The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-12-18


Why don't YOU make a clean breast 1
of it. boy" said the guard toward even
ing.
Il am not tory. sir came the quick
answer.
Tory or not, ii behooves YOU to tCI |
where the rebel powder is You know |
the orders.
Toby turned away and went over 40 !
the other side of the old house. where |
he remained, looking defiantly at the
guard, who thought him one of tie
'StubbOrnest rebels" he had ever seen.
Night came at last. throwing her
sable pail over the memorable little
place.
The last detachment of the British
army had vanished, but 20 men re-
manned behind to take care of the hoy,
safe in their clutches. More than once
since sundown Toby WIS visited and
urged to betray the hiding place of Gen.
Washington's ammunition; but To all
the pleadings and threats he turned a
deaf ear. and was heartily cursed for
his refusal.
I'VE will quit here at nine O'clock
said the sergeant, at last 1T is the
last moment of grace you have, boy"
1t was seven, then.
Toby listened to the retreating foot
steps of the sergeant, and then the
guard resumed his trampi in front of the
old stone pile.
This is Abner Bryant's work. said
the little prisoner to himself He Is
mad because they watched his house.
and did not give him chance 10 tell
CORVALLIS where the powder was
buried. He takes this plan to become
a hero ia CORVALLIS eye and TO show
this British commander that he is loyal
to the king. Never mind, Abner- We
MAY bc quits one of these days, and YOU
may not stand quite so high in he es-
timation ct King Georges general"
1t Nvas almost nine O'Clock when the
sergeant drew up his squad and s,w
that their Hluskets We're loaded with
ball
Abncr Bryant and the other tories
of the crossroads stood off a little dis
tance and Witnessed this ceremony.
He'll tell said the head tory. The
boy viii weaken al the last moment and
when the rear-guard leaves us they'll
take the rebel powder along
Certainly. His mother understands
this. for she won't shed q tear, you
| know"
There they go now. The sergeant i
| going to carry out his orders if the little
rebel still remains defiant"
In front of the stone house the de-
tachment halted and the sentry saluted-
1T is nine O'Clock" said the sergeant
| The sergeant unlocked the door. tie
key grating harshly in the rusty Pad-
| lock. and the next moment he looked in
and called for Toby
There was no reply, and the soldier
went inside.
moments glance seemed sufficient
| There's hole in the roof" cried he
~ hole in the roof" echoed half a
dozen voices
Bring light. Quick! The little
scamp has escaped
The utmost confusion reigned-
\ light was brought and revealed the
| interior of the stone pile; a loose clap
! board in the roof told that the little
rebel had actually taken flight, and the
whits-fsiced sentry seemed ready TO fall
on his knees with fear
lie was here ten minutes ago l
heard him." he managed to say
And ten minutes To him meant
great deal. He can run like a deer,
put in Abner Bryant.
ut seems to me heard horse cross
the bridge little while ago" remarked
another and then the soldiers separated
| The sergeant and one other fastened
TO Toby's home and searched il. Abner
Bryant ran home To get out his best
horse. but startling discovery awaited
him.
The ''best horse" was gone.
The excitement that followed Toby's
escape was intense The patriots of tine
hamlet secretly reioiced. while the three
tories bit their lips with chagrin.
Some months later Abner Bryant re-
ceived a letter exploiting the good
| qualities of his missing horse and thank
ing him for the use of it.
The letter was signed Toby Travers,' :
and the enraged tory tore it up and
threw it into the fire.
What became of the little rebel of the
crossroads?
The day after the surrender at York
| town he was the bearer of message
from Washington tn CORVALLIS and the
defeated general looked at him with
great deal of curiosity.
I'VE have met before, my lord" said
Capt. Toby. with bow.
I've been thinking as much" an
swered CORVALLIS, but Just now 1 can
not place you.''
I'm the Jersey boy who wouldn't be
tray the hiding place of the patriot
powder"
\ flush came to the Briton's face and
he turned it away But the next mo-
ment he turned suddenly to the young
captain:
We've heard from that powder
since I understand that n lot of rebels
afterward unearthed il and used some
of il against us in the siege of York
town." he said. with n smile. Your
general nearly lost n young captain
that time; but commend your courage
on that occasion. You deserve TO be
made major"
1t was the proudest moment in Capt
Toby's life, and the next prondeSt was
when he went back To the little hamlet
and turned over to Abner Bryant His
black horse which had carried him TO
safety on the most eVentful night in his
Denver Republican
Oueen-s Domestic Correspondence
One pleasing feature of the queens