Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-10-28

1.-THE first man who places foot over
the threshold dies."
For brief space the Britons hesitated.
The man before them looked dangerous.
II they advanced, the foremost would be
sure to fall. But there was no alterna.
tive. There was no means Of ingress for
a flank attack. Il
Forward shouted the sergeant; and
as he pushed ahead, his comrades quick.
ly followed. They had left their muskets
below. and would not turn back from q
single man.
The one chance in u hundred upon
which the sergeant had counted luckily
turned up. Both the pistols missed fire.
their primings having probably become
dampcned In the storm. And then, with
a pistol dubbed In his left hand. ~ Q sort
Of shield, Senton grasped the sword and
fought desperately. Blood was shed
much Of it-but 1t could not avail. The
chamber was soon filed with soldiers,
and by and by a strong man slipped up
from behind, and held the swordsman's
arms fast, and In moment more he was
borne to the floor, and his elbows pinion-
ed at his back; and thus they bore him
down into the hall.
Col. Simcoe, when he knew that Rob
ert Seaton had been secured, rejoined
Lillian In the kitchen. where he found
her fainting In the arms Of Patience. Il
needed no seer to tell him the story. He
understood It very well. He summoned
a lieutenant and four men.
Lieutenant, you know the dwelling
Of Jacob Eastcourt, on Spruce streetr
"Yes, sir"
Bear this lady thither. You will treat
her In every respect as though she were
a daughter Of your king. Your men will
carry her tenderly, but resolutely."
Lillian was beyond the power Of resist
ance, and when she had been borne out
through the porch, Simcoe left two men
to keep guard over the housekeeper,
while he went into the hall to see his
prisoner, with whom he soon stood face
to face. He might have doubted wheth.
er this fair-faced, handsome man could
be the same who had, earlier In the even.
Ing, 30 boldly fronted him at his quarters,
had II not been for the green coat and
the bright, gray eyes.
"Well, SIR" the colonel said, II fear
your bold visit within our lines has not
prospered as you anticipated"
The prisoner looked straight into Sim.
Goes eyes, but made no reply.
"You will not profess now to be q
friend to the king?"
The prisoner bowed his head and re.
6ected, and at length he spoke calmly
and with dignity:
"Col. Simcoc, suppose am to con.
slider myself your prisonerT
Certainly"
"Then this Is not the time nor the
place for further questioning. You will
do with me as you please"
At this juncture, Patience Angel, who
had broken from her guard, rushed into
the hall and threw herself at the colonels
feet.
"Coicnel!' she cried. raising her clasp.
ed hands, III you have q human heart
you will spare this man. He came to do
you NO harm. He braved danger only to
keep his pledge with q dying woman.
Spare him! In heavens name. spare
himy"
Simcoc made no reply to the woman.
He simply motioned for two Of bis sol.
diers to take her away, and when she
was gone he turned again to his prisoner.
$50 We now know you for the former
master Of this house, Captain Seaton; II
gives me infinite satisfaction to make
your acquaintance In SO unexpected .
manner"
Scaton's only reply was slight iuclina.
ton Of the heed, and shortly afterwards
he was led out from the house under q
strong guard.
The British provost was the old Wal.
nut street prison, near Sixth, and the dis
lance not great. In the once Of the
prison Captain Robert Seaton, Of the
Revolutionary army at Valley Forge"
was delivered over to the provost mar.
shal for safe keeping.
This provost mapshal was Capt. Gun.
bingham. a burly, ill.natured, human
brute, grown old and gray In Infamous
cruelty, who, both In Philadelphia and
New York. left name and memory
behind him to be execrated and detested
In all coming time.
When our hero saw this man, remem.
bering all that he had heard Of bis cru.
city to the Patriot prisoners taken AZ
brandywine and Germantown, his heart
sank within him. His fate was surely
before him!
Not quite within the hour. but near
enough for all practical purposes, Col.
6imcoe appeared at the headquarters Of
the c0mmander-in.ch with his prom.
ised report. This time he not only SUI.
fered the orderly to announce him, but
he awaited permission to enter; and
when his report had been made, he was
prevailed upon to discuss the matter over
a bottle Of wine.
Sitting near was man who had been
In conversation with Sir William before
the colonel entered. He was Of medium
sixe. Of light complexion, q well.built,
handsome man, not far from fifty years
Of age, wearing the uniform Of a major
general, with the noble order Of the Gar.
ter pendant upon his breast. His light
brown, curling hair had slight touches Of
silver In Its sinuous masses. hut he did
not look old.
! Colonel" he said. arising from his
seat and standing by the table. II have
q favor to ask of you. You know II was
Miss Eastcourt whom you saw"
"Yes, my lord"
"Will You hold her name, henceforth,
religiOusly sacred from any and all con.
nection with this nights busiuess3
II give you my word"
"And yOu, Sir Williams"
II will hold my tongue. be assured"
| "rhank YOU" And with this the man
left the apartment. He had heard the
whole story, as related by Simcoe. and
evidently wished to hear no more.
upon my life" said Simcoe, after the
door had closed upon the retiring guest,
"the earl Is sensitive on that matter"
Eyes. Colonel"
"And he Is really smittcn?"
"Aye-but he Is honorable. He offers
! the girl his cOronet!"
1 mo ho naottonoJ