Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-10-04

| sir. There's been fight and rob
berry"
That's plain to be seen; are these
all the bodies?"
yes, sir, but the house is upside
| down from end to end"
|, you saw no one? No British sol
diers?"
| shook my head. conscious of the
| fierce 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 colonels eyes saw it. | heard the
sharp breath expelled through his lips,
as he stared down into those CHASTITY
features.
Good Lord. Mike! What in the
name OF heaven does this mean? He
was supposed to be with Claire!"
There must be some mistake,
Colonel Mortimer" insisted the other
officer gravely. Perhaps we can get
the truth out of this pumpkin. if We
take the lash to him.
understood in a flash, and as swift
ly chose course of action. This
gray-headed colonel was her father,
and 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 fiercely. "You know more than
you have told. Speak up, or Wen skin
you alive"
Il will, Colonel Mortimer" l said,
looking him straight in the eyes. mot
because of your threats, but because
| wish to serve you. Now l know who
you are, and will tell you all l know
about this whole affair"
''Was-was my daughter here?" he
interrupted.
Yes, sir
my God! And Eric?"
Not to my knowledge was a
man called Peter, this fellow, and a
black slave or two, They were all l
saw"
But why should Claire have been
here" he asked as though dazed, "un-
less she came to meet her brother? l
supposed her safe in the city"
Il do not pretend to understand the
cause of her presence. But if you
listen to my story perhaps you may
know what to do" I paused an instant
to get grip on my thoughts. l need
not tell all, confess my identity. or
mention my personal relations with
the daughter. Il am soldier, Colonel
Mortimer, in MaXwells brigade of
Washington's army. What brought me
here has nothing to do with the pres
ent story. l was in the fight over yon-
der near Mount Laurel night before
last when we captured Delavan's for
age train"
What" burst in the dragon Off
Ger. WAS Deldvan defeated, then?
Hadn't Grant joined him."
Yes to both questions, sir. Della
van was killed, and Grant surrendered.
He and his men were paroled, and
started for Philadelphia last evening
from here"
From here!" incredulously. THAT
must be lie, colonel, for Mount Lau-
rel is between here and the city"
Nevertheless, it is no lie," l re-
torted promptly, looking the young
fool in the eyes. II was hiding here
for reasons of my own when they
came tramping in along that road
about the middle of the forenoon yes
terday. There was near a hundred
Hessians and Rangers, with two Ger
man officers, and Grant. I heard them
tell Mistress Mortimer this was the
nearest place where they were sure
of finding provisions. and that they in
tended T. ifmain tntil night don't
know IhappeaedS after that, ex-
cept oficars went inside, and
the nj chea around to the back
to cad sakfast"
"Whs fc Of your"
ON or Business, and never
got baca lhere until just at day
light light ~ A.. s.is- Then I found
'You don't know what occurred,
them"
mo more than you do. But I've got
my opinion. It's this-Grant and his
fellows must have left as soon as it
was dark, taking the west road, which
was the cause of your missing them.
1t is likely from this man Mikes body,
that your daughter and her party were
still in the house, 1t couldn't have
been much later when these others
got here and made the attack Mike
must have fought them at the front
door, but that was all the fight made:
there's no sign of any struggle inside
Then they never got Claire de-
clared Mortimer positively. That's q
certainty, Seldom"
''She would have fought, sir?'
Like tiger. / know my little girl
And, besides, Peter would have died