Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
and every sound came forth unobstructed.

and every sound came forth unobstructed.
At one end Of the house was the spacious
library. It communicated with the double
parlor, and it was possible for its occupants
to step out upon the porch without passing
through the room of the young merry
makers
Tom Harris crept closer to the house and
stopped behind one of the bushy cedars
near tho porch.
Tho scene which met his gaze was a
pretty one. He saw the double parlors filled
with the dancers and noticed that the fid-
der was really Cripple Dan, whom all the
boys along the sound knew very we'll.
But the keen rowing eye Of Captain Tom
Harris went in search of something else
that night.
He cared but little for the loyalist's guests.
He had led his company across the sound
for a particular purpose, and he wondered
IL he would have to sneak back without
tho coveted prisoner.
Seated in the library were two men whose
figures the boy patriot speedily singled out.
Ono he saw was dressed in a British Off
er's uniform and his ample figure filled a
mahogany arm chair. The other, he knew,
was Hiram Dale, the Long Island loyalist.
For some time Captain Harris watched. the
two men and now and then caught saatches
of their conversation.
ut won't last much longer, this rebellion"
said the burly officer. 1.-The rebels are hard
pressed now and Washington's ragamufins
are deserving him daily. In a few weeks we
will have them under our thumbs and then
they'll see something that will startle them"
Judge Dale chimed In with his guests
opinion concerning the end of the war, but
bis remarks made Tom Harris's ears burn.
IF the whaleboat would hold both Of you
and all of US I'd be for taking you along
with us, Hiram Dale" cried he. You're
very obnoxious to the patriots, and 1 fancy
the British would be willing to exchange my
father for you. But we came after the major
and l guess Wen try for the right bird"
At this j~uncture Judge Dale rose and
asked Major Perley to make himself at home
till he returned, and In another moment the
officer was alone.
The lamp showed off his well braided
form to Tom Harris, and, seeing that the
opportunity was too good to be lost, he crept
back to his companions.
THE ATTACK.
tits now or never, boys he said eagerly.
The bird is in the cage and we must get
him out before Judge Dale takes the alarm.
The library door opens upon the porch indie
pendently OF the parlor. and Dams fiddle is
going like wildfre just now. Forward,
march,"
Among the shadows that lay at the end of
the porch Tom Harris halted his company
and threw an anxious glance toward the
open door OF the library.
Major Perley had taken up a book to while
away the time till the loyalist's return, and
was oblivious to his perilOus surroundings.
IT'S the major, sure enough" said Ned
Deaton, who had seen the officer. Hell
show fight II he's not neatly trapped, too
Tom Harris sprang upon the porch and ad-
vanced TOWARD the door; but he suddenly
stopped and initiating Judge Dale's voice as
.near as he could. he said:
PLEASE step out here, major. It's so pleas
ant in the night air."
Instantly the book was laid aside and the
giant Britisher left the chair.
IN another instant he was ON the porch and
then he saw Tom Harris, musket In hand.
What comedy is this?" he cried merrily,
linking that some of the judges young
quests were playing a trick on him. you
make pretty good looking rebels, | declare.
The Judge Ia In your secret, of course, and"
Forward, march, major. straight ahead -
7aid Tom. you'll find more of US over
there"
Already the aostonished officer had caught
sight of five more determined young faces
and as many cleaning bayonets and, biting
lis lips with chagrin. he stepped from the
porch.
about facet" commanded Captain Tom
Look here. haven't you carried the Joke far
enough?" was the response. "You do pretty
well as rebels, ! say, and it's a neat trick
and all that; but / was to wait for the Judge
In the library"
In an instant the bayonets closed around
the Officer and Captain Harris said reso-
lutely:
Don't force us to bayonet you, Major
Perley. You Will march to the beach at
once and without sounding the alarm. For
ward, march, now, and don't give US any
trouble"
The Clicking Of musket locks In the