American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-10-31

XXX.
Wa Attain the House.

Come on, Mortimer, and we'll soon
ind out what is going on" I turned
to the prisoner. Where are the rest
Of your gang?"
you'll find out fer yerself, mister"
he answered s~ullenly. IAN maybe
damn quick too"
"They are in the grape arbor to the
south Of the house." broke in Eric.
THAT vas where Fagin told them to
lie quiet and walt ORDERS"
"Then We will explore along the
north side. keeping thesfence between
us. I've got a handful of men over
there In the orchard. II you are both
ready well CO."
/ took a look myself at Toms rope
tying, and found It satisfactory. In
deed. IN remembrance Of my own suf-
fering. l even loosened the strain q
little. confident the fellow could never
free himself unaided. Then the three
Of Us. Mortimer armed with his late
guards gun. crawled up over the edge
Of the bank, ran without stopping
across the open space. and crouched
In the shadow Of the fence. 1t wal
still dark. although q faint gray tinged
The eastern skyline, barely perceptibls
through the intervening trees. The
great house, q hundred yards away,
was but a blurred outline, distinguish,
able by the lights shining out through
open windows. At that distance no
sound reached u. However. II Nor
timer was right. the way would be
clear for our passage along the front
undsr shelter Of the fence, even
though q sentry was posted there, and
I'VE could creep up to the walls on the
opposite side unobserved. All W
needed to do was to advance with
caution. Whispering directions into
the ears Of the others. I moved for,
ward slowly. Mortimer close to my
shoulder. l could see across the ton
rail Of the fence, and the open space
beyond yielded no point Of conceal.
ment.
Tell me the rest Of your story" !
said. speaking softly. "as we go along.
Where did Fagin take your"
ITO a sand cave; we rode q night
and a day to get there"
Treat you all right?"
well as he could. l suppose. I had
enough to eat, but was guarded close,
ly. and the fellows were a bit rough"
did you gain no inkling Of what
they were up TOT"
mo; the men I saw knew nothing.
or pretended not to. / only saw Fagin
twice. Once he came to assure him.
self tAat l was really myself. Some
body told him I was with Delavan In
, fight over near Lone Tree"
THAT was your sister,"
WHAT You don't mean 1t was
Clairsf"
but / do. I CHANGED to be In that
Affair myself. and saw her. Later she,
three others-Peter, an Indian.
and an Irishman-captured me. mis-
taking me for some one else, and took
to Elmhurst. As soon as she
learned my identity she acknowl-
edged her error. But l have not
yet why she was with Della
van. or for whom she mistook me-"
The lad drew in his breath sharp
y, gripping me by the shoulder.
by the Lord Harry" he exclaimed
sxcitedly. There isn't another girl
n the Colonies who would have done
{. I'll bet can explain, but even l
iidnt think she would ever have the
lerye TO perform such a deed. ! told
Tou ! left my papers there. / forgot
hem where changed my clothes. You
60 came out wearing the uniform Of |
British dragon lieutenant, and had |
{ all planned out to Join Delavan. and (
'uide him toward Philadelphia over
he Lone Tree road. Just before 1 left
ur camp at Valley Forge on this trip
received orders from Washington to
eep my eyes open for a courier rid
from Philadelphia to New York
nth Clinton's plans of evacuation.
seemed to know all about /
his. n sent me special instructions.
talked Of 1t with Claire, planned how
was going to waylay him, and to-
ether We fixed up those servants as
oldiers to help me carry out the de-
option"
He paused. chuckling. and I halted.
ager to learn the rest.
And when you disappeared; when.
erhaps, she heard Of your capture,
r suspected It, she assumed the dis
arded uniform and went forth In
our stead"
That's 1t, Lawrence. She would.
she thought 1t was right; II she BE-
eved such an act necessary to save
y reputation. I'll bet she found the
apers In my pocket. and mistook you
IT Clinton's dispatch bearer"
There is no doubt Of It." I said So
sriy. and that wasn't all she did
protect you. Il was thu falk NJ