American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-09-12

furniture broken and flung aside, walls
hacked. dishes smashed into frag
ments. The scene was sickening II
its evidence of wanton hate. Yet
FOUND no more bodies, or proof o.
further resistance. In what must have
Deen Mistress Claire's private ana.
meht stood With seating heart star
ing about at the ruin disclosed. 'eae
large closet had been swept clean. gar
ments slashed with knives, and lefi
In rags; drawers turned upside dowr
In search after Jewels; the very cur
talns torn from the windows. It wa.
a scene of vandalism of which vaga
bonds alone would be guilty.
stepped across the pile of things
to the window, gianoing out at the
still s~mouldering ruins of the stable
Whatever had occurred, neither the
lazy nor Peter remained about he
house. OF this I was satisfied, yet
with the realization there came a sud.
den comprehension Of my own help.
lessness to be of any aid.
From the window where l stood not
a house was visible. Just beyond the
orchard the roads forked, a well-trav.
eled branch circling to the left, and
disappearing ove the edge Of a hill.
AS l traced it with my eyes a con.
siderable body Of mounted men sud,
denly appeared on the summit. With
out fear that they could see me at that
distance l 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.
l 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 brie.
time left In which to escape? II ]
essayed the first choice l could ex
plain the situation, and start these
troopers on the trail; if not they might
fail to understand and ride on thought.
lessly. What such a body of mounted
men were doing in the nsighSorhood
| 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 1
heard the thud of hoofs even as |
drew back into the upper hall. Then
a voice gave a sharp command.
"Circle the men about the house,
Simmons. There is something wrong
here. and I saw q fellow at that upper
window al we came down the hill.
Move quick, now!"
Imust face them, and went forward
to the head of the stairs, anticipating
an easy explanation of my presence
within. Already quite a squad was in
side the front door bending over the
DOA4Co anu oldlAAS dDUul lOuSiy-
pine Robbers, eh, colonel" said
one contemptuously. THAT fellow has
.cutthroat written all over him. Don't
see any signs of our men here"
Queen Ranger lying back Of the
stairs, sir" reported a soldier briefly;
Irish lookin' mug"
The man addressed as colonel, a
Ranger himself from his green uni
form, looked up quickly and saw me.
He called out an order, and three or
four men sprang up the stairs, grasp
Ing and leading me down. l made no
resistance, not realizing l was in any
danger. The colonel, a tall man with
gray mustache and goatee, and dark,
searching eyes, faced me sternly.
What are you doing here, sir?
Come, speak up! What does all this
mean" and he swept his hand about
In gesture.
Il came along about thirty minutes
ago." | explained, beginning to appre-
ciate my situation, from the suspicious
cast at me, and recalling how
SACPNtabit ny aPPtaA dHCt must bC.
Il found things just as they are now,
sir. There's been a fight and rob-
That's plain to be seen; are these
all the bodies?"
eyes, sir, but the house is upside
down from end to end"
you saw no one? No British sol
iiers?"
| shook my head, conscious of the
fierce grip with which | was being
held. A couple of the men dragged
but the body from behind the stairs,
and as the face came into the light,
he c%olonel's eyes saw it. l heard the
sharp breath expelled through his lips,
rs he stared down into those CHASTITY
'eatures.
Good Lord! Mike. What in the
of heaven does this mean? He
vas supposed to be with Clairel"
There must be some mistake,
Mortimer" insisted the other
officer gravely. perhaps We can get