The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-06-15

, achieved entrance through the win
the affair
But what had become of Peter? or
the girl? Who composed the attack
ing party? The Indian had been de-
spatched TO Valley Forge with my
memoranda: probably Peter. tie Irish
man, and a negro or two we'd alone
left to defend the house. As t0 the
identity of the marauders. had small
doubt; their handiwork was too plain
ly revealed. and those two dead men
remained as evidence. Rough as were
British and Hessian foragers, they
, were seldom guilty OF such wanton de-
struction as 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. and coming forth TO plumber and
rob. Pretending to be Tories, their
/ only purpose of organization was pill
lage. Even In the army the names
of their more prominent leaders were
known, such as Red Fagin, Debow,
West and Carter, and many tale Of
horror regarding their depredations
had ! heard told around the campfire.
| These came back to memory as /
Cased about those lower rooms, dread
| ing my next discovery. half crazed to
| think that Claire Mortimer might be
| helpless In their ruthless grasp. Bet.
| ter death a thousand times than such
fate.
pushed forward into the rooms Of
the lower floor. 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 frag-
ments. The scene was siekening in
its evidence OF wanton hate. Yet
| found no more bodies, or proof Of
| further resistance. In what must have
been Mistress Claire's private apart
ment I stood with beating heart Ear
| Ing 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
J In search after jewels: the very cur
tains torn from the windows. 1t was
a scene of vandalism of which vaga-
/ hands a tnpa tustrIi Ia eYYfif.t
stepped across the Iale of things
10 the window, glanoing out at the
sill smOuidering ruins of the stable.
Whatever had occurred, neithar the
lady nor Peter remained about the
house. OF this ! was satisfied, yet
with the realization there came sud-
den comprehension of my own help
lessness to be Of any aid
From the window where stood not
house was visible. Just beyond the
| orchard the roads forked, well-trav-
eled branch cireling to the left, and
| disappearing over the edge of hill.
| AS | traced 1t with my eyes q con-
| siderable body OF mounted men sud
denly appeared on the summit. With
out fear that they could see me at that
distance \ watched eagerly as they
trotted down the long slope. They
were plainly a 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 to the house, before drawing
back out Of sight. 1t was difficult to
| decide what was best for me to do.
Should | wait, 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 could ex-
| plain the situation, and start these
troopers on the trail; II not they might
| fail 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, or else had
been sent out hurriedly to discover
what had become Of Delavan's fora
gers. This supposition was the more
likely, and they had taken the wrong
road, thus missing Grant and his men
In the darkness.
The must have cut through the or
chard, leaping the low fence, for
heard the thud Of hoofs even as
drew back into the upper hall. Then,
voice gave a sharp command.
\. "Circle the men about the house.
Simmons. There Ia something wrong
here, and saw fellow at that upper
window as we came down tho hill.
Move quick, now!"
must face them, and went forward
to the head OF the stairs. anticipating
an easy explanation Of my presence
within. Already quite squad was In
side the front door bending over the
bodies and staring about curiously.
''Pine Robbers, eh, colonel?" said
one CONTEMPORARY. "That fellow has
cutthroat written all over him. Don't