Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-01-03

{ Tommy, tlp-tC6 and follow me.
Although Tommy was quaking Ike an
aspen, and would have given everything
he possessed at that moment to be safe at
home, he set his chattering teeth close
+ together, and followed his leader. They
I GFept forward until the sounds of march
ing men seemed but a few rods away.
Haiti" a voice in the darkness COM
msnded.
The command was evidently addressed
/ to the marching column. for it immedi-
/ ately came to a standstilI, as did the
T Americans. It was too dark to see any
( thing but they were near enough to the
/ column to hear what was said, even in an
ordinary conversation, by the officers In
! command.
Captain Cutler, said a voice in the
/ darkness, why this halt2 Why not march
i right down to the beaoh2 There may BE
more demand for haste than We think
Wed better be q little careful how
/ We plunge down into that darkness to
/ the beach, especially as We go without
/ orders, another voice answered. The
] Americans now listened with the most
/ intense eagerness IN hopes that they
might get some Of the enemy's plans.
The Yankees are shut up in their
/ holes, and won't dare venture out, the
! first speaker answered and We won't be
/ bothered by them.
/ There is no telling: these Yankees are
/ wide awake. 1t would be just like EN-
/ to have every foot of ground between this
/ and the beach guarded. They are a set
/ o grOundhOgs, and can burrOw in the
/ earth in five minutes. Besides, it is
more n We dare do to take the command
so far away from the point we were to
hold at all hazards, without orders from
/ the Major"
( "That may be so. The Major ought to
/ have left US some parting orders instead
/ of sinking away like a coward, as he did"
/ He's abOGrd?"
Dye know why he left, Captain?"
! "I've heard there was a woman in the
/ case some way"
| "POOr excuse"
Right you are, Cap'n. When a man
/ starts out to fight for his king he must
! leave women out O. the question.
Il echo that sentiment.
! GriH, Griff, Tommy Rufhes, who had
/ been listening very intently, whispered,
! "they are talking about Miss Gatreu."
! Yes, beyond a doubt, " the Captain re-
/ turned in whisper scarce above his
| breath.
! Although Griffith was assured that
/ nothing they had said had been heard, he
/ was anxious to hear all the British had to
! say, and fearing they might be discover
! ed, cautioned Tommy against talking
| even in a whisper
During the mOmentary discussion be-
| between the Americans they in a
measure lost the thread of discus
/ sion between the British, and when
/ they came to listen to them they were Oh
/ a different topic.
"When'I the detail start?"
In a few minutes. Lieutenant Wheeler
! is to report. All, here he comes now"
| Some one approaching the officers
/ said:
Captain Cutler, I am ready now tore,
| ceive your final orders"
Very we'll, Lieutenant. go down this
road and see if the way is clear.
| How far shall I go?"
eve want you to go to the beach-to the
| waters edge, and signal the ship to send
in boat for the dispatch"
"Yes. Captain"
you know what the signal is to be?"
mo"
"Three rockets"
@Have you the rockets?"
"Yes; here they are
"Will not the signal be seen by the
Americans?"
what difference will it make? They
/ won't dare to leave their holes, and we
can give no other that would be seen af-
ter nightfall. Discharge the rockets one
| after another, and a boat will be sent
| ashore; then give them the dispatch"
81 would give much to see that dis
patch myself, our hero thought.
Was the information to be conveyed to
GL5 Sill SOUA VI Ddlls captain E14JOLl
! asked himself, again hoping by careful
listening to be able to gather the infOrme-
| tion from the British officers, but they
/ failed to allude to it.
! Lieutenant, how many men are you
going to take with y0u?" he next heard
| some one ask.
Sixteen will be sufficient"
Captain Alton st rtsd violently. An
idea had entered his mind like an electric
shock, and he seized his companions
arm. The idea was conveyed to his COM
/ panion, and Tommy was almost on the
eve of speaking out, so suddenly did the
brilliant thought strike him, but he re-
strained himself.
The plan conceived by both in a Sec
ends time was to cut of this detachment
of BFitons, make them prisoners, and
capture the dispatch.
/ Captain Cutler said the Lieutenant,
why need there be so much delay in
/ this matter? Why not let the three rock
cts which are to signal the boat from
the man-of- war also signal you to come
up with your commando"
"That would not be in accordance with
orders. You must inform the boat when
it pulls IN the condition We are IN, our
exact position, the danger that threatens
| and send this dispatch to the Major,
then await his orders"
very well, Captain; understand"
SIS it not dark enough now? I think
tn6t6 is no Danger OF your D541S u4sCOF-
cred while crossing the beach"
Yes, sir, it is, or viii be by the time
We have reached the beach.
Captain Alton thought he could almost
see the military salute which the Lieu
tenant gave on his departure.
Griffith Alton touched TOmmy's arm
and by the motion indicated that tbey
were to retire from the scene. Carefully
they began retrOgrade movement, re-
treating slowly and cautiously SO as no
to break twig or rustic leaf.
mo BE CONTINUED
Bob ngersO1 on Clover.
A wonderful thing is clover, says