Canadian Valley Record (Canton, Okla.), Vol. 8, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 2, 1913 Page: 3 of 8
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■■
fSERIAL^
STORY J
My Lady
§f Doubt
By Randall Parrjsh
Author of "Lovm Undmr
Fire,'' ' 'My Lady of thm
North" and othmr ttorim
peDoDeDeO
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
HENRY THIEDE
Copyright, A. C. McClure A Uo^ UlL
u
SYNOPSIS.
Major Lawrence, son of Judge Law-
rence of Virginia, whose wife was a Lee.
Is sent on a perilous mission by Gen.
washington. Just after the winter at Val-
ley Forge. Disguised In a British uni-
form Lawrence arrives within the enemy's
lines. The Major attends a great fete
and saves the "Lady of the Blended
Rose" from mob. He later meets the girl
at a brilliant ball. Trouble Is started
over a waltz, and Lawrence Is urged by
his partner. Mistress Mortimer (The Lady
of the Blended Rose), to make his escape.
Lawrence Is detected as a spy by Captain
Grant of the British Army, who agrees
to a du« l. The duel is stopped by Grant's
friends and the spy makes a dash for
liberty, swimming a river following a nar
row escape. The Major arrives at the
■hop of a blacksmith, who Is friendly, and
knows the t,ady of the Blended Rose.
Captain Grant and rangers search black-
smith shop in vain for the spy. Law-
rence Joins the minute men. Grant and
his train are captured by the minute men
Lawrence Is made prisoner by an Indian
and two white men, who lock him In a
strong cell. Peter advises Lawrence not
to attempt to escape as "some one
would send for him Grant's appearance
Bdds mvstery to the combination of cir-
cumstances. Lawrence again meets the
Lady of the Blendid Rose, who Informs
him that he Is In her house, and that she
was In command of the party that cap-
tured him The captive is thrust into a
dark underground chamber when Captain
Grant begins a search of the premises
After digging his way out. Lawrence
finds the place deserted. Evidence of a
battle and a dead man across the thres-
hold.
CHAPTER XVII.—Continued.
I stepped across the pile of things
to the window, glancing out at 'he
still smouldering ruins of the stable.
Whatever bad occurred, neither the
lady nor Peter remained about the
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 I stood not
a house was visible. Just beyond the
orchard the roads forked, a well-trav
eled branch circling to the left, and
disappearing over the edge of a hill
As I traced It with ray eyes a ron
siderable body of mounted men sud-
denly appeared on the summit. With
out fear that they could see me at that
distance 1 watched eagerly as they
trotted down the long slope. They
were plainly a squadron of British
Dragoons, their arms and cross-belts
shining in the sun. in spite of the dust
kicked up by their horses' hoofs.
I waited until convinced they were
coming to the house, before drawing
back out of sight It was difficult to
decide what was best for me to do.
Should 1 wait, trusting to my rough
clothing, and pass myself off as a coun-
tryman, or take advantage of the brief
time left In which to escape? If 1
essayed the first choice I could ex
plain the situation, and start these
troopers on the trail; If not they might
fail to understand &nd ride on thought-
lessly What such a body of mounted
men were doing in the neighborhood
I could merelv 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 Deiavan'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 I
heard the thud of hoofs even as I
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 a fellow at that upper
window as we came down the hill.
Move quick, now!"
I must face them, and went forward
to the head of the stairs, anticipating
an easy explanation of my presence
within Already quite a squao was In
side the front door bending over the
bodies and staring about curiously
"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;
wlrl3h lookin' mug."
The man addressed as colonel, a
Range' timself 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 I made no
resistance, not realizing 1 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.
"I came along about thirty minutes
ago," I explained, beginning to appre-
ciate my situation, from the suspicious
glances cast at me, and recalling how
disreputable my appearance must be.
"I found things Just as they are now,
sir. There's been a fight and rob-
bery."
"That's plain to be seen; are these
all the bodies?"
"Yes, sir, but the house Is upside
down from end to end."
"You saw no one? No British sol-
diers7"
I shook my head, conscious of the
fierce grip with which I was being
held. A couple of the men dragged
out the body from behind the stairs,
and as the face came into the light,
the colonel's eyes saw It. I heard the
sharp breath expelled through his lips,
as he stared down into those ghastly
features
"Good Lord! Mike! What In the
name of heaven does this mean? He
was supposed to be with Claire!"
"There must be 6ome mistake.
Colonel Mortimer," Insisted the other
officer gravely. "Perhaps we can get
the truth out of this bumpkin, if we
take the lash to him."
I understood In a flash, and as swift-
ly chose a course of action. This
gray headed colonel was her father,
and I would serve her in this emergen-
cy without thought of my own danger
No threat of a whip would open my
lips, but memory would
"Come, you dog!" burst out the
colonel fiercely. "You know more than
you have told. Speak up, or we'll skin
you alive."
"I will. Colonel Mortimer." I said,
looking him straight In the eyes. "Not
because of your threats, but because
I wish to serve you. Now I know who
you are, and I will tell you all I know
about this whole affair."
"Was—was my daughter here?" he
Interrupted.
"Yes, sir."
"My God! And Eric?"
"Not to my knowledge—there was a
man called Peter, this fellow, and a
black slave or two. They were all I
saw."
"But why should Claire have been
here," he asked as though dazed, "un-
less she came to meet her brother? I
supposed hor safe in the city."
"I do not pretend to understand the
cause of her presence. But if you
listen to my story perhaps you may
know what to do." I paused an instant
to get a grip on my thoughts I need
not tell all. confess my Identity, or
mention my personal relations with
the daughter "T am a soldier. Colonel
Mortimer, In Maxwell's brigade of
Washington's army. What brought me
here has nothing to do with the prefc
ent story I was in the fight over yon-
der near Mount Laurel night before
last when we captured Deiavan's for-
age train—"
"What!" burst In the dragoon offl
cer "Was DeUvan defeatc', then?
Hadn't Grant Joined him?"
"Yes to both questions, sir Dela-
van was killed, and Grant surrendered
He and his men were paroled, and
started for Philadelphia last evening
from here."
"From here!" Incredulously. "That
must be a lie. colonel, for Mount Lau-
rel Is between here and the city."
"Nevertheless, it is no lie," I re-
torted promptly, looking the young
fool In the eyes. "I was hiding here
for reasons of my own when they
came tramping in along that road
about the middle of the forenoon yes
terday There was near a hundred
Hissians and Rangers, with two Ger
man officers, and Grant I heard them
tell Mistress Mortimer this was the
nearest place where they were sure
of finding provisions, and that they In
tended to remain until night 1 don't
know what happened after that, ex
cept that the officers went inside, and
the men marched around to the back
to eat their breakfast."
"What became of you?"
"Oh. 1 had other business, and never
got back along here until just at day
light this morning Then I found
things this way."
"You don't know what occurred,
then?"
"No more than you do. But I've got
my opinion. It's this—Grant and his
fellows must have left as soon as it
was dark, taking the west road, which
was the cause of your missing them
It Is likely from this man Mike's body,
that your daughter and her party were
still in the house It couldn't have
been much later when these others
got here and made the attack Mike
must have fought them at the front
door, but that was all the fight made;
there's no sign of any struggle inside.'
"Then they never got Claire." de-
clared Mortimer positively. "That's a
certainty. Seldom"
"She would have fought, sir?"
"Like a tiger I know my little girl
And, besides, Peter would have died
before the hand of one of those vU
lains was ever laid upon her "
"But." I protested. "I have searched
the bouse, colonel."
"I Imagine your acquaintance with
the house Is somewhat limited," be
replied coldly, turning away. "Seldon,
place thla fellow under guard In the
library here. We will learn later what
his business might be in the Jerseys."
CHAPTER XVIII.
At Cross Purposes.
It could not be considered an un-
pleasant place of Imprisonment, yet
it was uBeJess for me to contrive any
plans of immediate escapa, for the
door was securely locked, and two
heavily armed dragoons sat within eye-
ing me rather malevolently. My at :
tempt at approaching the window was
instantly checked by a threatening
gesture, and I sat down In the reading
chair to await developments. They
could not muffle my ears, however,
and I heard the swift hoofbeats of an
approaching horse being ridden furl
ously up the gravel driveway At the
door he was hastily checked, and a
voice spoke peremptorily:
"Here you, take the rein!"
The fellow came up the steps hur-
riedly, almost Ignoring the sentry at
the door.
"I haven't time to stand here, you
fool," he exclaimed roughly, "my unl
form is pass enough. I wish to see
Colonel Mortimer at once—at once ."
There was a pause, and then th'e same
voice, and I recognized it now as
Grant's beyond a doubt. "Ah, colonel,
what in God's name has happened
here? I heard that you were out
hunting us at Farrell's blacksmith
shop, and came back aa swiftly as I
could ride. But I never suspected
this. Who were the miscreants?"
"That is a question not yet an-
swered, Captain Grant," replied Mor
timer slowly. "It looks like the work
of Pine Robbers. Do you recognize
this fellow?"
"Ay," and from the muffled tone he
must have been bending over the body,
"that is 'Tough' Sims, a lieutenant of
'Red' Fagin; there's one more devil
gone to hell. But when did the at-
tack occur? We left here after dark,
and all was quiet enough then
Claire—"
"She was here, then? I hardly be-
lieved It possible."
"I talked with her—quarreled with
her, Indeed. Perhaps that was why
she refused to accompany us to Phila-
delphia. But what did you mean,
colonel, when you said you hardly be-
lieved it possible she was here? Did
some one tell you?"
'Yes; we caught a fellow in the
house when we arrived. He had no
time for escape—rough-looking miscre-
ant, claiming to be a Continental. We
have him under guard in the library."
"He confessed to the wbolo story?"
"Not a w <;dV claimed to kh5w noth-
ing except that Claire was here. Said
he saw you, and then went away, not
getting back again until this morn-
ing."
"The fellow is a liar, colonel. Let
me see him; I'll lash the truth out of
his lips. Where did you say he was—
In the library?"
I had barely time to rise to my feet
when he entered. His eyes swept
across the guard, and then centered
upon me. Instantly they blazed with
excitement, although I noticed he took
a sudden step backward in the first
shock of surprise, his hand dropping
to the butt of a pistol in his belt.
"By all the gods!" he exclaimed
sharply. "If it isn't the spy! I miss
the red Jacket, but I know the face.
Mister Lieutenant Fortesque."
"Major Lawrence, if you please," I
returned quietly
"We'll not quarrel over the name
I've had occasion to know you under
both: bearing one you were a spy
beneath the other a leader of banditti.
I'll hang you with equal pleasure un-
der either." Suddenly he seemed to
remember where we were, and his
face flushed with newly aroused rage.
"But first you'll explain what you are
doing here at Elmhurst Do you know
whose home this Is?"
"Most assuredly." determined not to
lose my temper, or to be moved by
his threats. "It is the property of
Colonel Mortimer, of the Queen'i
Rangers"
"And—and you—you came here to
again see—the daughter?" he ques-
tioned. as though half regretting the
indiscretion of such a suspicion
'Oh, no, captain; you do the lady
a grave Injustice. I came here a
prisoner, very much against my will,
not even aware whose plantation this
was. I bad no suspicion that Mistress
Mortimer was outside Philadelphia
until I overheard your conversation
with her "
"Overhearil! You! In God's name,
where were you—"
"In this room; with both doors ajar
It was impossible not to hear You
spoke somewhat angrily, you may re-
member, not finding the lady as gra
cious in her reception as expected "
The sarcasm In my tone stung him,
but the surprise was so great that be
could only rip out an oatb
"I thought you would have also en
Joyed swearing at that time," I con
tlnued coolly, "only you scarcely dared
venture so far You had previously
boasted to me of your engagement to
the lady, and it naturally was a sur
prise to observe bow lovingly she
greeted you—"
"Hell's acre!" he burst out "Did
the minx know you were thereT"
"If you refer to Mistress Mortimer,
I presume she suspected it At least
she came to me shortly thereafter.'
Then I understand better what
troubled the girl. But, in God's name!
how did you ever escape me? I was
in every room of the house."
I smiled pleasantly. There was
nothing for me to gain, or lose, by
goading him. yet it was rather enjoy-
able.
"That, of course, I must naturally
refuse to answer, captain. I might
need to reBort to the same methods
again."
"There will be small chance of your
having opportunity. Mortimer will
hang you fast enough when I tell my
tale. Don't look for mercy at bis
hands, for he*B prouder than Lucifer of
his family honor."
He was out of the door, striding
down the hall, bent on carrying out
his purpose. I heard his voice ask
ing where the colonel was to be found;
then the guard closed the barrier be-
tween us Very well; of the two I
would rather leave my fate to Morti-
mer than to him, and felt profoundly
grateful that the captain was not In
command. Had he been I should
doubtless have been hung without the
slightest formality of trial, but Mor-
timer would at least hear my version
first; indeed, I could hardly believe
he would Issue so stringent orders
without listening also to bis daugn
ter's story I was an officer of rank;
the consequences might prove rather
serious were I to be executed sum-
marily, and without proper trial
I had scarcely reasoned this out.
however, when a corporal threw open
the door, ordering my guard to con-
duct me into the colonel's presence.
I was taken to the parlor, where the
furniture had been somewhat rear-
ranged, and found myself confronting
Mortimer, the officer I had beard ad
dressed as Seldon, and Grant. The
latter was speaking vehemently:
"I tell you, colonel, this has got to
be done; he is a spy, and here for
some Infamous purpose."
"Well, I've sent for the fellow,
Grant; what more do you want? I'll
give him five minutes in which to ex
plain, and that is all. Seldon, have
the men go on ahead along the trail."
"Yes, sir, they are off already "
"Very Well. Have our horses out-
side; we can catch up within a mile
or two." He wheeled sharply about,
and looked at me sternly. "Well, sir.
I have very little time to waste on
'4
"Come, You Dog!" Burst Out the
Colonel Fiercely, "You Know More
Than You Have Told!"
you at present, but I advise truthful
answers. What is your name?"
"Allen Lawrence."
"You claim to be in the Continental
service—what rank?"
"Major in the Maryland Line, Max
well's Brigade."
"Dressed hurriedly, probably,
forgot your uniform."
"I have lately been serving with th«
Jersey militlt*. sir, as Captain Grant
can testify," I answered civilly.
"And Captain Grant is only to«
anxious." broke in that officer Impa?
tlently. "If you will listen to me,
colonel, I'll tell you what I know in
two minutes or less. It will settle this
fellow's status ."
Mortimer glanced from my face to
that of the speaker, evidently attract-
ed by the viudictlveness of the voice
"All right, Grant, go on," he said
shortly, "only I shall pass judgment
as a soldier, and not because of any
personal quarrel What is it you
know?"
"That this man came Into Philadel-
phia three days ago dressed as an of-
fleer of British infantry He claimed
to be Lieutenant Fortesque of the
Forty-second Foot, with despatches
from New York Howe vouched for
him, and furnished him with a pnss
and orderly He put in the whole day
studying the positions of our troops
and in the evening was a guest at the
MiBChlanza—Andre gave him a card,
I heard—and danced there with your
daughter I doubted the man from
him he was suspected, or else he ha^
our first meeting, and later picked up
certain rumors which convinced me
he was a spy. Some words passed be-
tween us on the dancing floor, and as
a consequence I asked the man to
meet me below. Some one either told
the heart of a coward, for he failed
to appear."
"Did you Intend to fight him?"
"No, we planned an arrest. I re-
ported to MacHugh what I had heard,
and he had Carter close at hand with
a squad of the guard."
"A very pretty trick on mere suspi-
cion," commented the colonel In some
disgust. "But go on with your story "
Grant sucked In his breath quickly,
evidently surprised at the remark
"Claire was waiting for me upstairs
in the dining room, but after Carter
had scattered his men to the outposts.
I took a turn about the grounds In
hope of thus running across the fellow.
Luck favored me. but damn him. he
jumped into me like a fighting cock,
struck me in the face, and taunted
me into meeting him there and then."
"Good boy! the right Btuff, eh Sel-
don?"
"I supposed It all a blufT," went on
Grant, paying no heed to the inter-
ruption, although his cheeks flushed,
"but we went at It, behind the pavil-
ion, and I had pricked him twice,
when the guard came up and separat-
ed us. At that the fellow took to bis
heels, and by Gad! got away—swam
the Delaware, while we were beating
the west shore. The next I saw of him
he was in command of those ragamuf-
fins who attacked us out yonder Now
he shows up here looting this house
on the trail of 'Red' Fagln. I'd hang
him offhand if It was me."
Mortimer looked across at me ear-
nestly. but with an expression of doubt
in his eyes. As for myself I hardly
knew what to say or do Grant had
no corroborative proof of his asser-
tions, unless I was returned to Phila-
delphia. I could emphatically deny
that I was the man, insist on my right
to a fair trial. But how could I ac-
count In any reasonable way for my
presence at Elmhurst, or even success-
fully sustain my claim to being a Con-
tinental officer I could not tell
Colonel Mortimer that I had been taW
en prisoner by his daughter, masque-
rading as a lieutenant of dragoons.
Apparently he knew nothing of tnis
escapade, and she would scarcely for-
give me for exposure; besides, for all
I knew to the contrary, the girl might
have thus been attempting to serve
the colonies, and a word of betrayal
might 'seriously injure our cause All
this flashed over me before Mortimer
spoke.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Never Forgot Its Enmity
On a stock farm near Syracuse. N.
Y., a calf and colt were born on the
same day. So soon as it was old
enough to run about the calf resolute-
ly repudiated Its Jersey mother and
Insisted on being fed by the mare.
Regularly every morning the calf
would watch its chance for breakfast
when the colt was kicking up its
heels at the other end of the pasture,
and would hurry to the good-natured
mare, who seemed to develop a real
affection for her foster baby and wa3
quite willing to mother It To this,
however, her own offspring strenuous
ly objected So soon as it observed
the calf enjoying the nourishment
which it considered its own exclusive
right, the colt would charge on the in-
terloper and. grabbing it firmly by the
back of the neck, would yank it away
from the maternal fount and take its
place
So. far from forgetting Its youthful
enmity for the calf, the colt has grown
up hating everything bovine The
farmer has had to erect a high fence
dividing the pasture, and to keep cows
and horses separated The colt other-
wise tractable In every way. goes
wild with rage at sight of a cow. and
attacks her with hoofs and teeth For
this reason it Is impossible to drive
him in the country, and his owner Is
even obliged to stable ^jim In a build-
ing remote from sigut and sound of
the cowyard
Propitiating Spirits of R^ts.
15.000.0C0 rats have been sacrificed
for the sake of the preventive meas-
ure against the spread of plague
brought forth by the Metropolitan Po-
; lice board of the city of Tokio This
enormous number of the rodents have
been purchased oy the authorities
from the residents and killed since the
first :asa of tne pestilence was discov-
ered in the capital in 'jecember. 1902.
Recently a religious erviire was per-
: formed oy the officials ot the police
j office for the purpose of consoling the
splr'ts of these dead creatures These
tender b >arted gentlemen remembered
I tfcat the current year Is neno-toshl,
i or "the year of the rat" and that thes/
creatures therefore deserve some defJ
erence.
prao
Inured to thj Cold.
"1 have begun preliminary
tlce."
"What do you mean?"
"1 go out every day and sit for a few
] minutes on the bleachers 1 want to
I harden myself for those openlnf
i games-"
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Canadian Valley Record (Canton, Okla.), Vol. 8, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 2, 1913, newspaper, January 2, 1913; Canton, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc175891/m1/3/: accessed April 26, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.