Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-09-23

High heaven have mercy on u.s." he
calculated, rolling his dcep.sct eyes up
ward. and folding his hard. thick hands.
Good, kind gentlemen. why have you
come backY You know well that I have
given up even TO my last cheese"
How now, Gabriel Van Tromp?' de.
manded Scaton, who had ridden to the
stepping stone Of the door. what do
you mean by our coming back? When
have you seen me beforey'
"Ah, good, kind sir. In truth, now that
I look more carefully, your face IL not
familiar, but only yesterday your COM
rndcs came, and stripped me completely"
"My cOmradesT'
"Ayc-from Phiiadelphia--thc armed
men Of King George. whom may the
Lord But-what am ! saying? Par.
don, good sir. My pcrplcxity and my
sore losses have well nigh turned my
brain. ! meant not to speak against the
king In your presence
"Hark yc, my man, for whom do you
take usy We are from Valley Forge
not from Philadelphia"
GOOD Lord deliver us! How little do
| know Of war. When I saw your bat.
tie array, ! thought full sure you were
companions OF those who swept down
so mercilcssly upon me yesterday. o..
they came In dreadful haste, aud with I'm.
perious demands. They stripped mo Of
my cattle, Of my sheep, and even cleared
my poor lnrdcr. Heavens mercy, fair
sir! since the villains must needs bc enc
mics OF yours, II you will overtake them
and bring back my fOcks and herds, l
will give you righteous compensation"
At this juncture. two OF the men who
had been sent to look through the barns
and shed pens, returned with informa'
ton that there were no cattle upon the
premises. They had found. In one Of the
stalls, two very poor cows, which were
not worth taking away.
Van Tromp heard most OF the report.
"rake thcmy' responded the Patriot
leader, with well-assumed surprise. "Who
spoke OF taking your cattle, my good
many'
The mans dark face frightened In an
instant.
30, the rascal" whispered Douglas In
his commanders ear. Look ut him."
do You think" asked Seaton. In the
same low tone, that Iiowe's rangers
would have made distraint upon this
mani"
"Not until they had cmptied every 9TH
or STALL" replied the lieutenant, conf
IDENTIFY. ~ tell you this fellow is the very
prince of Tories, and the British have
long known 1t, and prOtited by It."
You think he has cattle sccreted some
whereT
IL know it, Captain"
Very well-we will sce.'
Then turning once more to the farmer,
our hero continued, with II smile of entire
good nature:
My dear Mr.. Van Tromp, / am under
the necessity of putting you to Il slight
Inconvenience" The smile vanished rs
he went on: "Not long since three men
deserted from our camp. ! would like to
find them and carry them back"
Indeed, sir. We have no deserters
here" protested Van TrOmp, with the
first really honest look his face had yet
worn.
"Very likely not; but still. my dear sir,
my duty requires that ] shall see every
male member of your family-every man
and boy employed on your premises. You
should know how strict are our military
orders. 1t might be ut the risk Of my
head that l should let one of your lads
escape my scrutiny. Will you assemble
the men and boys without delay? And,
mark you. Ii you value your life, don't
attempt to deceive me-dO not try to hidt
from me any Of your hands"
AS God lives, your honor, would not
deceive you. ! have no object. l am an
honest man, though poor-ah! how poor!
Since those wretched men Of King
George came and stripped"
"Never mind that, sir. Let us have q
mastering of your men,"
Pardon! Yes. SIR"
Van Tromp went into the house and
called two Of the women to bis assist