Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-05-04
CHAPTER XVIII.
At Cross Purposes.

pleasant place of imprisonment, yet
it was useless for me to contrive any
plans Of immediate escape, for the
door was securely locked, and two
heavily armed Dragons sat within eye,
ing me rather ~malevolently. My at
tempt at approaching the window was
instantly checked by a threatening
gesture, and-I sat down in the reading
chair to await developments. The
could not muffe my ears, however,
and I heard the swift h~oofbeats of an
approaching horse being ridden furi-
ously up the gravel driveway. At the
door he was hastily checked, and a
voice spoke peremptorilyi
Here you, take the reini"
The fellow came up the steps hur-
riedly, almost ignoring the sentry at
the door.
II haven't time to stand here, you
fool" he exclaimed roughly, my uni
form Is pass enough. I wish to see
Colonel Mortimer at once-at once"
There was a pause, and then the same
voice, and I recognized It now as
Grants beyond a doubt "Ah. colonel,
what in Gods name has happened
hereH / heard that you were out
hunting us at Farrelrs blacksmith
shop, and anne back as swiftly as I
could ride. But ! never suspected
this. Who were the miscrsants7"
That ia a question not yet an.
swered, Captain Grant" replied Nor
timer slowly. ut looks like the work
Of Pine Robbers. Do you recognize
this fellow?"
"Ay," and from the mufned tone he
must have been bending over the body,
that ia Tough Sims, a lieutenant Of
Red Fagin; there's n more devil
gone to hell. But when did the at
tack occurH We left here after dark,
and all was quiet enough then.
Claire"
"shs WAS here. then! hardly be-
lieved It possible"
Il talked with her-quarreied with
her, indeed. Perhaps that was why
she refused to accompany us to Phila-
delphia. But what did you mean.
colonel, when you said you hardly be-
iieved 1t possible she was here9 Did
some n tell your"
Vest we caught a fellow the
house when We arrived. He had NO
time for escape-rough-looking miscre-
ant, claiming to be a Continental. We
have him under guard in the library
HI confessed to the whole storyi"
Not 4 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 library7"
l 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 l noticed he took
a sudden step backward in the FIRST
shock Of surprise. his hand dropping
to the butt of 4 pistol IN his belt.
by all the godsl" he exclaimed
sharply. III 1t isn't the spyl / miss
the red Jacket. but l know the face.
Mister Lieutenant Fortesque."
Major Lawrence. II you please" l
returned quietly.
Wen not quarrel over tho name.
I've had occasion to know you under
both; bearing one you were a SPY.
beneath the other a leader of banditti.
III hang o with equal pleasure un-
der either" Suddenly he seemed to
remember where we were, and his
face flushed with newly aroused raj
But hrst you1l explain what you are
doing here At Elmhurst. Do you know
whose home this isf"
Most assuredly," determined not to
lose my temper. or to be moved by
his threats. ut Id the property of
Colonel Mortimer, Of the Queens
Rangers"
"Xnd-ahd Sou-you CAME here to
again sss-the daughterf" he ques-
toned. ~ though half resrstting the
indiscrstion Of such Z suspicion.
"Oh. no, captainj you do the LADY
\ grave Injustice I came here .
prisoner, very much against my VIII,
not even aware whose plantation shds
was. I had no suspicion that Mistress
Mortimer vas outside Philadelphia
uAti ] overheard you1 oaaySrsaden