Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-22
CHAPTER TX.
Is - A TRATTOR2 2"

"Is BE TRAIToR?"
There was moments silence, broken
at last by Simon.
by Jerusalem, eff that doan't beat the
Dutch!" he calculated "Whar in the
nation has the critter gone off to, I'd like
to know?"
THAT is what we would all like to
know, Simon, said the young com
mander. Are you right sure you were
not dreamgag, and fired at creature of
your imagS1aJiOn?"
@D"eamin' Jeruselem; dye call this
a dream?" and Simon seized the blanket
and held it before the face of the young
NO, Simon, there can be no questi on
of that being a reality" he answered.
We'll, Cap'n, eff that's reality. so was
the man that wore it. "
The blanket was examined and found
to be a common gray blanket such as
many of the American soldiers used in
their camp. There was a hole in one
corner, testifying that Simon's rife had
not entirely missed the mark.
Does anyone recognize this blanket?"
asked our hero, holding it up in the light
of the torch.
Yah, meestur, it vas mine," said
| German, coming forward and laying his
hand on it.
1T WASP" asked the Captain. Then
how came it here?"
vas sleeping NIT mine blanket over top of
minezelf, ind zomepOdy coOmes along
vOnce to me ind shteals it away, ind L
wakes up all cold.
The young commander gave the Ger
| man a searching glance and said:
What is your manner"
! "Shacob Hess, was the answer.
| We'll, Jacob, you are a prisoner"
Won brizOner-mine Colt in Helmet,
vot yer you make me Won brizOner shust
fur because ZONE Won shtole mine
! planket?"
@Does any one know this MANI" asked
! the Captain.
A farmer came forward and said that
/ Jacob was his neghbOr, and he had al
/ ways believed him to be true to the
| American cause. But the Captain decided
| under the circumstances to have the
/ German arrested and put under guard
/ until morning, when he would have his
! case Investigated.
The Dutchman expostulated in broken
| English, and declared that he was innO-
| cent, but it was all of no avail. The
| order for his arrest was executed, and the
Dutchma an taken away amid many prOtes-
tations.
Nov, Grit, said Ratchet, pulling
the young commander aside just as if he
was still a village boy, 'spOse me an
you make that rounds we war a talkin'
abOut?"
In g moment CGSA5 Sdlu Gu5 yOu my
officer. There are some very important
orders to issue and carry out.
For few moments Griffith was busy,
but as soon as he was at leisure he joined
Jack, who stood near, impatiently chew
ing his huge cud of tobacco.
Wall, boy, ye got through all that al
red tape tOmfOolery at last, hev yen
come on"
The Captain laughed, but made no re-
ply to the jeering remark of his cOmpan-
ION. He knew old Jack so well and sc
| oroughly-understOOd that beneath hif
gruh, rugged exterior there beat a warm
| heart-that he did not for moment
doubt him. The old blacksmith was
brave as a lion, and could be depended
: on for his courage, though he utterly de
, spised all form of show, as men of his
class are apt to do
They went slowly and cautiously along
the breastwOrk, going In nOrtherly dl-
rectiOn The little village was in a state
3 of excitement. Lanterns and torches
were hurrying hither and thither. Jacl
> noticed them and grOwled.
They're a pack O. fools; they'll neve
catch anybody. They'll jest show TIT
spies a way to escape"
Where did you first see them, Jack"
! -Who-them two spy fellers? Why,
seed 'em at one o them smaller cannon
3 what pints out to sea-"
Were they at it?"
] Not quite. They were pretty close
though, and seemed to be debatln' Wheth
q or they'd better spike it or not, but jes
then I cooked my ole smooth-bOre. The,
q heerd me, an concluded, 1 guess, to git
fur all at once they jest seemed to fol
out o. existence. 1 couldn't find EN- no
q where"
They were on that line Of the fortified
ton where no guns were placed, an
S there were no lights here. All was tn
{ deepest darkness, and the young com
t mander thought that this would IN
doubleday be the place the spies Woul
s seek He told } Rck Hatchet that tn
spies could not find a more suitable plac
r for concealmenG or escape, and cautlOne
i him to keep his eyes open.
Don't We think Tn goin' to be too.
| nappin' said that individual. Il tel
We, Cap'n, I'm as hot as a forge. I'd mel
q / a hoss-shoe nail tonight. Oh, eff couI
. only cit a clutch o them varmints, i
. make EN- think it war the day that tn
q kingdom was a commit"
Q Hush. Jack
Dye hear something's"
d Yes"
a Jack listened himself. Both of then
g.. halted and the officer cooked his pistc
and Jack Ratchet his gun. The black
smith strained his hearing, but couI
q catch no sound that was at all suspicious
What aye hear, Grif!" he at las
asked.
f Some one walking.
g "Where2"
2 Just ahead of us. They have stoppe
d now" 1t was intensely dark IN this pa
IS of the fort. The officer sincerely Wishe
d he had a lantern with him, and at hE