The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-03
CHAPTER KIM.
AZ Gross Purposes.

IL WA6 0GCtCSo III nAO W SOAAAANO ohy
plans Of immediate escape. for the
door was securely locked. and two
heavily armed dragons sat within eye
ing me rather meleyolently. Ny at.
tempt at approaching the window was
instantly checked by q threatening
gesture, and sat down In the reading
chair TO await developments. The
could not muf1e my ears. however,
and heard the swift hoOfbeats Of an
approaching horse being ridden furi.
ously up the gravel driveway. At the
door be was hastily checked. and a
voice spoke peremptorily:
Here you. take tho reini"
The fellow came up tho steps. hur
rfedly, almost ignoring the sentry al
the door.
IT haven't time to stand here, you
fool" he exclaimed roughly. my uni.
form 10 pass enough. ] wish 20 see
Colonel Mortimer ut once-at cnce."
There was q pause, and then the same
voica, and I recognized IL now M
Grants beyond q doubt "Ah, colonel.
what In Gods name has happened
heref heard that you were out
hurting uS at FarreIrs blacksmith
shop. and came back as swiftly as
could ride. But ] never suspected
this. Who were the miscreantsf"
THAT IL q question not yet an,
swersd, Captain Grant," replied Nor
timer slowly. TT looks Ike the work
Of Pine Robbers. Do you recognise
this fellow?"
"Ay." and from the ununacd tone hS
must have bean bending over the body,
that is Tough Sims. q lieutenant of
Red Fagtns there's one more devil
gone to he'll. But when aha the at.
tack occurf We left here after dark
and all was quiet enough then.
| Claire"
she was hare. thenf hardly be-
lieved IL possible"
* talked with her-quarreled with
her, indeed. Perhaps that was why
she refused 70 accompany rs to Phila,
delphia. But what did you mean,
colonel, when you said you hardly be-
iieved 1t possible she was heref Did
some one tell your"
Yes; we caught a fellow the
house when We arrived. He had no
time for sscape-rough-lookin miscre-
ant, claiming to be Continental. We
have him under guard in the library"
HE confessed to the whole story?"
mot a word; claimed to know moth
ing except that Claire was here. Said
he saw you, and then went away, not
getting back again until this morn
ing"
The fellow is a liar, colonel. Let
me see him; I'll lash the truth out OF
his lips. Where did you say he was
in the library?"
had barely time to rise to my feet
when he entered. His eyes swept
across the guard, and then conferred
upon me. Instantly they blaEed with
excitement, although noticed he took
a sudden step backward in the first
shock Of surprise, his hand dropping
to the butt OF pistol in his belt.
by all the godsl" he exclaimed
sharply. "If 1t isn't thu spyi / miss
the red jacket, but know the face,
Mister Lieutenant Fortesque."
Major Lawrence. IL you please" Z
returned quietly.
Wen not quarrel over the name.
I've had occasion to know you under
both; bearing one you were a spy,
seneath the other a leader Of banditd.
III hang you with equal pleasure un-
Ter either, Suddenly he seemed to
remember where we were, and his
ace flushed with newly aroused rage.
But first you'll explain what you are
ioing here at Elmhurst. Do you know
whose home this isl"
Most assuredly," determined not to
Iose my temper, or to be moved BY
ais threats. 1T Is the property OF
Colonel Mortimer. OF the Quesn's
Rangers" ~
"And-and you-you came here to-
again see--the daughter7" he Ques-
toned, as though half regretting the
tndiscretion Of such suspicion.
ooh, no, captain; you do the lady
. grave injustice. came here a.
prisoner, very much against my WILL
uot even aware whose plantation tkiSl
was. had no suspicion that Mistress
Mortimer was outside Philadelphia.
until overheard your conversation
with her."
Overheard You'll In Gods name.
where were you"
I'm this room; with both doors ajar
Il was impossible not to hear. You
spoke somewhat angrily. you may rea
member, not finding the lady as gras
cious in her reception as expected"
The sarcasm in my tone stung hims
but the surprise was so great that be
could only rip out an oath.
Il thought you would have also en-
joyed swearing ut that time" con-
tinued coolly, "only you scarcely dared
venture so far. You had previously
boosted to me Of your engagement to
the lady, and it naturally was q sufs
( prise to observe how lovingly she
greeted you"
"Hell's acrei" he burst out. did
the mink know you were therer
IF you refer to Mistress Mortimers
presume she suspected t. At least
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