Willmar tribune., 1899-07-12
! friend and / the same: We were each i

ceath to hold me here! l was to be hanged
As spy, but the fire set me free"
"A spy! By the Lord, from your looks you
might be second Shadrach! What name
ere you under? Come, let us work into safer
quarters" said I, full of sudden fever, for
it never occurred to me to be doubtful of his
statement.
'Nay, then. am best alone. Let me 60,
man; your grip is crushing my arm! have
Il friend, and, once with him, am safe. I
believe you to be true. Know me as Rex"
Zone second more, then" said I, loosen
ing my grip. "Where can we meet?"
He had drawn from me apace and was
prepared to run, but halted long enough to
throw back: "The Dove-Kingsbridg road
If God be willing get so far. See Nick
Stryker." And with this he disappeared
into the smoke.
This incident happened so quickly that
had met him, taken his status, and he had
gone before realized that had not gotten
from him tithe of the knowledge wished.
The "Dove" was no puzzle, but of Nick
Stryker had never heard. The former was
tavern somewhat back from the Kings
bridge road, about seven miles from the city,
and near McGowan's pass, [now included in
Central park, the latter probably the host
of that house OF call.
knew the place from having stopped
there before the war, and, in fact, the upper
island was as familiar to me as to the ma
jority of its inhabitants, but at that time
there was no Nick Stryker holding forth at
the Dove Years and the vicissitudes of war
had doubtless changed many features of the
country abovethe town, and might we'll have
changed the proprietors Of tavern. So to
it determined to go as soon as could come
by pass from Clinton.
How the spy could run the barriers was
a peg further than could see, but he seemed
full Of resource, and evidently knew his busi
ness. Doubtless, thought I, his friend is
powerful, and will put him on his way. I
berated myself for having let him go.
would have stood by him in the face of
platoon, so hungered was I for one in whom
I could con6de and who could assist me in
the plan which still boiled in my brain.
Find him again must. The name of
Rex" being but Latin for "the king" I
guessed to be only password through which
his allies might come by him, and this con-
lecture was all had to assist me in my in
tended search. But it was something to go
on, connected with the rest, and with no
further attention to the vast conAagraLion, I
made my way out of it's vicinity.
Within two hours of the time left it
deluge of rain, which had been threatening
all day, came down and Quenched the flames.
For my own interests I looked upon the
flood as providential, and it was as well for
the interests of the thousands Of patriots
shut up in the city, as, had it not been for
this interposition of Heaven, the entire
town would have been swept by fire, and the
imprisoned inmates of the packed sugar
houses might have shared the fate of the
buildings themselves.
It did not surprise me that on repairing
to the Kings Arms I found Scammell had
not returned to receive my note, nor did
greatly wonder when told the next morning
that he had not been in overnight. The con-
fusion attending the fire might easily &C.
count for many Irregularities, and what
cared I, after all? had done what prom.
ised him, and he might take up or leave the
matter as he saw fit. AS for myself, busted
me with my damaged clothing, that might
be presentable at headquarters in the after
noon, and when these were in as fair shafa
as clumsy bachelor could make rnesa, :ikd
nothing to do but pass the time.
Of all the days of the overhead ted summer
W ~ 20 tudV VI ouuOuv, CAC CCu ~ 11uEASL,
was the most terrific in point Of tempera-
ture. By high noon no man might a:and tho
sun s rays unprotected, and the heat radi-
ated from the streets as from furlysce. In
doors was but little better than VITA ,ut, yet
for that little remained in my r>> >sas sud
well-nigh stripped myself for comfort.
Being now in the best of humors, : ordered
measure of rum and Jug of wafer, and
H>E~ - h..Sl
air castles for the morrow. Great wavet OF
heat surged through the open windows, ard
the drowsy stiffness made me nod. Mt
wishing to sleep, brought out the paper re-
ceived from headquarters, and opened it ~
had done for the tenth time at least.
had reread but few lines when WIS
attracted by the sound of distant thunder,
and going to the window, beheld mighty
bank of blue-black clouds towering abovs
the western horizon, the topmost ridge miS-
Cling with the thin column of smoke rising
from the burned district. Not breath OF
air stirred the hanging leaves of the trees be.
fore the door, nor was soul in sight save
small squad of redcoats that just then swung
round the corner from the Broadway aud
entered the tavern bar.
The coming of tempest has always been
q delight to me, and I watched with sup
pressed emotion the advance of this, which
presaged unusual violence. As I looked, tho
first great gust Of wind came tearing Up tho
Broadway, bending low the trees and bear-
ing with it a mighty van of dust and rubbish.
Hurriedly slamming down the windows, I
turned to don some clothing and get below,
when, through the din of ciaehing branches,
swinging blinds, and rushing wind heard
a thunderous knocking at my chamber door,
which was opened ere moved 10 answer,
and in the gathering gloom I heheld Capt.
Scammell hastily enter and close the heavy
portal behind him.
The advent of this man, whom all TIE laws
of dueling prohibited seeking me at the pres
ent stage of affairs, occasioned something Of
shock. The manner of his entry, the tragic
aspect of nature, and the sickly-green light
enveloping everything within and without;
the clamorous advance of the storm, and per-
haps as much as anything, the sudden re.
vulsion Of temper caused by seeing him,
threw me for the moment off my mental
balance, and stood without moving, gaz-
ing at him as might have gazed at an ap-
partition.
As we thus faced each other, noticed that
he was hatless, coatless, and without side
arms, the latter fact causing me further sur
prise, as was aware of the extreme pride .
British officer has in his sword and his Ne
luctance to lay it beyond his reach.
Hard upon these details came three others
of different nature. saw at once that the
man was intoxicated, though not beyond his
own control; that in his left hand he had an
open paper, while his right, which still hung
by his side, held cooked pistol, though this
1 would not have seen but for the sudden
gleam Of, a fash of lightning. It gave me q
quick realization; of the fact that was In
great danger and without the means of COM