The Cairo bulletin., 1912-07-03
CHAPTER xxx.
We Attain the houss.

/
| Come on. Mortimer, and wen soon
find out what u going on" I turned
to the prisoner. where are the rest
Of your gang?"
you'll find out fer yerself. mister. /"
hs answered sullenly, IAN maybe
damn quick too"
They are In the grape arbor to the
south Of the house." broke in Eric.
That was where Fagin told them to
lie quiet and wait orders"
Then we will explore along the
north side. keeping the fence between
us. I've got handful OF men over
there in the orchard. II you are both
ready we'll CO."
took look myself at Toms rops.
tying. and found 1t satisfactory. IN
deed, in remembrance Of my own sue-
'ering. ! even loosensd the strain a
little. confident the fellow could never
free himself unaided. Then the Ahree
Df us, Mortimer armed with his late
guards gun. crawlsd up over the edge
Of the bank. ran without stopping
across the open space. and crouched
In the shadow Of the fence. It was
atill dark. although faint gray tinged
the eastern skyline. barely perceptible
through tho intervening trees. The
great house. hundred yards away.
was but blurred outline. distinguish
able by the lights shining out through
open windows At that distance ne
sound reached us. However. IL Nor
timer was right. the way would be-
clear for our passage along the 'front.'.
under shelter OF the fence, even
though sentry was posted there, and
we could creep up to the walls ON the
opposite aide unobserved. All we
needed to do was to advance with
caution. Whispering directions into
the ears OF the others, moved for
ward slowly, Mortimer close to my
shoulder. I could see across the top
rail of the fence. and the open space
beyond yielded no point of conceal
ment.
Tell me the rest Of your story" I
said, speaking softly. "as we go along.
Where did Fagin take your"
ITO a sand cave; we rode night
and day to get there"
Treat you all rightf"
well as he could, suppose. had
enough to eat. but was guarded close
iy. and the fellows were bit rough"
did you gain no inkling OF what
they were up TOT"
mo; the men I saw knew nothing,
or pretended not to. only saw Fagin
twice. Once he came to assure him
self that l was really myself Some
body told him was with Delavan In
q ight over near Lone Tree"
THAT was your sister"
what! You don't mean it was
Ciaire7"
"But do. ! CHANGED to be in that |
affair myself. and saw her Later she.
with three others-Peter, an Indian. |
and an Irishman--captured me, mis- |
taking me for some one else, and took !
me to Elmhurst. As soon as abe /
learned my identity she acknowl- |
edged her error. But / have not |
learned yet why she was with Della
van, or for whom she mistook me-"
The lad drew In his breath sharp
". gripping me by the shoulder. /
by the Lord Harry" he exclaimed
excitedly. There isn't another girl |
In the Colonies who would have done
1t. I'll bet can explain. but even I
didn't think she would ever have the
nerve to perform such a deed. ] told
you ! left my papers there. forgot
them where changed my clothes. You
see came out wearing the uniform Of
q British dragon lieutenant, and had
It all planned out to join Delavan, and
guide him toward Philadelphia over
the Lone Tree road. Just before ! left
our camp at Valley Forge on this trip /
received orders from Washington to
keep my eyes open for courier rid
Ing from Philadelphia to New York
with Clinton's plans of evacuation.
Hamilton seemed to know all about
this. and sent me special instructions.
talked of 1t with Claire. planned how
was going to waylay him, and to- I
gether We ixed up those servants as
soldiers 10 help me carry out the de-
.eption."
He paused, chuckling, and halted,
eager to learn the rest. II
And when you disappeared; when,
perhaps, she heard of your capture, !
Or suspected 1t, she assumed the dis
,arded uniform and went forth In
your stead"
That's 1t, Lawrence. She would.
[ she thought It was right; If she be- |
ieved such an act necessary to save ,
ny reputation. I'll bet she found the
papers in my pocket. and mistook you !
or Clnton's dispatch bearer"
There Is no doubt of IT, said SO.
,erly. And that wasn't all she did !
o protect you. 1t was the talk at
Lees headquarters that you had de-
.erted. She stamped that lie, by I
fdfng into our lines day before yes
erday, bringing an exact report OF
where Clinton was marching, | didn't
zee her, but heard all about it, and 9
'ou get the credit. Washington told 8
ne with his own lips, and granted her
'ermission to remove your father, who a
vas badly wounded, to Elmhurst." Y
Good God! Are they here now" 2
They must have reached here early
q