The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1892-12-02

side. candle on the table fecbly
illuminated the room. aud the silence
was broken only by the sobs of the
squire's wife and daughters. At
length the old gentleman soothed
them and then seized the opportunity
To explain the situation TO his guest,
Capt Spring. and solemnly To protest
his entire innocence of the charge
alleged against him.
esquire Kitchcll. / believe you with
all my heart" replied the captain,
''and this will yet prove TO be some
grand mistake l have heard of you
before as one Of our stanchest patriots.
But what can you do at present? From
what have learned, there appears to
be no charge against me nor against
anyone but you. They cannot go be.
hind my pass nor daain me-"
Nor detain me n moment, II my son
nj army headquarters could but get
word Of IT, lie is one of wnshington's
most trusted officers" said the squire.
"And his namcP"
Lieut.. Kitchell. of the commissary
department"
What Lieut. Kitchell!" cried the
captain. "Why, my eldest son was
once under his command, and his let
ters home oftcned mentioned the lieu
tenant with gratitude. lie Is on the
staff, then?"
Yes" said the squire. "lle Is q
young man of fine education, and so
was put in general charge of the army
records rs well as those OF the com
missary--"
And that" interrupted the sobbing
wife," lis no small affair in an army of
ten thousand men"
$50 many ms THAR exclaimed Capt.
Spring.
mo, no, wife, not quite so many
began the squire.
well, no matter" put in the cap
tain. Let US look at this matter cool
ly--and quickly, too. Now, have you
paper. pen and ink in this room?"
In an instant the squire had opened
n bureau aud placed the required arti-
cles ON the table.
Now" said the captain. "sit here,
squire, and write only few lines to
your son. Tell him You send them in
haste by me, Capt. job Spring, from
the Delaware. Say you have been APP
pretended unjustly by the Sussex
militia, and state the charge Now say
they are about To burn the house. aud
you may add they will probably hang
you before they leave. Make il strong
enough to bring relief quickly"
what il these scoundrels should be
Moody's men, after all!' suddenly
cried the squire.
Moody, the British spy? A good
idea! Put that in, too. So, sign your
name. Now | propose To take this
letter and gallop off to headquarters
as soon as these rascals leave. As for
this young mau-what is your nance"
"Maxwell--Robert MAXWELL" was
the reply Of the young man.
"Wcll, | shall tell these fellows YOU
are one of my teamsters That's the
only way To get you clear Of them.
And, | say, Us you are gong TO join the
army, want you to hasten after me
aud meet me ut The Morristown camp
just as quickly as you can"
Come, Squire Kitchell! To horse"
exclaimed the sentry, suddenly throw
ing open the parlor door.
Then, after sorrowful scene Of part
ing, the troopers rode away with their
two captives, the squire and Black
Tom.
Very soon after the faint dawn was
just appearing when Capt, Spring
mounted his nag in front of the house,
and said To young Maxwell:
Push after me, my lad, rs fast as
49,, 4 huNsn mud 1
you at Morristown, 10 state what you
have witnessed here this night
The young man gratefully assented.
But rs soon as the captain was out of
sight, he took good care to leave the
road and get into the woods and fields,
on course that would bring him con-
sidcrably To the northward of Norris
town. The truth was, he had been n
British prisoner, taken with Burgoync's
army, had escaped from his contine-
ment in Pennsylvania, and was max
ing his way To the British lines ut New
York. lie certainly had no desire To
follow in the track OF Capt Spring.
II was full ten o'clock that morning
when the captain was passed through
the lines of the American army and
ushered into the commissary's office on
Bottle hill above Morristown. Lieut.
Kitchell was alone in the otlise, busily
writing Mt table covered with record
books. First exhibiting his pass, Capt.
Spring then handed him the squire's
letter.
Good heavens" exclaimed the lieu.
tenant, rhis must have instant atten-
tionr and he rushed in agony out of
the office.
The captain sat still for few mo-
mentS Then he rose and looked curl