The Cairo bulletin., 1912-06-28

Horsenier Ahead
q favor; It seems the boy is son OF
Colonel Mortimer. of the queens
rangers"
Indeed; Wayne reported the colo
mel killed in front Of his lines"
"Not killed but seriously wounded.
The son asked permission to take him
home to place called Elmhurst near
Laurel Hill"
Il know the plantation, sir" said.
my interest causing me to interrupt.
sit Is on the Medford road"
"Ah, you have met the lad, possibly
major" and he turned his face to-
ward me. "The boy interested me
greatly"
"No. sir; / endeavored to. find him
at Lees headquarters, but failed.
have met his father and sister,
"A lovely, girl, no doubt"
ITO my mind, yes. sir
His grave face lighted with sud
| den smile.
81 sometimes imagine, Colonel Ham,
ilton," he said quietly, 'that this I'M
happy war might be very pleasantly
concluded II we could only turn our
young officers over to the ladies Of the
enemy. Would such a plan meet with
your approval, major?"
II should prefer It to the present
| method" F1~
mo doubt, and Mistress Mortimer?
But let that pass, until we hold
council of war upon the subject. lust
now we shall have to be content with
the more ordinary plans Of campaign.
| gave the boy permission to remove
his father, and they are upon the road
ere this. would that ali the British
wounded had homes close at hand.
You have informed the major OF his
mission, presume, Hamilton, ana
there is nothing ! need add"
'.IIe understands clearly, sir"
"Then viii complete the letter. Be
seated, gentlemen"
He wrote for several minutes stead
fly, once pausing to consult map.
signed the paper, and enclosed II IN
another sheet, across which he
scratched line of address.
"You will deliver this to General
Arnold in person, major; do not spare
horse-Hesh. You were in the action
today?"
with Maxwells brigade"
/ seThat was a hard fight along the
stone wall; you came out unhurt"
"a slight bayonet wound, sir; moth
Ing to incapacitate me from duty"
VERY well; take ten dragons as
escort. Hamilton will write you an
order. have told Arnold our victory
is practically complete. Clinton may
slip away in the night, for ne - q
willy old fox, but he has lost his pow
err to injure us in the Jerseys. l-hope
to bottle him up before morning, SO
that any retreat will be Impossible
hut even If he succeeds in getting MS
army to the transports at sanay
Hook. he has lost prestige, and the
victory is ours. Goodbye major, ane
J the Lord guard you on your Journey
Ten minutes ,later, mounted on
ransy sorrel. my dragon escort trot
ting behind rode south on tnt
plainsboro road, as swiftly as It's ter
rible condition would warrant
The evidences Of war, the wreck
, nee or battle. were everywhere. Sev
anal times We were compelled to ieaT
~ tha stone walls to permit the passage
Of marching troops being hurried u
| some new position; several batteries
nassed us, rumhling grimly through
. the night, and a squadron Of horse
. galloped by, the troopers greeting v
, with shouts Of inquiry.
{ We took to the fields, but, as Their
: seemed no end to the profession,
. turned my horse's head eastward, con
4 fldent we we're already beyond tn
British rear-guard, and struck on
across country for another north an
south road. We advanced now at
!, swift trot, the sound OF our horses
hoofs on the soft turf almost the onl
= noise. and, within an hour, came agar
to parallel fences, and a well trayelle
: road.
This was the road running mile
!, or SO, to the west OF Elmhurst.
led as straight as any, toward Phils
:. delphia, but whatever stragglers tn
British army had left behind woui
= be found along here. However, the
= would probably be scattered fngitiye'
7 unwilling to interfere with as stron
an armed party as this of mine.
: was alone ii would be safer to tur
/, aside. Then, It was strong tempt'
!, ton to me to pass thus close TO Elm
!; hurst. It would be after daylisf
!, when We reached there I might eye sys