Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-11-22


turning into the bushes as Harry had
done. He rode on out of sight of the
saw mill, but within sight of the grist
mill When he passed further up the
road, out of sight of the grist mill, he
came in sight of chamber window in
Harry's house. At this window sat
young girl sewing. sitting in such po-
sitlon that she could not but see any
person coming up the road. The officer
rode along until he came to cIump of
trees which partially screened him from
the house. Here he dismounted, tied
his horse to the fence and plunged into
the woods in the direction of Harry's
barn. No sooner had he done this than
the girl arose, took the pillows from the
bed in the room and laid them In the
window, as if to air them. The old man
who tended the mill had seen the suspi-
cious looking stranger go by, and had
kept an eye upon the chamber window
of Harry's house. which was just visible
through the intervening trees from one
spot at the corner window of the old
mill. When he saw the signal in the
window, he called his little boy who
was playing about the mill, and said to
him, run down and tell Jake to send
up my coat ; be quick, too" Little Ben
ny fastened to do his errand, and Jake,
on receiving the message, pointed the
child to the coat which lay ON a log in
one corner of the mill. then quickly
stopped his mill, picked up a file, and
gave the signal-two strokes, then one
and then two again. Every one who
ever heard one of the old, upright saws
filed, remembers the loud, reverberating
ring emitted. which is heard for miles.
All this seemed commonplace enough.
and yet it has warned the training band
of an approaching enemy.
The officer wended his way through
the bushes. He was considerably fa-
miliar with the place. having been sta
toned at Stanstead Plain for some
months, and easily found the opening.
But he did not emerge from the bushes.
He halted in thick clump of bazels
and watched the proceedings for while,
but everything seemed to be right there
Rob appeared to be the owner of the
poultry, and the others paid their dime
per shot and fired away at them. Ken
field, for that was the name of the Off
Ger, remained for some time in the thick
ct, all unconscious that Robert Strady,
stout. short, middle-aged Irishman.
and the father of the lad Rob, with Har-
rison. were not more than four rods
away, watching him closely.
"Are you sure he came alone, Harri-
son ?'' asked Strady.
eyes, | was listening and heard Jake's
signal distinctly"
ro Course himp' exclaimed Strady; II
have halt mind to put bullet through
his craven heart, this minute but that
would be cowardly. But | should like
to meet him on equal ground. Why
shouldn't follow him when he goes
from here, and make him fight for hi:
life? If kill him he will be out oil
my way, and the cloud which threaten:
my wife and children, and your wife
among them, Harrison. would be remov
ed. And if he kills newell. death
would be preferable to this living tor.
ture."
"Hush you speak too loud (; he may
hear US. No, Strady; it would place
US all in danger The tories would
search the whole region, would lay hi
death to the dissatisfied people. anC
would be very likely to convict a gooC
many of treason. Wait awhile and whc
knows what may happen ?"
"Well, suppose it is best to do a
you say. but it does seem hard that b,
must be allowed to cut the dash be doe
and carry in his treacherous grasp th'
power to inAict such blight upon in
noeent parties. as well as to ruin mysel
and wife. But see he is going"
The officer, having cOnyinced himsel
that all was right in the gathering a
Harry's barn. and that Robert Strad,
was not therefor he had been In hope
to find him-had left his position AM
was retracing his steps in the direction
whence he came
Anyway" said Strady. II want t
face the villain once more. Wonde
which way he came p
"He came up the river, and it is S
late now that be will probably 60 bac
that way. He won't get to the Plai
very early then" replied Harrison.
"HOw do you know which way b
came ?''
"By the signal. / heard it distinct
ly, for | was listening. 1t was tw
strokes, then one. then two again-.u
stream, one, on horseback; : and he di
not give the signal till the fellow lei
the road, for called as came alon
and told him not to. !"
'.lll slip down the hill ahead of biz
and meet him at the lower bridge, an
} see if be will name any price that wi
keep him quiet"