The Southern herald., 1912-11-15

iiers!"
shook my head. conscious Of the |
aerce grip with which was being |
held. A couple Of the men dragged
out the body from behind the stairs.
and as the face came into the light
the colonel's eyes saw 1t. heard the
sharp breath expelled through his lips.
as he stared down into those CHASTITY
features.
Good Lordl Mike! What in the
name of heaven does this meant He
was supposed to be with Clairel"
There must be some mistake,
Colonel Mortimer" insisted the other
officer gravely. Perhaps we can get
the truth out Of this pumpkin. II we
take the lash to him."
/ understood in flash, and as swift
ly chose a course of action. This
gray-headed colonel was her father.
and l would serve her in this emergen-
cy without thought Of my own danger
No threat Of whip would open my
lips, but memory would.
"Come, you dog!" burst out the
colonel flercely. "You know more than
you have told. Speak up. or wen skin
you alive"
Il will, Colonel Mortimer" said,
looking him straight in the eyes. Not
because Of your threats, but because
wish to serve you. Now ! know who
you are, and | will tell you all know
about this whole affair"
"Was--was my daughter hereT be
interrupted.
Eyes, SIR"
my Godl And Ericf"
''Not to my knowledge there was
man called Peter, this fellow, and I
black slave or two. They were all
saw"
"But why should Claire have beel
here" he asked as though dazed, "un
| less she came to meet her brotherr
supposed her safe In the city"
Il do not pretend to understand tn
cause Of her presence. But If yo'
listen to my story perhaps you ma
know what to do" l paused an lnstan
to get a grip on my thoughts. l nee
not tell all, confess my Identity. Q
mention my personal relations wit
the daughter. "I am soldier, Colon'
Mortimer, in Maxwell's brigade
Washington's army. What brought N
here has nothing to do with the pre-
ent story. / was in the fight over yol
, der near Mount Laurel night befoI
last when we captured Delavan's 10
: age train"
What" burst in the dragon OF
! Ger. WAS Delavan defeated, thel
: Hadn't Grant Joined him7"
i Eyes to both questions, sir. Del
van was killed, and Grant surrendere
r He and his men were paroled, al
! started for Philadelphia last evenii
Q from here"
z oFrom here!" incredulously. "Th
n must be lie, colonel, for Mount La
rel Is between here and the city"
!. Nevertheless, It As no lie," !
/ torted promptly, looking the you
/ fool in the eyes. II was hiding be
n for reasons of my own when tn
came tramping in along that 70
Z. about the middle Of the forenoon y
& terday. There was near hundl
i Hessians and Rangers. with two g
il man officers, and Grant. ! heard tn
tell Mistress Mortimer this was
d nearest place where they were 81
Il Of finding provisions, and that they
4 tended to remain until night, ! dc
n know what happened after that,
q cent that the officers went inside,
the men marched around to the 81
i'd to eat their breakfast"
as "What became Of you?"
n .Oh. had other business, and ne
got hack along here until Just ct 9
bA light this morning. Then ! fo'
y: things this way"
"You don't know what occur
4 then?"
nj mo more than you do. But I've
oe nv opinion. It's this-Grant and
Or fellows must have left as soon q
sp- was dark, taking the west road, vi
no was the cause Of your missing tn
nv II il likely from this man Mikes b
ith that your daughter and her party y
TX still in the house. It couldn't /
been much later when these OF
,,rY got here and made the attack 4
his must have fought them at the I
o,,t door, but that was all the fight MI
there's no sign Of any struggle insl
,tes sThen they never got Claire,
M. NJ olared Mortimer positively. "Tha
ana certainty, Seldom.
,ow she would have fought, SIR y
~ nike tiger know my little
ow. And, besides Peter would have