The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-27
BY T. C. HARBAUGH.


Copyright. 1895. by T. C. Harbaugh)
One bright and breezy morning in
the early autumn OF IT'S boy Of is,
dressed in the prevailing costume OF
The Day, stopped in front of an oak
which stood where two roads meet.
Behind him, a short distance away,
lay the encampment of the American
army, which after the disastrous battle
of Monmouth, had retreated 70 the VIII
lage OF White Plains, where it pre-
pared for a long rest.
Inc naughty and confident enemy
lay IN Philadelphia ready to pounce up
on the patriots at the first opportuni-
~. and Washington was compelled to
resort to the utmost vigilance to defeat
their plans.
But on this particular morning it
was not the beauty of the landscape
which struck the boy at the tree, it
was something more to his taste, for
upon the bark OF the oak which had
borne more than one poster in its times
had been tackled q paper which thrilled
him as he read.
It was bit of dingy paper, poorly
printed, and the boy, Martin Bland,
read as follows:
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS
REWARD!
Headquarters American Army,
White Plains, Sept. 20. IT'S.
The above reward will be paid in
good and lawful currency for the ar
rest and conviction of any person
caught within these lines while follow
ing the avoca ton of a rpy.
BY order of
George Washington,
''Commander-in-Ch Chief
Martin Bland silently read the order
twice.
4 Queer Customer.
There's a chance for you," said
voice behind him.
The boy turned abruptly and came
Sace to face with a little old man car
rying a small pack.
He had seen him before. indeed. this
same little man had repaired their
clock but a week before. and he had
learned that his name was Aaron Cain.
"Hai IT'S you, is tt2" exclaimed
Martin. furning 10 the orders again.
i've just run across General Washing
IONS proclamation. Its TOO bad that
the army has to be annoyed by these
British spies. If one Of them is cap
tured I don't think he will be per
mitted 70 continue his calling.
The Old clock tinker smiled.
they never hang a MN till they We
caught him" he said But [ must be
going on. The officers may have some
work for me and, theE> l haven't had
any breakfast. I'll see Jonas joyce,
my old friend. and he viii give me a
morning snack"
With this Aaron shifted his pack
and walked away. leaving the boy TO
follow or remain at The tree.
Ma r-tiY RlaOd after a few moments
did the former and entered the Ameri
car camp which had all the appear
ance of a town for there were regularly
laid out streets which were lined with
weN-to-do nuts capable Of sheltering
their occupants.
edge of the village, but did not think
anything of this.
Aaron Game had been a privileged
character in the encdmpment for some
time, for he was useful in many ways
and the officers gave him their watches
to clean and regulate.
He usually stopped with one Jonas
Joyce, a prominent man at White
Plains, but a person not regarded as in
much sympathy with the Americans.
This vas not strange, however, for
that part of the country contained
number .. Tories, who were compelled
to remain quiet when the patriots held
the upper hand.
The Discovery.
All that day Martin Bland stayed In
the American camps visiting the diff
ferent regiments and watching the evo-
lutions OF the soldiers, and it was not
till shutdown that he started for home
small house situated about a mile
from White Plains.
q near the old oak when no
perceived a human figure there, and
dropping instantly to the ground he
crept forward until he could see 1t
plainly in the light of the full moon
which had just crept above the hori-
IONS lin.
What was Martins surprise when he
saw that the man near the tree was
Aaron Cain, the old clock cleaner!
He did not have his pack now: on
the contrary, he was in light march
ing order
While the boy watched him. he lean
ed against the oak. and after a glance
81 the offer of reward, raised one foot
and began TO unscrew the heel of his
somewhat clumsy shoe.
This was startling revelation to the
American boy who had never seen any,
thing like il, and he leaned for
ward till not movement Of the tink-
er escaped him,