The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-30
THE MEDDLING HUSSY.
Being the True Account, Written BY
Himself, OF the Adventure of Ser
Eeant-Maior John Champc of
Major Henry Lees.
BY CLINTON ROSS.
copyright, 1895, by S. S. Mcclure. Linn
uedl

BY CLINTON ROSS.
copyright, 1895, by S. S. Mcclure, Linn
ltedl
remember my man WAS snug
faced, appearing to all the world the
reputable citizen, round, fat. a most
polite and non-committal fellow, and
] wondered whether 1 might not have
gone wrong But the direction was
plain, Philip Roland Merchant, 5
Pearl street, back of Fraunces's Tav-
ern," and here was the man in his
shop. looking at me narrowly over the
gold rims Of his spectacIes. The
Guards Band was playing on the
Bowling Green, for, though November,
it was warmish Indian summer even
ing, while he gloated over the letter,
regarding me ever and anon in the
dim light of the lantern that stood on
the eNunter He was "A dealer in
women's gewgaws, and esteemed as
good an American as any man in New
York. I had heard. indeed, SO much TO
this effect that now l was uneasy to
think perhaps l had but put my neck
in the moose Had not the general
been mistaken in the man? Why did
he pause so long? [ moved nervousiy,
while before the window passed some
people returning from lHe play dl the
Theatre Royal on John street.
The ROydliSt dandies had refitted
that littIe red theatre, closed by con
gross with a view to improving Up
public morals, and plays had been
writ for it by Major John Andre.
shuddered as I thought of him, for il
was not so long since the scene at
Tappan. and, for all / had experienced
in the last days, causing me to regret
my mission, my SOftneSS hardened at
that name. AS il happened, as if to
emphasize the thought, a link boy
passed just then before Mistress Sus-
sannah De Lancey and Major Will
1iams of the artillery, who had been
Andres intimate.
My vis-a-vis noted my Uneasiness
out of his cunning eyes.
There be spies, and spies" said he,
but you, sir, surprise me. There lay
every reason why you should return to
the cause, and yet you risk your neck
apparently as merrily as boy after
q birds nest"
Eth, yes" said I. gathering heart at
his voice 'tAnd I propose to have the
bird tonight at II when he walks in
the garden back from Burns.
Does ne walk then in the garden?"
said he, peering at me.
Yes, an uneasy conscience
''Ah has he that2"
s'If he have not, my friend, I pro-
-
have your boat ali the foot of the lane
exact at II. [ ioosed part of the pal
ing at the end OF the garden, and there
behind the boards. which he now can
wrench off in trice, is Jem Hawkins.
You know him."
AND you, sergeant" said he curl
ousiy. and looking about lest the walls
had ears.
4 master, will stroll out of the
tavern as debOnair s YOU please.
Jem Will break through the pahng,
and together we viii carry him to your
boat"
should you be stopped?"
'-Bumph, We have but to say we are
Faifors from the Anne Marie taking a
drunken comrade aboard. Once in The
boat we shall pull for Hobock, where
Major Harry expects u.s.
1 thought eXuItantly of this point in
the programme so well outlined, could
St be carried out. For il meant my
restoration to the old esteem among
sny comrades, who now must he hold
ing me the most dastardly deserter.
You have a glib tongue my shop
Eeeper said doubtfully when L had
ended.
.'It has persuaded Sir Henry. my old
friends, and their Brevet-Brigadie
orator Arnold" 1 boosted; NOW it
wants but your boat"
He reached forward. as If with sud
sfen enthusiasm out of keeping with
the former suspicion.
'You risk death and so do i sb<uld
we he seen together. The boatman
snail be there at H.
I was sure of him now, this person
nc one suspected, but who was one of
those agents by whom Washington
was kept cOnYerSant with occurrences
in New York. / relied implicitly on
the other man, Hawkins, who was
Bl0stler at "Fraunces' Tavern for he
faG proven his honesty by seeing that
my letter had reached the general |
pli,afed with Arnold in that damnable
plot; and now all that was left of the |
mission WAS TO catch the traitor.
This WAS my fifth evening in gliise |
of American deserter and kings man: |
and ii, l said, should not pass without |
me putting my hands on him for |
WHOSE wretched aYarice Andre had
suffered.
Yet. as [ strobe about the street |
corner past one of Mayor Matthews |
watch, ] sickened of the attempt for |
1he hundredIh time. 1 thought of how /
great a. sacrifice of good name I al |
ready had made, and how little wit [, |
indeed, had to redeem ii.
Before. the ruins of Trinity church, |
Standing out sepulchrally in The dark |
est November night, I went in to sit |
OF one of the benches that had been /
built there at General Pattison's sug-
gestion, shortly after the great fire; |
favor by making the town life agree
sble for those who could be caught by I
pleasure.