mine.
"The damned villainl" he ejaculat-
ed, his voice trembling. Every move
he has made has been an attempt to
ruin US. can see 1t now. Do you
suppose Claire really cares for the
fellowp"
Il am very sure she does not"
"Then what, in heavens name, does;
she let him hang around for? al
ways hated the sight Of hts black face,
and internal grin. but somehow, I
thought she rather liked him. won
der II no can be there now! II he is,
then he and Fagin are UP TO some dew
ilment."
sand what that may be wen never
discover By talking here" ] put in
sterniy, suddenly realizing we were
wasting time. 'Come. let's get around
70 the north side"
We came in back Of the summer
house, and had Just left the road,
when three horsemen galloped past,
straight up to tho front door, which
stood wide open. The black shadow
Of o man Appeared in the glow OF
light, shading his eyes as he looked
out into the darkness.
Els that you, CulverT"
Yes" sullenly, the speaker swing
ing down from the saddle.
We'll. you've been hell Of while
getting here. Fagin viii skin you
aliveI it's nearly daylight already"
ibid the best I could; the cantin"
hypocrite wasn't ct home; had to go
clear to Medford after him. Come ON
now, get out @ thatI"
He dragged the center figure rough
ly from his horse, and hustled him
up the steps.
1.-THE Of fool thinks we're goin' To-
kill him. reckon; been prayln' for
an boar past. Bill got 80 mad he
choked him twice, but 1t didn't do
no good. Here, take him along in,.
viii yer, and let US hustle some grub. !"
The man addressed grabbed the
limp figure far from gently, and.
hustled him through the door. AS the
others disappeared, leading the three
horses, Mortimer grasped my sleeve.
That's Preacher Jenks," he whis-
pered. from down at the Cross Roads,.
What can Fagin want OF himH"
III Fagln Is Grants tool, and Grant
is here" answered. soberly, u ann
ready to make guess at what is up. =
The recollection OF the captains threat.
at the summer-house instantly re-
Cured to memory. There, you lads.
skulk down into these bushes, while
try that balcony. That Is the library
isn't 1t, EricS l thought so; I've been
under guard there twice. The win
dow shows no light, but some one LIS
in the room beyond. Give me leg
up, Tom, and stand close so you can
hear II speak"
1t was not high from the ground.
but l could not grip the top Of the ra4a
without help. With Toms assistano@
I went over lightly enough, and with
out noise. The window was the oHs
which had been broken during the
first assault on the house, and never
repaired. found ample room for
crawling through. The door into the
hall stood partly ajar, little hight
streaming through the crack. 50 / ex-
perIenced no difficulty in moving about
freely. A glance told me the apart
ment was unoccupied, although
heard the murmur OF distant voices
earnestly conversing. Occasionally
an emphatic oath sounded clear and