The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1912-05-23

bis men remained. They must have
departed soon after dark. well pro.
visioned. upon their long march toward
the Delaware. leaving Elmhurst unoc
cupied except for It's mistress aud her
servants The fact that neither the
lady nor Peter had opened the en-.
trance 10 the secret staircase would
seem 10 show that the attack on the
house must have followed swiftly. II
had been surprise. giving those
within no chance 10 seek for refuge.
There had been n struggle at the front
door: some of the assailants had
achieved entrance through the win.
dow, and that had practically ended
the affair.
the girl' Who composed the attack.
Ing party The Indian had been de.
spatched 20 Valley Forge with my
memoranda: probably Peter. the Irish.
man. and y negro or two were alone
left 10 defend the house. A. 20 the
identity OF the marauders, had small
doubt; their handiwork was too plain
iy revealed. and those two dead men
remained as evidences. Rough No were
British and Hessian foraEers. they
were seldom guilty OF such vanion de-
struction a. this. Besides this was
the home OF q prominent loyalist. pro
tected from despoliation by high au.
thority. The hellish work must have
been accomplished BY one or more
bands Of those Pine Robbers Who In.
Tested Monmouth county. Infamous
devils. hiding IN caves among sand
hills. aud coming forth TO plunder and
rob. Pretending TO be Tories. their
only purpose OF organization was pll.
lAge. Even In the army the names
OF their more prominent leaders were
known. such as Red Fagin. Debov.
West and Carter. and many a tale OF
horror regarding their depredations
had ! heard told around the campfire.
Thess came back 20 memory As n
cared about those lower rooms. dread.
ing my next discovery. half craIed 20
think that Claire Mortimer might be
helpless IN their ruthless grasp. Ret.
ter death a thousand times than such
q fate.
pushed forward into the rooms OF
the lower noor, more than ever i'm.
pressed by their original magnifcence.
Now, however. they were all confusion.
furniture broken and flung aside. walls
hacked. dishes smashed into frAs.
ments The scene was sickenlnE In
its evidence OF wanton hate. Yet I
found no more bodies. or proof OF
further resistance In what must have
been Mistress Claires private apart
ment ! stood with beating heart star.
INK about AT the ruin disclosed. The
large closet had been swept clean, gar
ments slashed with knives. and left
In rags; drawers turned upside down
in search after jewels: the very cur.
tHlns torn from the vindowa Il was
. scene OF vandalism OF which vaga-
bonds alone would be guilty.
I stepped across the pile OF things
20 the window. glanclng out at tho
siill smouldcring ruins Of the stable.
Whatever had occurred. neither tho
,ndv nor Peter remained abou, tho
house. or this ! was satisfied. ye,
with the realization there came q sud |
den comprehension OF my own help |
lessness to be OF any aid.
From the window where I stood no,
a house was visible. Just beyond the
orchard the roads forked. a welitray
eled branch c:rcllng to the left, and
disappearing over the edge OF a hill
As ! traced II with my eyes a con.
siderable body OF mounted men sud
denly appeared on the summit With
out fear that they could see me Mt that
distance | watched eagerly as they
trotted down the long slope. They Il
were plainly squadron OF British
Dragons, their arms and cross-belts
shining In the sun. In spite OF the dust
kicked up by their horses hoofs.
| waited until convinced they were
coming 10 the house, before drawina
back out OF sight. II was difficult to
decide what was best for me TO do
Should / walt, trusting to my rough
clothing, and pass myself o: as a coun
tryman, or take advantage OF the brief
time left In which to escape? II
essayed the first choice I could ex.
plain the situation. and start these
troopers on the trail; II not they might
fall to understand and ride on thought.
lessly What such body OF mounted
men were doing In the neighborhood
could merely guess at--either they
were riding through to New York on
some matter Of Importance. OF else had
been sent out hurriedly 10 discover
what had become OF Delaysns fora,
gers. This superstition was the more