The Springfield herald., 1912-12-20
CHAPTER xx-contInusd.

comprehended the plan in fash.
She had discovered a sentry money
would buy; to lead the others away
long enough to effect my escape. Peter
had taken to the woods with gun.
Whether he escaped or was captured.
the delay would be short. With the
knowledge came action. bore the
unresisting Ranger to the floor, hurl-
ing down the tray of food he bore in
a mass Of broken crockery. and bound
him hand and foot. leaving the fellow
lying across the open doorway. He
was without arms. except his heavy
gun. which left beside him. An in
slant paused to ask question. hold
ing aloft the lantern SO as to see his
face
Now, man. speak quick; you were
given some word for me? Some in
structions how was to get away?"
Sure; but We drew those cords
tight! You are to go upstairs. out
the front door. and turn to the right:
there's horse in the thicket beyond
the summer house. Damnation. loosen
that ankle rope. will ye?"
gave 1t twitch. but felt little COM
passion for the fellow. and ran up the
steps. leaving the lantern below. 1
knew the way even in the dark. and
experienced little trouble in feeling my
passage. met with no Interference.
and heard no sound. the house SEEM
ingly deserted. Only as opened the
front door could I hear distant, irreg-
ular firing to the northwest Assured
that no guard remained, flung N.Y.
self recklessly over the porch rail onto
the smooth turf Of the lawn. The dim
outlines of the latticed summer house
could be discerned not thirty feet dis
tant, and I started toward 1t unhesi
tatingly had made half the distance
when a horse neighed suddenly to my
right, and, startled at the sound. fell
flat, creeping cautiously forward into
the shadow of low bush. had risen
to my knees. believing the animal
must be the one left there for my use,
when l heard the growl Of a voice. a
mans voice. from out the summer
house.
For an instant could not locate the
sound nor distinguish 1t clearly; then
a sentence cut the air SO distinctly
that recognized the speaker. Grant!
What was he doing here? Had we
delayed too long? Had Fagin's pur-
suers returned? II so. why was he
there In the summer >house, and with
whom was he conversing? crouched
back listening. afraid to move.
II saw the CLEAN Of your white
skirt as / rounded the house." he ex-
claimed. by Cad, I thought the
horse was going to bolt with me. Fine
bit of luck this, finding you out here
alone. What's going on out yonder?"
There was an attack on the horse
guard, and Mr.. Seldom is In pursuit
But how does 1t happen you have re-
turned alone? Has anything occurred
to my father?"
Judged from the sound that he
seated himself before answering, and
there was hesitancy sufficiently no.
ticeable, 80 as to cause the girl to ask
anxiously:
He has not been injured?"
Who, the colonel" with a short
laugh. mo, fear of that while pursu-
ing those fellows; they ride too fast,
md are scattered by now all the way
from here to the Atlantic Probably
squad of the same gang out there
fighting Seldom. Trouble with the
colonel is he takes the affair too seri-
ously; imagines he is actually on the
trail md proposes to remain out all
night | became tired of such foolish
uess and rode back"
You mean you left? Deserted?"
.t1,,
| was sent out with detachment to
ride down the Lewiston road. l mere
ly left my sergeant in command and
turned my horses head this way I
can be back by morning. and wanted
to see you"
ITO see me. Captain Grant! You
Aisobeyed my futher's orders to ride