Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-05-15

country FeXc6pL ny BfltlSH OlhCcIo ..
What is that red garment lying on the
box? / thought SO; an English in
fantry Jacket, made in London, and it
never belonged to D'Auvray." He held
it up. "It was big fellow who wore
this coat, about your size"
drew up the bench, and sat down.
There is more to this than you have
discovered, Brady" said, determined
to explain. did you chance to see
French girl back at Fort Harmar?''
He shook his head
mot as remember; who was she ?"
"That is what would like to know.
/ hoped you might have picked up
some information. She was at General
Harmar's office-a young girl, not
much over twenty, l should judge,
with dark eyes and hair, speaking
broken English, her dress half Indian
and half border French. She was one
IN thousand, to my thought. What
name do you suppose she gave me?"
His eyes, interested, questioned me,
but he sat silent
Rene D'Auvray; and she explained
her father was French officer, killed
in battle"
'And her mother?"
"A woman of the Wyandots, but a
half-breed."
''D'Auvray! The same as the dead
man yonder! And he was soldier.
pT is an odd case. What else do you
know about herr"
Precious little, indeed, for she
seemed an adept in deceit. She even
pretended to know me, and actually
spoke my name before it had been told
her. How she ever learned 1t is more
than can guess. The little mink is
full Of tricks, but plays them SO sauci-
ly it was not in my heart to become
angry. BY heavensi one glance in her
eyes would disarm any man"
YES" he interrupted, "but whence
came she there. and for what pur-
poser"
told him all knew, and he listened
eagerly, his eyes on Schultz puttering
about the fire.
1She must have jested in her threat
to travel hither with the renegade
Il fear it was not Jest" I said sober
ly. She was in mood to, do even
that, and / do not think she feared the
man. They may be on our trail now;
ayI close at hand, Brady, for they both
know these woods better than either of
us. T is my thought, now, the dead
man yonder was the lass father, and
she would know his cabin
His eyes turngd to the door, and
then to the food Schultz was placing
ton the table before US, but whatever
his thought it remained unuttered AS
we sat there eating, he was apparent
4 ly turning it all over in his mind, try
ing to draw the tangled ends Of the
skein together AS we finished the
meal, some newly awakened curiosity
caused me to glance out again into
the rear room. 1t was gloomy with
shadows, the bodies of man and dog
beyond view; yet what perceived
brought from my lips a sudden excla
nation.
Brady, some one has been in here
The outer door is unlatched yes and
the soldiers coat Is gone!'
We searched the room carefully, but
discovered no sign Of its having been
entered, except for the door standing
slightly ajar, and the disappearance Of
the red coat. We dare not carry a
torch into the open, and the night was
too dark for US to trace marks on the
ground. Brady stood in the glow OF
freight, looking to the priming Of his
rifle, his face shadowed.
Il am going out awhile, Hayward, :
he said finally. "Yes, 1 am all rf6n,
now. meant to take you along, but
1 reckon, it will be safer not to leave
| the Dutchman here alone. However,
don't think there will be any more
visitors tonight"
| He slipped out the back way, disap
pearing instantly, and picked up my
own rifle, bade Schultz remain where
he was, and followed, with the purpose
of scouting about the island. coult
perceive the new danger we were in
Suppose the assassin, eager to save
himself from suspicion, should be at
: tracted to that camp of raiders, and
relying on their friendship for protec
ton, charge us with the murder O.
, D'Auvray. What mercy could we hops
for at their hands? Beyond doubt ths
band was composed Of ambitious youns
| warriors, who had already TASTED
| blood, and under control of no chic
able to restrain them, if their wild pas
sions should be appealed to-
But emerged into darkness and 81
lence. Quickly as had made this de
cision l was too late. The scout hat
already disappeared across the marrow
1 open space, and vanished into tn,
| fringe of trees There was nothing t,
/ guide me, except vague sense of di
rection, yet felt my way forwar,
| through the dense tree growth. hear
| ing no sound of movement, and com
pelled to move slowly until / emerge,
at the shore, and could perceive tn
stars reflected on the surface of still
1 water. AS fingered there clear of th
\ woods shadow, my courage gradual,
returned, and our situation appeare
less desperate. Whoever the felloy
was who had killed D'Auvray he Nigh
have as much cause to fear the Indial
raiders as we did. The mere fact tha
he wore red coat was no direct proc
he was British soldier; doubles
| many forest renegade had picked u
bits of discarded uniform. Besides
why should any soldier desire to XII