The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-10-15

''ooWufu. dozen men spraDg to
ayenge this unsoldierlikc act But
Mariner was not the man 10 require
assistance in snch matters
Pray return 10 ycur seats, gentle
mem" be said; then, in tone Of mock
rcproof, he added: what attack with
your hands poor fellow who has
nought but sword and pistols where
with 70 defend himself For shame,
boys!'
Turning to Shelton. who stood with
bis hand on the hilt Of his sabef, he
said, in an nndertonet For prisoner
Of war TO lay finger ON his guard is, as
you well know, to incur the penalty of
death; besides, you are armed and | am
not; but shall repay yen before many
daysl''
II shhil not avoid you when you
are entitled to wear swordr' retorted
the major, contemptuously;- then, as
the company broke up, in disorder, he,
stepped into the inn, to pen line to
the British general, asking for few
troops ITO prevent certain unscrupu-
Ions rebel, one Mariner. from breaking
his paroles -
The captain, however, had no such in
tention. Lazily lolling over the now
deserted table, he III his pipe, and APP
peared to be. lost.in peaceful musings
But he was never so wide-awalxe as
when he appeared distracted. A foxy
glance or two at the hosiery showed a
state of hustle therein; presently, upon
the blind Of the tap-room, he saw the
shadow of the major and the innkeeper
in earnest conversation oeHEtbe
=sii4ifae -efisdI T5eareai, Shelton
sauntGred out for his evening walk. AS
soon as-3the wood screened him from
view, the captain raped sharply with
his mug which brought Mrs. Van Blu
rem to the tablo.
''The old man has gone to the Eng
Esh lines" said Mariner.
Lords mercy, captain, and what
makes You think sop
''I'hc horse has hoofs, and we are to
lew'rd. don't want to know his bust
ness; what desire to ask YOU is are
you daughter of liberty?''
i.WhS really, captain, the master
hasn't decided
.;But You have" interrupted the cap
-tfffa5- ,fou=wiish ttll,e-Fnglfsit wcrv'
at the bottom Of the sea! You saw that
brig try to shoot away my topm'st?"
IT were A dirty trick, sir, it it's the
blow you mean"
The captain tore a leaf from his
pocketbools and wrote few lines upon
it.
Mrs. Van buren, he said, "can you
ride horse?"
s'Indeed, few better, sir; my own
horse, Black Ned, in the stable there
Gen. Putnam is in brooklyn; this
Slip of paper must be put into his hands
tonight
Lords mcrcy" cried the hostess.
.And are we going to have another
-battle2',
81 will read it.
My Dear General-Can you have me ex-
changed. and at oncef MARINER ="
The captain bestowed significant
glrncc upon the lady, who took the bit
of paper and thrust it in her bosom.
Then, running into the house, she re-
turned with pint of the captains par
ticnlar porter, which he swallowed
gratefully, babe her good night and set
out for the cottage att which he was
lodged. On his return, instead of re-
firing, as lie should have done under
the circumstances, Maj. Shelton re-
paired to the bar, reclined on one of
the settecs, and to the infinite annoy
anee of his hostess commenced to dis
cnss what he was pleased to term ''the
pitiful folly of these provinces in heark-
cning to such sordid wretches as Henry,
jefferson, Washington and Paine"
The rumbling of distant thunder now
added to the worthy lady's disgust.
This delay would oblige, her to take
the shorter Bride path through the
woods, and she had a pardona BILE dis
like to the proximity of tall pine trees
in Z; thunder storm. So communicative
was the major that the anxious woman
for her husbands return; but a ire
mendons thunder crash right over the
inn seemed to bring him to a sense of
the proprieties, for he leaped to his
feet, looked at the brass timepiece on
the mantel (which was on the stroke
of midnight) and hurried upstairs.
Without the loss of a moment the
woman assumed her good mans cordu-
roy coat and, taking lantern to the
stable, aroused and saddled Black Ned.
The rain was falling in torrents as she
rose to the saddle and cautiously di-
rected the horse across the turf to the
opening in the woods. Then, tying
the reins to the saddle, she ''shone"
the lantern over the animals head and
urged him TO a gentle canter in the di-
rection of brooklyn.
The ~seH was up when Van Buren,
fwho had prudently passed the night
in the British camp returned to the
Cross Keys. accompanied by an aide
de-camp of the British general. On
leading the horses to the stable he was
intensely surprised to find Black Ned
stretched upon the straw, his appear
ance indicating that he had been ridden
in the storm. Upon asking his wife
(who was already hustling about her
work. for an explanation of this
phenomenon, the good lady folded her
arms and replied
'Mr. Van Buren,, that's a state Sc
cret.
The officer was discussing a broiled
steak when shelton entered the bar.
On the table lay an official note, the
contents of which gave the major lit
tie surprise. 1t ran as follows:
we have acceded to the terms OF a proposed
exchange OF prisoners, just Mt hand, and you
will ut once release from custody Jeremiah
Marrincr.e CLINTON. commanding"
Ere the captain quilted the precincts
ri l1latbush he contrived to deliver his
thanks to his fair messenger.
1T was a terrible ride" she said
"butI had a companion coming back.
And now tell me, captain, why you are
SO anxious to leave us"
y. III tnuf1nt,, ~ xubiGna,.od tha ,,,.sx,,