The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-20

General Wilton, sending across 10 tne
English captain a glance OF encourage
ment and approval.
The case was stated. Captain Burton
had obtained "A pass on a false pretext'
He had been seen handing papers To
General Arnold, of whose height and
figure he was. He had been arrested
in disguise, and plainly intended 10
deceive any passer who had seen him Oh
the road from New York. III the traitor
Arnold had written that he knew moth
ing of Captain Burton-if Major John
Andre. and Sir Henry Clinton declared
that Burton knew nothing OF the plot
against West Point, such interested eyi-
dence could not be entertained by this
court. No more could the prisoners
own story. and his servants, now lib
In the hospital; even If their statements
agreed, il was plain that there wonia
have been an understanding between
master and man.
"Jacob Detcher, peddler. formerly
sergeant In the Fifth New York line,
was called.
Every neck was craned forward as
short. thiclx-sct man arose. His face
was at first defiant, and then look or
resolution came over it; not defiance,
but some feeling waking the man dit-
fercnt from the dissipated fellow known
at Detchard, the peddler. The wit
ness eyes caught the calm, blue ones
of His Excellency. and TO His Excel
lency he seemed TO address himself.
"Your honors," he began, and the
room fell still. Il am the formerly
! Sergeant Jacob Detchard, who was
| forged and run out OF the army by
General Wilton, because of cruelty to
! the men. and OF insubordination ana
drunkenness. But, your honors, was
once different man, as His EXcellency'
the general, could tell you. was born
| with a conscience, and the good God has
said that a man born with con-
science cannot destroy it, however low
he may sink"
The prisoner paused after this strange
| preamble.
yesterday, your honors. his excel
lency sent for me. and he said: 'Detch-
ard, you have bad reputation, but L
want TO thank you for the time when
Won threw Yourself between me and the
| IIessian at Trenton And, your hon
ors. the greatest gentleman IN America
reached forward and took my hand
that wicked hand of mine, which has
done nothing but bad things since
| took to drink and the devil took my
heart And. your honors, as His Excel
lency held my hand, he looked into my
eyes and be said: What, Detchard, is
the truth abont Captain Burton" Then
conscience was stirred in me, under his
eyes. and / said: i lied. II was lie
from beginning to end. / put the dogs
at the tavern up to the robbery. l did
It because wanted to bring disgrace on
General Wilton"
The speaker turned about and faced
the court.
Governor Clinton has since hung
three of those men for other crimes. l
am ready, your honors, to bear my pun
ishment"
The witness stopped, with his face
bent forward on his breast. Suddenly
another voice--the voice of the general
hlmself-was heard.
'I want to say that I, for one. would
like an expression of this court, TO the
effect that former Sergeant JacSb
| Detchard has acted to-day as n brave
| man. His case-that of false swear
| ing and OF assault and robbery-is, I
believe. one for the civil authorities of
! tlis state"
| And they who told me this tale
| YOU will find no account Of il in the
| histories--say that this expression of
| the court was unanimous, and that
| Detchard worked out n two-years' SEN
tence and lived after that as an honest
| man.
Now, outside. Captain Burton found
| Miss Polly Wilton waiting for him.
81 feel that am a gentleman again.
said the captain of the kings hussars-
"Whoever doubted that you were, you
| goose p" said this Polly with the laugh
ing eyes.
"Not you, at lenst, my dear" our cap
tain retorted. "And TO think that
| fell into ell this trouble because /
wanted to appear before you in fine
clothes!"
"Pride goeth before downfall" !"
quoth Polly.
| "But love followcth it>" said Burton.
| THE END.
'"The counting OF Kate and Carnegie" by
| ian Maclaren. author OF Beside the Bon