New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
] | /.


the great north mill his headquarters lie was
lighting his pipe at a candle when the glass door
opened and Friend Joseph Sparks came H. ms
beaver upon his head corporal escortDig hiin'
holding the sleeve of the Friends coat hetweeE
his thumb and finger
He had come, the Friend said, TO ask for
hermit TO pass a barrel Of flour through the lines
Take off Your hat said Colonel Gorse.
Nay said the Friend, " it is against my con-
science to take off my hat TO any man; ,
" Damn your conscience sald 'he 0oion'i'
Take off your hat.
Nav" said the Friend, Il cannot take on
my hat" ~, oo,o,o1
The ORDERLY who stood near TO the colonel
leaned over and said something TO him;
Il don't care damn who he is, said the colo
mel in reply to the whispered word lie shah
wear his hat before me- Take OH MS h"'' CUT
P1 The Friend made no objections the corporal
lifted off his hat and tossed 1t upon the oenGn Ne
side the door. Now then, Salu inc Ooion0i'
tell me your business? p TIL. L..
The opening did not seem very propitiouS but
Friend Sparks began his story again. lie hau d
sister in Chester to whom he had promised par par
rel of flour II should have gone Yesterday, put
he had put off sending. His sister would Pe
looking for it and he was tSI him Sne
through the lines by his hired boy tnat morning
Cant your sister bgy. -four, instead of sending
TO Brandywine for 1t p Ill.
"money has been very scarce with us OF late:
NV sisters husband is on voyage 10 tne .WeSt
Indies and she looks 10 me to help her in these
rel of flour this morning"
Once more the orderly whispered in the colo
nel's car Perhaps he told the chief officer that
Joseph Sparks was one Of the richest men in that
mart of the country. The two held mutlered
talk for few minutes and then the colonel
turned abruptly 10 the Friend with more respect
in his voice than he had shown before -
"What time did you want to send that hour
said bS ,,.,,..;a Friend 1ossDb
WELL said the colonel, have 1t ready ny
O o'clock and | will let il 90 through the lines
So at o'clock cart half full OF straw stood
in front of the door at the south mill win a
pretty. pale-faced boy standing at the horse
head The miller and his foreman lowered great
double barrel by block and tackle from the lot
above Two or three soldiers were standing III
the rain with their cloals over their shoulders
div watching the operation. They did not see
three augur holes in the top of the barrel. AS II
touched the the og grpu ,Re tor TV Of it "'"'
+" That ere is the biggest barrel OF flour thar
ever ] see, said one of the men taking his pipe
oUS IFS II m double barrel, friend said the miller
brushing his hands together. II is the kind
that we used to send 10 the West Indies
"Where be that going ,? said the soldier.
ITO Chester" said the miller briefly. Now
| tbor Jobn easy.s They turned the barrel on its
side and rolled it slowly up the plank to the cart art
ono Of the soldiers Let me help yon.'
Never mind, friend, said the miller; I'VE I'VE
can handle it better without my heip now
The cart and fastened in its place with ropes
The soldiers did not notice that II lay upon us
side the end nearest the head oil the cart raiseu
i As they went by Colonel Gorses head
quarters the orderly who had ,h 6efT1e GooT
Friend Joseph stood at t RFaDDe %OGT in
| n cloak sat upon horse near by and TWO troopers
and a corporal stood beside him. The muzzleS OF
| their guns pointed downward, the nlntlocks she-
tered from the drzzly rain under their overcoats.
is this the barrel of -four p said the orderly
| peerng into the cart. ..p
Ave. said Friend Sparks. that Is IT,
| IT is plaguy big one, he Observed
1T is easier to send it in such bulk, SAID the
miller. c, , ooi, .ho mr.
derlv pointinr to the young officer and the three
| TRAINERS They will see you safe through
| Ills words fell upon Friend Sparks like thun-
derbolt His mind seized upon everything IN one
| instant of flight Those few words meant either
deott 10 the wounded man who would nave 10
stov five hours in the barrel-a dreadful death,
| cramped and tortured in the narrow spaGe-or
io shouid the secret of the contents he disclosed,
! imnrsonment for himself and perhaps Tor ms
niece He looked at Matte, but she kept her
| head turned away and made no sign
=" Forward, - said the young officer, and on they
moved he riding in front and the three men
marching beside the cart. ~, 49,.
The miller stood looking after them untli they
Rad nassed beyond the crest OF the mn.
= ( re You sick, Mr.. Sparks" the orderly asked
looking into his face o.or+ I'm, fool
NAY" said the Friend with starU puV icei
chilly: think I'll go home -, 49,
Matte had heard the. words as well as her
uncle. and as she rode along unheedlhg ihe ram am
and the rough shaking OF h;ve u ne
cart, her thoughts teemed ike m Nt,i "a
bees, planning and planning as to how she snoulI
leave her precious burden at Cousin Jane Penny
house Sic made up her mind at once u .sa
should they pass il by, she would confess " III
| young lieutenant. For imprisonment IN tne h i
was better than the chance Of death In the long
ride 10 Chester -, =; .
About two miles from the town there Is a
lttle brawlino stream then known by the
Swedish name of SkillpOt, or Stony Brook. Al
the edge of the woods. close 10 the stream was a
company Of troopers, who had been stationed 10
watch the high-road for stragglers from the Amer
lean army. They had built rude shelter OF renee
rails and brush-wood beside the road -,
AS the company came by, one of the sentlnels
on guard stopped them and the young lieutenant
showed the passes for the cart and lite burden.
Look'ee, Jack" said the soldier, calling 70 the
Of -four that ever ] see. Tell them TO fetch The
pan and we'll fill it..
Foi a moment Mattie's head spun dizzily then n