The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-08-01
My Lady Of Doubt.
By Randall Parrish.
Author of "Love Under Fire. ''Nly Lady Of
the North, Etc.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEKS ISSUE
By Randall Parrish.
CONTINUED IRON LAsr WEEKS ISSUE.

AhO bHA ~ShVos 0Ao1S "a NS~@~~ =
her voice:
Surely, you cannot mean to ally
yourself with guerillas. Captain Grant,
With-with Fagin?"
The man laughed. but mirthlessly.
"That would be horrible. wouldn't
It7 Well, personally fail to see why
Fagin is any more Of a scoundrel than
some OF these other fellows in gilt
epaulets. However, I've not come to
that point yet. The fact is / have q
private affair to attend to before !
leave this neighborhood. Can you
guess what 1t is?''
II? Certainly not"
well, you viii know shortly-the
ambulance is coming"
/ rode my horse slowly forward
keeping at the edge Of the road, until
assured a sufficient distance separated
us. Then / gave the restlye animal
a sharp touch Of the spur. sending him
swiftly forward. MY escort would have
a mile or two the start, yet that was
nothing. MY thoughts were not with
them, or with my military duty, but
reverted to the little company around
the wounded man. The bearing Of
the dispatch to Arnold was mere rOu-
tine, involving only steady riding, but
the relations existing between Claire,
Grant, and Eric Mortimer were full
of mystery. There were connecting
links could not understand; no doubt
had the girl been permitted to con-
clude her story / might ft 1t tog eth
er, but as 1t was ! was left cropping in
the darkness. Yet my mind tena-
ciously held to it's original theory as
to Eric's strange disappearance--he
had been betrayed by Grant, and was
being held prisoner. But where2 By
whom? And for what purpose?
pondered on this problem as my
horse ploughed forward through the
dust, my eyes unconsciously scanning
the dark road. Grant could not have
known that Colonel Mortimer was be-
ing taken home His meeting with the
ambulance party was altogether an ac-
cident. Yet l had no faith the man
was out seeking British stragglers, for
had he been dispatched on such a mis-
sion he would have had at least
squad Of soldiers with him. Then what?
The probability was that he was eth
er riding to Elmhurst, or to some rem
devious with Fagin. Some plan had
been interrupted by Clintons sudden
march, by the British defeat at Mon
mouth, and Grant was risking his
commission, Drawing the charge OF de-
sertion, for some private purpose.
This might be love Of Claire, revenge
upon Eric, or possibly both combined.
The latter would seem most probable.
He would use Eric In some way to
threaten the sister, TO compel her to
sacrifice herself. She was OF a nature
to do this, as was already abundantly
proved by her assumption Of male
attire to save E1c's reputation. MY
own responsibility doomed large az
reached this conclusion, and remem-
bered her appeal for help. She, also,
must suspect the truth, and had turned
to me as the only one capable Of I'M
travelling the mystery. She trusted me,
loved me, / now believed-and, under
God, would prove worthy Of her faith.
With teeth clinched in sudden deter
mination / caught up with my little
squad Of plodding horsemen, and, with
word of command, hurried them into
a sharp trot.
Riding ahead. boot to boot with
Conroy, / thought out q plan for ac-
tion, and finally, in the gray OF the
morning, told him enough of the story
to arouse his interest. Just before
sunrise we passed Elmhurst, the great
white mansion appearing silent and
deserted. There was no hating, ell
though we turned in the saddle to
look. and my eyes swept over the
troopers trottlng behind us. They were
a sturdy lot, their faces bronzed from
exposure. their uniforms stained and
dust-covered.
''Regulars?" I asked. noddlng back
across my shoulder.
mot man but has seen two years.
service" he replied proudly. "Ham-
ilton knows the troop. and he picked
us out"
81 may need them for bit Of des-
perate work"
They'll do II, sir. never fear"
"Good, sergeant; wen ride hard,
and trust to getting fresh horses in
Philadelphia. I'll tell Arnold the story.
When we arrive there have your men
get all the sleep they can. III attend
to rations and ammunition. You are
simply to have the men rested and
ready. Cannot we make better timer
The horses seem In good condition"
We passed swiftly over the level
country, meeting few stragglers, but
paying them small attention. BY two
o'clock We were on the banks Of the
Delaware, and a half-hour later,
swung down stifiy from the saddle in
front Of Arnold's headquarters on
High street.
He was an oficer I never greatly
liked. with his swapping eyes and ar
rogant manner. but he was courteous
enough on this occasion, questioning
me after reading the dispatch, and OF.
fering me a glass Of wine.
'eYou look tired, major. and must
rest before You start back. / shall