The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-02


the tory colonel himself.
l need not explain who he was to you.
You will know the man who put his
great estates at the kings service, be-
cause he believed that no good, nothing
but disaster, would come Of our success.
He was honest and brave and strong,
and commanded with the rank of colonel
troop which had been enlisted for the
king. l had fallen into his house; and
he was sitting out there-beyond the
doOr-writing.
Then, as | stood there in that dark
hole, like cornered fox, l remembered
where the shop of Hosea Pringle stood
|-Pringle, the cobbler, who was a spy in
our service. 1t was down turn at the
hills foot. If / could reach there, Prin-
gle would hide me. That was one of the
houses the sergeant had referred to; one
of the spies they not so much as suspect
ed. This much was plain. If Pringle
should be in, he would find means of
sending me across the river. My heart
beat till / could hear its humping, as
thought of my position then; as l saw
how near, and yet how far, | was from
that jail. l must get out of this house
unobserved, not only for my own sake,
but as we'll, because l could not lead to
Pringle's; the discovery that he honest
fellow was a spy would lead him to his
execution.
Yet even with this suddenly presented
chance the situation was not much hap
pier. The great Col. Van Halo-after
Col de Lancy, one of the richest and
staunchiest New Yorw Tories-was out
,;I 10 Nv nyt,1f ati v
died. the chance was, indeed. so small a
one. And then. l thought of my father;
l thought of Peggy-the one girl in all
the world who ever was worth while.
They all seemed very far away that
moment. If they took me, they now
wouldn't take my parole-which. after
all, l was thankful not to have given.
And time passed, and the quill still
scratched on. to stop at last; it must
have been after two hours. | was
cramped and stiff. Then | heard him
rising. He might have turned to the
closet. I suddenly recollected; but he
didn't. The light in the chinks flickered
and, as l heard his steps, the door shut
and the outer room was dark.
Then you may believe / watched
watched till / thought l should venture
l was startled by noting the light
through the keyhole. Someone was be
hind that outer door then. and suddenly
the door was thrown wide and "a tall
figure stood there, holding the candle
high above his head.
who's thereY' Col. Van Halo asked.
Standing there, hopelessly revealed,
my plans all awry, l saw on the table
pistol. which l snatched almost instinct
lively; twas self-preservation, and then,
as he looked his amazement, | said, as
if l held the position:
Il regret my lack of courtesy to a gen
tleman Of your position in this colony
this State, l mean; but / must ask you to
come in, to close the door-to sit down.
Or else and | meant it ALT will
shoot you down, Col. Van Halo"
'EhE' said he, and then, doubtless
feeling the sincerity in my tone, and be-
ing. while q brave man, not fool-hardy
one, he closed the door exactly as | babe
him.
Well said he. We'll"
I'm Mordaunt," said l, the prisoner
they were after.
All the prisoner they were after"
said he still surveying me with the can
die held high, while held the pistol lev
elled
But I'm minded to get away. | don't
believe. sir there's any one in the house
you can call to, or else you would not
have closed the door"
Il was a fool said he.
mo. sir: said l, mot that. This in
terruption was too startling. You couldn't
well have done otherwise. But now"
"Rut nOwt' said he
You'll try to prevent my escape; so |
must take you as prisoner"
"Me?" said he, las a prisoner"
Now, honestly" said then. show else
can | do? 'Iis your duty to follow me-"
Yes" said he, ''my duty"
so you must come with me-"
Where" said he: "where?'
Il must find that out" | said grimly,
''and l will
You are a Mordaunt?" he said
"Of Maryland" / retorted.
You are like Them he said, "and so.
gentleman. Don't you see that if /
disappear, they will say I've deserted
/, Nicholas Van Halo"
Yes said i: but pom my honor I'll
say that you didn't. More than that
promise to return you here tomorrow.
You promise?"
Nevertheless his eyes were moving
about uneasily.
yet, if you try to run. to fight. will
shoot you down, Col. Van Halo"
Eyes. your father would do the same"
he said.
"You knew my father?''
Il was with him at Quebec
''Ah, I remember. I'm sorry for this
discourteSy Col Van Halo Yet I'm
forced to it. / have given you my word
Now, snuff the candle and lead to the
door, / can see you by the moon"
He made some demur, but finally did
as / babe him. saw he was one of
those strong men who lose their wit in
emergency. SO he led as l ordered, into
the hall; outside into the moonshine,
not once crying out, for, as | had sur
missed. there was no one in the house to
answer.
"To Pringles" I said in tremble;
for here was the new hazard.
''To Pringle's," he said, turning
$50 I said, colonel"
'You know the direction"
"You can't mislead me- said I, grim
Iy. Il know this town, now that l have
my wits gathered"
"You have been here"' said he, as we
stood there, two figures outlined clearly
in the moonshine.
Once" said /, 'if in the rush of fight
I had forgotten it. But on, sir--out of
the moOnshine"'
For moment he looked at me, and
then he sprang toward me. Rage and
desperation were in his muscles that mo-
ment, and I dropped my pistol; I could