The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-28

blanket.
Thar haint? Well, I'd swar thar was
man in it when it went deown."
Jack, said the young officer as torches
were brought to the spot, there are spies
in our works"
CHAPTER TX.
rs he TRAIToR2'
There was moments silence, broken
at last by Simon.
"By Jerusalem, ef 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 dreaming, and fred at o creature OF
your imagination"
-Dreamin' Jerusalem: dye call this
q dream?" and Simon seized the blanKe,
and held it before the face of the young
| Captain.
NO, Simon, there can be no questi on
| of that being q 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 cou.mon gray blanket such as
many of the American soldiers used in
| their camp. There was q hole in one
corner, testifying that Simons rifle had
not entirely missed the mark.
Does anyone recognize this blanket?"
asked our hero, holding it up in the light
of the torch.
Yah, metstur, it vas mine," said q
German, coming forward and laying his
hand on it.
1T was?" asked the Captain. Then
how came it here2"
Me cannot dell, Meestur Captain. Me
vas sleeping NIT mine planket over top Of
minezelf, und Zomepody coomes along
vonce to me und shteals it away, und l
wakes up all cold"
The young commander gave the Ger
man searching glance and said:
What is your name?"
1Shacob Hess" was the answer.
We'll, Jacob, you are prisoner"
Won brizoner-mine Gott in Helmet,
vot yer you make me Won brIzoner shust
fur because zome Won shto!e mine
planket?"
Does any one know this man?' asked
the Captain.
A farmer came forward and sa;d that
Jacob WAS his neighbor, and he had al
ways believed him to he 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 lis
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
Dutchm an taken away amid many protes-
tations.
Now, Griff," said Hatchet, pulling
the young commander aside just as if he
was still village boy, "'spose me an
YOU make that rounds We war talkin'
about?"
In q moment, Jack" said the young
officer. There are some very important
orders to issue and carry ont.
For few moments Griffith was busy,
but as soon as he was at leisure he joined
Jack, who stood near, impatiently chew
irg his huge cud of tobacco.
Wall, boy, ye got through all that ar
red tape tomfoolery ct last, heV ye?-
come on.
The Captain laughed, but made no re-
ply to the jeering remark of his compan-
ion. He knew old Jack so we'll and SO
Observation-Disclosures that beneath his
gruff, rugged exterior there beat warm
heart-that he did not for a moment
doubt him. The old blacksmith wes
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 al cautiously along
the breastwork. going "a nortEerly di-
rection. The little village was in state
of excitement. Lanterns and torches
were hurrying hither and thither. Jack
noticed them and growled.
They're n pack O. fools; they'll never
catch anybody. They'll jest show the
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 cannons
what pints out to sea-"
Were they at it?"'
Not quite. They we're pretty close,
though, and seemed to be debatin' wheth-
er they'd better spike it or not, but jest
then I cooked my ole smooth-bore. They
neerd me, an concluded, guess, to GIT,
fur all at once they jest seemed TO flop
ont O. existence. couldn't find 'em no.
where"
They were on that line of the fortifca-
tion where no guns were placed, and
there were no lights here. All was the
deepest darkness, and the young COM
mander thought that this would TN.
doubtedly be the place the spies would
seek. He told Jack Hatchet that the
SIZES could not find more suitable place
for concealment or escape, and cautioned
him to keep his eyes open.
Don't ye think I'm goin' to be took
nappin'," said that individual. i tell
ye, Cap'n. I'm as hot as forge. I'd melt
a hcss-shoe mil tonight. Oh, ef / could
only git clutch o them varmints, 10
make 'em think it war the day that the
kingdom was commit"
Hush. Jack.
Dye hear something?"
Yes"
Jack listened himself. Both of them
halted and the officer cooked his pistol
and Jack Hatchet his gun. The black.
smith strained his hearing, but could