The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-05-15

Awsy?"
Yes. this time, for my sake 10 we
as your own. II l could have complete
my confession you would realize tn
necessity. However the fact that 20
are the bearer of dispatches shout
be sufficient; your duty to the ColC
MES Is more important than any pr
vate quarrel. You will go?"
"yes-but you? Are you safe wit
him?"
Perfectly. I wish I might b
clothed In my own proper dress. bu
with Peter and Tonepah on guard
Captain Grant alone is not danger
Gus. Besides, l wish to learn his pun
pose in seeking to join u.s." She hes
itated. you must not fear for me
but-but | wish to tell you all. and
and am sure | shall need your help
You mean | am to join you again
at Elmhurst?"
rs that asking too much?"
Claire" | whispered, bending to
ward her. so Peter could not overhear
nothing shall keep me from coming
dear. | will ride back the moment my
dispatches are in Arnold's hands. But
tell me. first, If you are not afraid OF
Grant himself, what is 1t you need me
for?"
Eric" she answered swiftly. "He
has disappeared, dead or deserted. Oh,
| cannot believe the last is true. 1t
was to ave his reputation that |
dressed In this uniform, performed the
work assigned him. | feel sure Grant
knows where he is, what has become
OF him. l went to him in Philadel-
phia, but he only sneered, and said the
boy had doubtless run away. know
better; that is not like a Mortimer.
But i cannot search for him: | must
stay with my father. But If | can only
be assured you will come"
you can be assured"
Mistress Claire broke in Peter,
n is riding up the road"
Yes, Peter, yes. Major, wait here!
Don't move. We will go back and
meet him."
! held my horse steady. although he
made an effort to follow. Voices came
back to me through the darkness
Grants loud enough to be clearly
heard.
What. is this you, Claire?" he
grufly. "By all the gods, |
it must be Eric. l never ex-
to find you logged out in this
BY Jove. l wish it was day
Whatever she replied must have
sobered the fellow.
Everything / say you take wrongly.
Of course it's all right, for the coun-
.ry Is full Of stragglers out Of both
Lord, l don't care what you
wear, as long as it suits you. My
business? oh, l explained all that to
'our putty-faced servant-Saint Anne!
hat fellow! But I'll review the mat
er again. I'm drumming up Clinton's
leserters, but now I've met you I'm
empted to go along with you as far as
Glmhurst."
Become a deserter yourself?"
"Oh, no, or at least only Temporal
lily. There will be plenty of fighting
ct In the Jerseys. Clinton's whipped
III right, and is going to have a time
letting away to the ships. In my
Judgment there will be richer picking
or a Jerseyman right here at home,
han with the army in New York"
There was a moments silence; then
girl asked. a shade of horror in
ler voice:
Surely, you cannot mean to ally
ourself with guerillas. Captain Grant?
Vith-with Fagin?"
The man laughed, but m~irthlessly.
That would be horrible, wouldn't
/? Well, personally | fail to see why
'agin Is any more of a scoundrel than
ONE of these other fellows in gil.
paulets. However, I've not come to
hat point yet. The fact is / have a
affair to attend to before /
cave this neighborhood. Can you
what 1t is?"
Il? Certainly not"
Well. you will know shortly-the
mbulance is coming"
| rode my horse slowly forward,
at the edge of the road. until |
ssured a sufficient distance separated
S. Then i gave the FESTIVE animal
sharp touch of the spur, sending him
Forward. My escort would have
mile or two the start, yet that was
othing. My thoughts were not with
hem. or with my military duty, but
everted to the little company around
he wounded man. The bearing of
he dispatch TO Arnold was mere rou.
me, involving only steady riding, but
ne relations existing between Claire,
rant, and Eric Mortimer were full
I mystery. There were connecting
INKS ! could not understand: no doubt
ad the girl been permitted to con-
Jude her story I might fit it tog 9TH
r, but as 1t was | was left cropping In
he darkness. Yet my mind tena-
lously held to its original theory as
, Eric's strange disappearance--he
ad been betrayed by Grant, and was
eing held prisoner. But where? BY
HON? And for what purpose?
! pondered on this problem as my
orse ploughed forward through the
ust, my ayes un~consciously scanning
dark road. Grant could not have
that Colonel Mortimer was be-
lg taken home. His meeting with the
mbulance party was altogether an ac-
dent Yet ! had no faith the man
as out seeking British s~tragglers, for