The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-30
LOCKWOOD'S FATE.
A Youth Who Knew How to Keep
the Secret Intrusted to Him.
&0r, her.

the Secret Intrusted to Him.
In the gloomy winter of 1779 Genera
Putnam, with his army, was stationed il
the quaint old town of Reading. Wash
ington, wishing to support West Point il
case of attack, and at the same time cove
the country that skirted Long IslanC
Sound, commanded the irascible old war
rior TO choose some place from which botf
purposes could be easily accomplished anC
then go into winter quarters. The town o.
Reading was thus favorably situated, anC
'Old Put" made his headquarters at tn,
farm house of a patriot, Marvin by name
who was cousin of the General The
venerable and messy brown house la:
been for many years an object of historical
Interest by reason of this fact. 1t has
stood almost unchanged, save that the
rains and SHOWS of century have obliter-
ated the vivid red which was its color once
excepting under the caves of the long
sloping roof, where dull patches of the
tint remain.
One stormy afternoon in March, when
the snow and sleet beat fast and furious
thick curtains rapidly thereon, General
Putnam sat at his rude table in the front
room below. An ugly scowl indicated that
he was greatly displeased, probably with
the information that he gathered from the
reports that he was busily examining. A
young man of handsome features, and
whose tall and sinewy figure was garbed in
uniform that was faded and sadly worn.
stood listlessly at the window. He seemed
to be idly waiting the pleasure of his COM
mander, and he found nothing better to do
than to look out upon the white sheathed
trees and dreary fields, and upon the
rough huts of the soldiers, that stretched
away TO the edge of the forest. A few
sentinels, battling with the storm with
bended heads, and the heavily hanging
smoke that issued from the roofs of the
cabins were the only signs of life. The
young man knew that within these huts
were discomfort and anger that were fast
ripening into mutiny, because of the scanty
clothing, poor and insufficient food, and
long arrearages of pay.
The furious scratching of quill pen at
the Generals table was interrupted by a
sudden sharp, cracking sound. that indi-
Gated that the points had caught in a de-
feet in the paper, and had thereby frescOed
the sheet with blOtches of ink. An impatient
ejaculation, rOunced off with a vigorous
oath, confirmed the suspicion.
The young man turned to the General:
Can not help you now, SIR" he asked,
scarcely able to restrain the smile that
showed in his eyes, as he saw the great
unconquered General overcome by so
trivial thing as the perversity of quill
pen.
Yes, you can mend my pen and get a
light"
at grows dark early to-day, sir" said
the young officer as he mended the pen.
Il, Il l.
that camp. This discomfort is getting very
dark. 1t threatens mutiny, but I'll have
none. I'll crush it, if | have to blow 'em to
eternity"
''Do YOU think the discomfort so threat
ening?" the officer asked.
Threatening? Yes. It's getting terri
bly, hot, and the worst of it is, the men
have reason for it. | don't care so much
about their pay; they'll get that some
time; but their rationS are bad and scarce
very scarce, Whitney, and some of these
fellows are doing duty barefoOted. It's q
deuced disgrace. But they're my soldiers
and by Heaven this mutiny has got to stop
Why, the Connecticut brigade are pro-
posing to march in body to Hartford and
get redress from the Assembly at the
point of the bayonet. They ought to have
it, too, but there'll be no mutiuy here as
long as | command these men,"
Major Whitney lighted two tallow can
dies and placed them on the Generals desi
and was suggesting that he was ready foI
any further service, when the dull, quich
resonance of hoofs upon the frozen earth
was heard.
'Dispatches?" said Putnam, interroga.
lively.
''Yes," replied the young officer from the
window, land the bearer has ridden fast
for the horse steams from the fanks AND
nostrils."
''See that have them, quick" said Put.
nam.
In moment the dispatches were placed
in the Generals hands, and the bearer was
hidden to shelter his horse and then FIND
such comfort as there was in big fire, 8
mug of hot rum, and something TO eat, and
he joyfully went his way, first to the barn
then to the kitchen.
The old warrior glanced at his messages
and then, with his sandy hair in disheveled
fury falling over his eyes and upon his puffy
cheeks. his long arms waving with passion
so that i'll would it have been had they
come in contact with anything, and with
Stampings that made the oak floor tremble
he foamed and choked, uttering the most
emphatic oaths.
''The Internal British have been informed
of this threatened mutiny, Whitney, and
Washington himself sends me word that
he has reason to think they contemplate
q sudden attack on US, taxing advantage
of the discomfort. Let 'em come, mutiny
or no mutiny. I'll give 'em a skin full o.
lead. We haven't got much bread, bu'
we've plenty of powder and ball, thanl
Godv'
"Why, then, do you become so furious:'
asked Whitney, who was such firm
friend of Putnam's that he feared not a
times to check the outbursts of passion
senior member of his staff and secretary a:
he was.
Furious! Why, don't you see thai
there's either a spy or traitor in this camp
who has been taking reports TO the enemy
in New York? / can fight every mother:
son in King Georges army in open field
and fair fight. but l can't fight spies anG
deserving traitors"
Here Putnam seated himself with viciou:
energy at his desk, rapidly wrote few
lines, and then, handing the paper tC
Whitney, commanded him to see that the
order was promulgated that evening. The
Young officer, as he copied it, saw that il
Instructed that all sentries should bt
doubled until further notice, that special
pains be taken to apprehend spies or de-
serters and all suspicious persons, and an
1lounced that every deSerter or spy would
be shot OF hanged on the finding of q
drum-head court martial, and without an
hours delay.
For half hour thereafter Putnam and
whitney examined such rough maps OF