Telegram-herald., 1891-06-28


Dscease is~n poor cfrt and am trying
% s1pe ysg deor fraeIs'1"
Colonel Gorse had made the counting
nom Of the great north mil his head
quarters He was lighting his pipe at .
candle when the glass door opened and
Friend Joseph Sparks came IN. his beaver
upon his head. a corporal escorting him.
holding the sleeve OF the Friends coat
between his thumb and finger.
lie haa come. the Friend said, 70 ask
tor permit 20 pass barre! CT hour
through the lines.
take OF your hat said Colonel
Gorse.
Nay said the Friend. Il. Is against
my conscience 10 take OF my has to any
man
Damn your conscience." said the
eoIonel. take or your haiti"
May said tine Friend. Il cannot
bake OF my hat
The orderly. who stood near 70 the
colonel. leaned over and said something
10 him.
II don't care damn who hs IS" said
the selonel IN reply 10 the whispered
word. Ale shanI wear his hat before
me. Take OF his hat. corporal
The Friend made no objections as the
corporal lifted Off MS hat and tossed II
upon the bench beside the door. Now
then" said the colonel. tell me- your
business"
The orenin. did not seem very pro
pitious. bat Friend Sparks began his
story again He had sister in Chester
b whom he had promised a barrel OF
Eour. IL should have gone yesterday.
bat he had put OF sending. dis sister
would 90 looking forir. and he was sorry
that she should not get it Would the
Colonel let hIu send it through the lines
b. bis hired boy that morning
"Can't your sister buy -four. instead
q sending To Brandywine for it,
"Why. thou sees. friend" said the
miller. money has been very scarce
with Us Of late. Ny sisters husband is
On q voyage TO the West Indies. and she
oooks to me to help her in these matters,
%. IL thou1l let me. I'll send that barrel
q 1our this morning
Once more the orderly whispered in
fhs colonels ear. Perhaps he told the
ch1ef officer that Joseph Sparks was one
- the richest men in that part Of the
oouutry The two held uut.ered talk
1or few minutes. and then the colonel
euxned abruptly TO the Friend with
moEo respect IN his voice than he had
ohown before.
~What time did you want to send
oAat noury' said he.
"About nine o'clock" said Friend Jo-
peph.
"Well,- said the colonel, have it
really by nine o'clock and will let il
10 through tho lines"
So at nine O'Clock a cart half full Of
straw stood in front OF the door at the
south mill. with a pretty. pale faced boy
standing ~ the horses head The miller
and has foreman lowered n great double
barrel by block and tackle from the
loft above. Two or three soldiers were
Standing IN the rain with their cloaks
over their shoulders. idly watching the
I. operation. They did not see three augur
holes In the top Of tho barrel As it
touched the ground Friend Sparks cars
lessly threw bag over the top Of il.
That ERE is the biggest barrel OF -four
That ever see.' said one Of the men. tax
ing his pipe out OF his mouth.
''ffs q double barrel. friend said the
miller, brushing his hands together. 1T
Is the kind that we used to send to the
West Indies.
Where Dc that going?- said the sol
aicr.
ITO Chester" said the miller briefly
Now then. John. easy" They turned
the barrel on it's side. and rolled 1t slow
" up the plank TO tbs cart.
"You roll is up a. II IL was full of
glass said one OF the soldiers Let me
help you
'sEsver mind. friend said the miller.
I've can handle it better without thy
help. So--now, John--thats it, and
the barrel was rolled into the cart and
fastened in its place with ropes. The
soldiers did not notice that it lar upon
ia side. the end nearest the head Of the
cart raised little higher than the other
A they went by Colonel Gorses head
1uarfers the orderly who had befriende,I
Friead Joseph stood at the door. A
young. boyish looking lieutenant wrap
ped il cloak sat upon a horse near bv.
and two troopers and corporal stood
beside him. the muxles II their Guns
pointed downward. the f'intlocks shell
tered from the drizzly rain under their
overecats
~Is this the barrel os FOUR" said the
orderly. peering into the cart
Are said Friend Sparks. that is
~
"Ft n plsguy big one.' he observed.
"ls - easier TO end il IN such bulk
mid The miller.
These men srs going 60 Chester
All the orderly, pointing 20 the young
ssficer and the three troopers They
VIII see zen safe through
HIS words fell upon Friend Sparks Ike
thundsrbclt HE mind seised upcn
everything ia ore instant II fight Those
Few WORKS meant sither death 10 the
wounded mar. who would have ~ stay
I've hours In the barrel-s dreadful death.
erarnped and tortured in thu narrow
sps->--or else. should the secret Of thu
contents Be disclosed. imprisonment for
himself and perhaps for his niece. He
boscd ~ Matte, bot she kept her head
tarnet away and made no sis-n.
fervsrdT said the young of,scsr. and
- thy moved. he riding IN front and
Ne three men marching beside the cart.
The miller sfcc.i le-,asins after them
until they kai psesei beyopd The crest of