Adventure Magazine Cover — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

12 3 Adventure was part and parcel of her father’s game for . her to get information. Old lady Patrick, her aunt, was also in the game. Sent home in disgrace? Sent home to find more fools up here. Now, lad, what did you tell her?” Willis. drew a deep breath and doggedly repeat “She’s no spy. I let on we would move on Ticonderoga in- force. She never asked for any information. I gave it. But she’s no spy. “If so certain, why so worried?’ grimly de- manded Putnam. ‘Now, look. you; you’ve talked. You’ve blabbed. Even if you are Daniel Willis’ boy you’re not the man I want. to help me, if that hussy has milked you as she did Lucie. * “We'll never move against Ticonderoga in force now Oswego’s falling. Whatever I said can help the French none, not even if it was shouted from wall the roofs in Montreal. But she’s no spy.” They were now before the red bull’s-eyes. Without a word Putnam ran to the door and raised the latch. Willis halted at the thresh- old as if wishing to run away. Thé light from the open door cut the walk under\the shade-trees and afforded the ranger a glimpse of a forest runner in fringed shirt making by the house and down the hill. “Ahead of me, sir,’ ” sternly ordered Putnam, catching Willis by the “wrist and shoving him through the door. “A colored petticoat can raise more deviltry in his Majesty’s forces than all the French praying Indians that Vaudreuil can ever let loose. Through the house, and see she does not get away.” Search as closely as: they would they could find no trace of the girl, and it was not until they entered-the garret that they came to Jan the Rogue. flag of France. Putnam made to.snatch the flag arey then withdrew his hand, mumbling: “Well, why not? He served it at ‘hie risk of his neck. Let it* cover him dead if he wishes it. No English flag can serve him.” Turning to Willis, he sharply cried: “The girl, man! If she gets word to Vau- dreuil that Albany is panic-stricken we'll have the French down on us in no time. And this border_is ripe for a panic.” | “We've searched everywhere.” “Except the loft and cock-loft. Up we go!” They ransacked the loft, even opening the ponderous Dutch chests. ‘Willis breathed in great relief as they failed to find any trace of her. Ascending to the cock-loft, a glance was suflicient. But here Willis noticed a green cloth petticoat and the gaudy waist- coat on a stool. These were the same as those she had worn in the afternoon. He was dead, with his arms crossed : on his breast, his long figure covered with the * “She’s not in the house,” Willis whispered. “Worse luck. Down-stairs and scurry the streets while. I call a guard. Albany must be sealed up till she’s found.” “Hush,” begged Willis. “The poor girl went to call in the neighbors. I can hear them below.” The two rangers hurriedly descended and found a little group of men and women stand- ing just inside the door. “Elizabeth Lidindick sent word that her father was dead and would we come. We are here,” spoke up a man. ‘Where is the girl? Is Jan the—Is Mynhéer Lidindick—really dead?” “He awaits you up-stairs—dead,” replied Putnam. “The girl is not here. to you?” The man repeated— “She sent word.” Pointing to Willis, he added: ‘“T thought it was that man who came. Now I see it was not. He was a ranger and only called at the door. He only said Elizabeth Lidindick wished us to come as her father was dead. He was not dressed like our rangers, but like that man.” And he nodded again toward Willis. Putnam ran from the house with Willis at his heels. ‘A fine kettle of fish!” cried the exasperated Putnam. ‘‘Now who in the fiend’s name can this strange ranger be?” Willis gave a little cry and stood as if petri- fied, staring down at the black blotch on the grass at his feet. The light streaming through the open door made the thing very obvious. Putnam snatched it up and shook it out—a long black cloak. Willis knew it to be the same as that which the girl had worn when hé surprized her, in the dark. She had worn it into the house; now she had worn it out and had discarded it. Why? Because without it she hoped he would not recognize her. Then she must have passed near him; she must have been quitting the premises when he and Captain Putnam came up the walk. He remembered the slim figure of the forest ranger. the fringed hunting-shirt and the fur cap. “We must save her,” he told Putnam in a trembling voice. “Save her?” snapped Putnam. “Tt was she who asked the neighbors here. When we entered the house I saw her passing. I thought she was a ranger. She must have stood behind a tree when we came up. She knew I would know her in the cloak and she threw it aside. Now she is gone and we must find her before she wanders into the Indian country.” “Find her we will—to save the colonies. To save her? Why, you scatter-brain, the girl Gomichbooks Did she come > (EO)