The Cairo bulletin., 1912-07-03
be hunting after deserters."

i Sul toWoto tAV AOubc.
Grant! Do you know. believe
that fellow IL at the bottom Of thi.
whole affair. He's in love with Claire
and-and he's working some scheme
20 gain power over her."
Several schemes. I think" re
turned heartily. 'I've nipped two Of
hem In the bud already. Someway
Mortimer. he got possession OF those
instructions you received from Wash.
.ngton and Hamilton. ran into him
over there on the lawn. back Of the
,ummer-house. He was threatening
Claire, trying to drive her into mar.
wing him offhand. We had a bit Of a
aght, and got the best Of 1t. When
left wore his coat. and later found
your papers in his pocket. Do you
remember how they were addressed? 2"
He shook his head.
Simply Mortimer 1t occurred to
ne he could turn them over to Gin.
ON. accuse the colonel Of treason, and
share in the confiscation Of this es-
ate, or else hold them as a threat
over your sister. burned them"
He was silent for a long minute;
breathing hard, then he thrust out his
hand and clasped mine.
"The damned villain!" he ejaculat-
ID. his voice trembling. Every move
le has made has been an attempt to
ruin us. can see 1t now. Do you
suppose Claire really cares for the
.eilow?"
Il am very sure she does not"
Then what. In heavens name, does
she let him hang around for? al
ways hated the sight OF his black face
and Internal grin, but somehow,
thought she rather liked him. won.
der II ho can be there nowl II he ia,
then he and Fagin are UP to some dew
ilment."
And What that may be we'll never
discover by talking here" I put In
sternly, suddenly realizing We were
wasting time. Come. let's get around
to the north side"
We came In back OF the summer
house. and had just left the road.
when three horsemen galioped past.
straight up to the front door, which
stood wide open. The black shadow
OF a man appeared in the glow Of
light, shading his eyes as he looked
out into the darkness.
lis that you, Culver2"
yes" sullenly. the speaker swing
ing down from the saddle.
Well. you've been a hell of a while
getting here. Fagin will skin you
alive; it's nearly daylight already"
Did the best could; the cantin'
hypocrita wasn't at home; had to- go
clear to Medford after him. Come on
now, get out o. thatl"
He dragged the center figure rough.
ly from his horse. and hustled him
up the steps.
"The oil fool thinks we're goin' TO-,
kill him, reckon; been prayin' fof
an hour past. Bill got So mad he
choked him twice, but 1t didn't do
no good. Here. take him along In.
win yer, and let us hustle some grub"
The man addressed grabbed the
limp figure far from gently, and
hustled him through the door. As the
others disappeared, leading the three
horses. MoHimer grasped my sleeve.
That's Preacher Jenks," be whis-
pered. from down at the Cross Roads.
What can Fagin want Of himf'
III Fagin IL Grants tool, and Grant
is here" I answered soberly, II am
ready to make guess ut what is up"
The recollection Of the captains threat |
at the summerhouse instantly re-
CURED to memory. Here, you Lads. |
skulk down into these bushes, while |
try that balcony. That is the library.
isn't It. Eric? thought 80: I've been |
under guard there twice. The win
dow shows no light, but some one Is
in the room beyond. Give me a leg
up, Tom. and stand close 30 you can
hear II speak"
1t was not high from the ground,
but could not grip the top of the rail |
without help. With Toms assistance
went over lightly enough. and with
put noise. The window was the one
which had been broken during the
first assault on the house, and never
repaired. 1 found ample room for
crawling through. The door into the
lall stood partly ajar, little light
streaming through the crack, 80 I Elk.
>erienced no difficulty In moving about
RELY. A glance told me the apart.
ment was unoccupied. although !
ieard the nurmur or distant voices
earnestly conversing. Occasionally
IN emphatic oath sounded clear and
Instinct. My first thought was that
he men with me would be better con.
,ealed here than In the bushes below.
md | leaned over the rail, and bade
hem join me. Within another minute
he three or us were In the room in
emily listening. stole across to the
rack Of the door. !. The hall was
mpty 50 far as could see looking
oWard the rear Of the house, and the
oices we heard were evidently In the
ining-room. Occasionally there was
. clatter Of dishes, or the scraping Of ,
chair on the polished door One
DICE sang out an order to servant.
nasal voice, slightly thickened by
zine. and wheeled about, gazing In.
into Mortimer's face. III
That's Grant," he said quickly,
and half drunk gs7f