Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-10-25

ON a rock and the land was but a few
feet away Obadiah plunged into the
waters. which came up to his knees.
and In a few minutes was standing on
the shores Of jersey, wondering which
way he was to 20 He deemed IL best
70 put as much distance az possible be.
tween himself and the British. 30 be
started directly inland He was tired
SO tired that he stopped to rest. and
then, seeing a house OF several OF them
in the distance. he started of again
The first dwelling was a public house on
the outskirts Of Elizabethport, and there.
TO his delight. stood a soldier in blue at
the door.
"Be an officer insldeT' quoth Obadiah.
gasping for breath.
Aye, yOungster," said tie soldier.
Obadiah entered. There were several
lei sitting around a table talking and
smoking, and to one Of them Obadiah
handed his note and nervously awaited
his doom.
why. / am not Capt. HowardY" said
the officer, and then he saw the address
in full. THE Kings Own-On the East
Shore"
Where did you get this" cried the
American, starting. "Who are your
"Lieut. Wilde gave It to me, and IL
~-thoughtit would be wrong, so ! brought
it to you-from Staten Island"
you did-a young patriot from the
nest of Tories" said the officer, opening
the note.
Obadiah's heart beat wildly as the man
read the note-he was almost sorry now
that he had run away. Would they send
him back?
"Ha-ha-ha." laughed the American,
''ha-ha-ha." The other officers crowded
about and the note was handed around.
Young man." said one Of them, a
beardless youth, sternly, "do you know
what you have doneY' Listen:
HEADQUARTERs OF TIE QUEENS RSoERa
"DEAa Toa-Is there no way that you can de
wise 10 coax that adorable Miss Mason TO come
overt ] have arranged a dance for tonight and
will you not beg her to accompany youi Bring
her sister II you wish as we'll and, by moonlight,
we can all ride home together. Keep my secret.
but l am nigh distracted.
"ARtly. CYAN"
Another laugh rang out as the boys
face fell. lie scarcely realized the mean
ing Of the note or the ~lieutenant's aflic-
ton, but he knew that there was moth.
ing damaging to the American u in
inviting a girl to dance, and then Lieut..
Wilde was very nice, after all, and he
had abused his trust.
"Never mind, all's fair in love and
war" said the officer, to whom Obadiah
had addressed himself. cyril has lost
his dance, but the colonies have won a
brave soldier-unless"-and the officers
eyes twinkled-"unless you care to go
back to Staten Island"
"No, no." cried the boy, starting at the
very idea
John" called the officer to the man
at the door, 'see this young fellow is en-
rolled as a drummer, and, my boy, be
sure that the general will learn of your
bravery"
The laughter Of the other men broke
out again as Obadiah. with a light heart.
trotted off with the soldier.
The geese returned from their swim,
unmolested by the yellow dog, and the
lieutenant sat at the window watching
for the messenger until a roll of drums
aroused him, and he went 10 attend to
his evening duties. And at that moment
Obadiah was seated in the American
camp, eating his supper from a drum
head and wondering what the lieutenant
would say when the patriots marched
into Richmond village with him in front.
-Flaviel Scott Mines in The Epoch.