ho would have done it. I'll bet I can explain, but even I
didn't think she would ever have the nerve to perform such a deed. I told
you I left my papers there. I forgot them when I changed my clothes. You
see I came out wearing the uniform of a British Dragoon Lieutenant, and
had it all planned out to join Delavan, and guide him toward Philadelphia
over the Lone Tree road. Just before I left our camp at Valley Forge on
this trip I received orders from Washington to keep my eyes open for a
courier riding from Philadelphia to New York with Clinton's plans of
evacuation. Hamilton seemed to know all about this, and sent me special
instructions. I talked of it with Claire, planned how I was going to
waylay him, and together we fixed up those servants as soldiers to help
me carry out the deception."

He paused, chuckling, and I halted, eager to learn the rest.

"And when you disappeared; when, perhaps, she heard of your capture, or
suspected it, she assumed the discarded uniform and went forth in your
stead."

"That's it, Lawrence. She would, if she thought it was right; if she
believed such an act necessary to save my reputation. I'll bet she found
the papers in my pocket, and mistook you for Clinton's despatch bearer."

"There is no doubt of it," I said soberly. "And that wasn't all she did
to protect you. It was the talk at Lee's headquarters that you had
deserted. She stamped that a lie, by riding into our lines day before
yesterday, bringing an exact report of where Clinton was marching. I
didn't see her, but I heard all about it, and you get the credit.
Washington told me with his own lips, and granted her permission to
remove your father, who was badly wounded, to Elmhurst."

"Good God! Are they here now?"

"They must have reached here early yesterday morning. I passed them on
the road at ten o'clock. Grant had just joined their party, claiming to
be hunting after deserters."

He clung to the fence rail, staring out toward the house.

"Grant! Do you know, I believe that fellow is at the bottom of this whole
affair. He's in love with Claire, and--and he's working some scheme to
gain power over her."

"Several schemes, I think," I returned heartily. "I've nipped two of them
in the bud already. Someway, Mortimer, he got possession of those
instructions you received from Washington and Hamilton. I ran into him
over there on the lawn, back of the summer-house. He was threatening
Claire, trying to drive her into ma