Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-03-03

"A spy! BY the Lord, from yc,,r looks Won
might be a second Shadrach! What name
ore you under? Come, let us work into safer
quarters" said l, full of sudden fever. for
it never occurred to me to be doubtful of ha
statement.
"Nay, then, l am best alone Let me 90,
man; your grip is crushing my arm! have
friend, and, once with him, l am safe. /
believe you to be true. Know me as Rex"
Gone second more, thenl' said l, 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: "rhe 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 l realized that l had not gotten
from him 1.-THE of the knowledge l wished
The Dove" was no puzzle, but of Nick
tavern somewhat back from the Kings
and near McGowan's pass, [now included in
Central park, the latter probably the host
of that house Of call.
NiiCW VIC pldcc lIOIu having SIOppeu
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
country abovethe town, and might well have
changed the proprietors of tavern. So to
it determined to go as soon as could come
hx, ,osS fror, r1;,to,
How the spy could run the barriers was
peg further than could see, but he seemed
full of resource, and evidently knew his bust
ness. Doubtless, thought i, his friend is
powerful, and will put him on his way. I
berated myself for having let him go. l
would have stood by him in the face of a
platoon, SO hungered was for one in whom
l could coniide 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 20
on, connected with the rest, and with no
further attention to the vast conRagralion,
made my way out of its vicinity.
Within two hours of the time left it a
deluge of rain, which had been threatening
all day, came down and quenched the flames.
For my own interests 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.
1t did not surprise me that on repairing
to the Kings Arms / found Scammell had
not returned to receive my note, nor did I
greatly wonder when told the next morning
that he had not been in overnight. The con-
fusion attending the fire might easily ac-
count for many Irregularities, and what
cared ], after all? | had done what prom
ised him, and he might take up OF leave the
matter as he saw fit. As for myself, l busted
me with my damaged clothing, that I might
be presentabe at headquarters in the after
noon, and when these We're in as fair shape
as clumsy bachelor could make them, l had
nothing to do but pass the time.
Ofsall the days of the overheated summer
of HIS that OF Sunday, the Sth of August,
was the most terrific in point of tempera-
ture. By high noon no man might stand the
suns rays unprotected, and the heat radi-
ated from the streets as from a furnace. In.
doors was but little better than without, yet
for that little remained in my rooms and
well-nigh stripped myself for comfort.
Being now in the best of humors, ordered
measure of rum and jug of water, and
withsthese before me sat me down to build
air castles for the morrow. Great waves oil
heat surged through the open windows, and
the drowsy stiffness made me nod. Not
Wishingto sleep, l brought out the paper re
ceived from headquarters, and opened it as
| had done for the tenth time at least.
had reread but few lines when I was
attracted by the sound of distant thunder
and going to the window, beheld mighty
bank of blue-black clouds towering above
the u stern horizon, the topmost ridge min.
glingtwith the thin column of smoke rising
fronFthe burned district. Not breath Of
air spirred 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 and
entered the tavern bar.
The coming of n tempest has always been
a delight to me, and | watched with sup
pressed emotion the advance of this, which
presaged unusual violence. As looked, the
first great gust of wild came tearing up the
Broadway, bending low the trees and bear
ing with it a mighty van of dust and rubbish
llurriedly slamming down the windows,
turned to don some clothing and get below
when, through the din of clashing branches
swinging blinds, and rushing wind heard
a thunderous knocking at my chamber door
which was opened ere moved to answer
and in the gathering gloom l beheld Capt
Scammell hastily enter and close the heavy
portal behind him.
lTo BE Continued