The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-02-19

ing the need of increased caution, Mag
gle passed on, and soon stopped at sew
eral houses, where she easily disposed
of a portion of her burden. Declining
to part with them all, for each pur-
chaser desired to gain the contents OF
the basket, she pushed o. until she en-
tered the street where Mistress Jones
lived. No ore was in sight and she ran
quickly up the steps and lifted the
heavy knocker.
She had hardly given the summons,
when she saw a relocated soldier APP
pear on the corner of the street, and
stop and gaze curiously at her as she
stood before the door. She was in a
flutter of excitement when the servant
admitted her, and she said:
81 would see Mistress Jones. I have
some eggs for sale, and perhaps she
will buy"
DOUBTLESS she will that" replied the
maid, "but it will not be necessary for
you to see her. I car pay you" and
she started from the hall as if to get
her money.
"Nay, nay" said Maggie, quickly, Il
would deal with Mistress Jones her
self"
The servant made no response as she
turned 20 seek the mistress, and in a
few minutes Mrs. Jones herself ap-
peared.
"Was it to me you desired to speak?"
ayes, l have fresh eggs to sell"
Il aXrz. -. 49,, - f-ach Oo
"They are that. fresh and prime,
too"
Mistress Jones looked keenly at Mag
gle as she heard the combination of
words which was well understood by
her, and she quickly replied: you have
brought your wares to the right mar
ket, 1 see" She then took the basket
from Maggie's hand. and in a few mo-
ments returned with a loaf of bread.
| She did not inform her that within the
loaf there was a note concealed, but
| Maggie understood. 1t was all as she
had been informed it would be.
"If you lose the bread, or find it ne
cessary to destroy it, you may simply
say to your friend: Not yet Do you
understand"
81 do" replied Maggie, quietly. as she
! again took her basket and prepared to
depart. The door was quickly closed
behind her, and she fingered a moment
on the steps before she went down to
the street. She could see no Il now,
and the curious soldier had disap-
peared; but Maggie's fear was zone the
less when she started up the street, for
she knew not who was watching her,
! and the words of the guard still lin
gered in her mind.
AS she approached the edge of the
city she was alarmed when she saw the
same six men there whom she had met
at her entrance; but, striving to quiet
her heart. and not reveal the fear I'M
der which she labored, she walked
steadily on.
Here's my wench again." laughed
one of the soldiers as she drew nea
"And what luck?"
II sold my eggs"
Doubtless. And was Mistress Jones
a purchaser"
81 know rot Mistress Jones" replied
Maggie, endeavoring to pass on.
""Tis well for you, my wench. And
what have you in the basket now? A
bread loaf as l live! IT'S the very thing
1 most desire" And the soldier rough
ly grasped the basket and seized the
loaf which it contained.
1.-THE bread 1 would give my little sis
ter who is ILL.," said Maggie, with trem,
bling voice. 81 pray you to take it not
from me-"
Her evident distress moved the sol
der, and one of them roughly said to
the man who had taken her bread: Let
the wench go, Jack. A bread o a would
hardly satisfy us to-day. 'Tis Tall
madge's head 1 rave. Give her the bas
ket and let the poor girl 60"
With a laugh the soldier returned the
basket and the bread, little dreaming
Of their contents, and Maggie sped on
not even turning her head to see if she
we're pursued. Perhaps If she had
looked back the sight would not have
comforted her, for the six men wert
standing together, and the frequen'
chances they cast at the departing gi-
showed that they were talking of her
But, all unconscious of what was go
ing on behind her, Maggie kept on he
way and when once she was on thu
country road she broke into a run,a al
unwearied by her long journey. Sh'
had information Of Importance, and tn
thoughts Of her father and brother II
Valley Forge, and the little sister .
home, gave her renewed strength.
She was almost breathless when .