Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-11-09
CHAPTER Vlll-continued.

a civil good night. He planned TO
watch the house and confront Gran
mer when Lydia was not present.
"You won't stay a bit longer? I've
been kept overlong with the young
men across the river-they're a set of
jolly dogs. You won't stay? Good
might, my boy!"
The man was evidently laboring un-
der an excitement not wholly due to
wine; David had not taken a dozen
steps when he heard Cranmer burst
out in an exultant whisper that was
louder than he realized:
"Well, daughter, my work is do9e!"
Hush" said Lydia sharply, 3and
drew him within doors.
David stopped short in his tracks.
There was not a moment to dose.
Without doubt, Cranmer had finished
his work as a spy and was Bincg to
leave, laden with informant nat
would be of value to th{ o spish,
should war actually be N%fterRred.
What a jolly, ingenious guest, the
kentuckians must have found him
He set his jaws firmly together and
took a quick step toward the cabin.
1t might not be too late. A thread of
light shone from the crack of the
heavy door.
"Mr. Cranmer !" he called.
There was the sound of a chair
moved hastily back from a table, and
she figure of Cranmer was outlined
in the candlelight.
"Well?" he asked suspiciously.
Il have forgotten a matter that
Il wished to speak to you about, sir"
said David. His voice was without a
trace of agitation.
There was a moments pause.
Cranmer peered into the darkness.
swell, if it's no great matter I'll
just step outside again."
He closed the door behind him and
came forward with hearty friendli-
mess in his voice:
What can | do for you, my lad?"
David breathed a sigh of relief. 1t
was time to come to action.
"Tl trouble you for those plans,
Granmer," he said quietly.
The man ~recoiled a step and David
heard him draw in his breath sharply.
But the night hid his expression and
he summoned a clustering:
"Plans? What plans? Young man,
You choose a strange hour to joke in"
you are well aware this Is no Joke,
Cranmer. l want those plans of Fort
1Steuben."
Fort Steuben! Well, damme, if
Ahis isn't impudence! If you've some
what to say, say it, and be done with
this foolishness."
David took a step forward.
you know well enough what I
mean. l know that you are here as
on of England's spies. You have
made notes concerning Fort Steuben.
j want them
An inarticulate roar of rage burst
from Cranmer. His voice shook with
suppressed fury.
$50 that's what you've been doing,
YOU dirty whelps Spying on me while
you pretended to court my daughter!
Hi break you with my two hands, you
dog. III"
He choked with rage and hurled his
bulk at David. But, with q litheness
newborn in the wilderness, David
stepped quickly to one side and drove
his long right arm full at the Eng
iishman's distorted face. The blow
went straight to the jaw, with the mo-
mentum of a sinewy body behind it,
and the spy went down with a grunt.
In n flash David had leaped upon him.
pinioning his arms with his knees,
while he tore open the mans waist
coat and thrust his hand quickly into
his pockets. A fat bundle of papers
rewarded his search and he rose to
his feet with an ejaculation of thank
fulness. Cranmer groaned weakly
and strove in vain to rise.
Get up!" said David grlmly. "Your
game is done for. One word from me,
and you hang at sunrise. But, for
your daughters sake, I'll give you a
chance for your life. Get out of
-Clarksburg tonight and I'll hold these
ipapers. You know where to go-your
Indian friends will find a hole for you
in the wilderness, doubtless. Col
And may God forgive you'll"
He was conscious of no feeling of
elation, but only Of an unbearable re-
gret that life should be so sordid and
tDf n sickening sorrow for the poor girl
whose father had forced her with him
along this shameful road. When he
had gained the tavern, he examined
4he bundle Of papers with a heavy
iieart-damnfng evidence, sketches Of
Il dozen forts along the frontier. de-
tniled descriptions Of the garrison OF
each. He folded them up carefully
and replaced them In his coat with a
sigh. AT dawn he set Off again for
.Corydon.
But Cranmer tottered back into his
daughters room with the face OF n
dead man. TITS all upl" he cried
in a gf5sbtly whisper. II must get
away from here tonight. There's only
One chance to win yet-you'll have
10 stay here, my girl; I'll see Soul
tonight and set him upon this Lar
renee and II he succeeds in getting
the plans back, you nre to bring Thorn
Eon to me at Detroit. God. how came he
70 suspect You-dld you-no, you're
lfruei Goodbyl Do as ! bid you.