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


ing my assumed name, which was request
ed to read against my return.
AS | was primed and cooked for action,
his characteristic delay chafed me, and
unknown to him, came nigh to putting
mighty spoke in my wheel.
However, there was nothing for me to
do but wait, though with the possibilities of
duel on my hands and my coming inter.
view with Clinton, had cen enough to oc.
cupy my mind and save time from dragging.
My instructions, too, were to be read, and
giving good-day to Belden, l set off up the
Broadway, determined to both walk off
growing nervousness and seek a quiet spot
IN which to con my paper.
No house should hold me in such swelter-
ing weather, SO on past the Fields with its
outlaying barracks I went, to where the
Broadway dwindled to mere cart track,
and finally ended in COW pasture closed
by pair of bars.
Twas the edge of Lepner's Meadows, and,
with the view of planning the details of my
intended battle, / made my way to the
clump of trees near its center, where.
throwing myself on the close turf, 1 broke
the seal of the papers.
The contents made me start as even shot
near my ear would fail to have done. The
matter was short, and ran thus:
In the name of his majesty, George III,
of England, etc. You are by me instructed
and ordered. Take five men of your own
selection and man the schooner Phantom,
captured by you while sailing against the
interests of his majesty. With this vessel
you will repair to Gen. Pigot, at Newport,
r. l., with dispatches and instructions to
be given you. Newport now being invested
by the French and the rebellious subjects of
his majesty, you will enter the harbor of
Newport under the guise and flag of the re-
bellious colonies, bearing out the deception
to the extent of casting away the vessel on
the coast of Rhode Island, or in any other
way reaching or putting yourself into COM
munication with Gen. Pigot. You are to
make requisition on the commissary de-
partment for such stores and supplies as
you may deem necessary, and report to me
for further and secret instructions on the
completion of arrangements, which shall
not be later than ten days from date"
This paper was undated, unsigned, and
showed hurried construction. saw at once
that it was given me to test my willingness to
undertake. the adventure 1t was to be but
dispatch-bearing mission, with spying as
n side issue, unless modified in some manner
by the secret instructions referred to. But
should these prove demand to kidnap or
even assassinate Washington himself,
would be found ready to undertake the task
on any terms, SO great had become my desire
to leave the city.
Five men could easily get, though not a
soul knew who could help me carry out
the scheme that leaped to my brain on the
first perusal of the paper. Yet even alone ]
would undertake to bring the Phantom with
tive prisoners into patriot port could /
! ence get the vessel clear of the bay.
felt the strength of ten men within me
as Matched the plot, and only prayed for
the morrow and the meeting with Clinton;
for Scammell, the duel, and all else faded
before the glowing light of the future l
worked myself into an ecstasy the like OF
which l had not experienced since, when
boy and beset with homesickness, hailed
the date OF my return to the arms of my
mother. My property and my liberty were
to be set within reach at once, and beside
them would place honor, the last by car.
rying back a batch of prisoners.
1t was small wonder that acted the boy
again, and you who have never known the
sudden loosening of frightened heartstrings
and the childlike JOY resulting, know little
OF the upper scale of human happiness.
But did not hold myself long at this
height. The practical fact that must name
date and hour when on this very spot /
should stand and fight for my life, forced
itself upon me.
The ground was well hit upon, being
screened from all sides by the trees, which
would also keep the sun from the eyes of
either combatant. 1t was fairly open, level,
and free from underbrush.
| The morrow would be the Sabbath. and,
though war is no respecter of days, would
not desecrate it by fighting out private
quarrel. Therefore set my mind for the
meeting at sunrise on Monday, that might
have the business off my hands and prepare
for what considered the greater adventure.
Now | had little doubt of the result of
this conflict. Unless Scammell was different
in sword play from those l had met either
in sport or earnest, he would be disarmed
ere he had well begun. 1t was thought
| trick which depended more on sheer
strength than great skill, for of the latter
had little more than fair ability to de-
fend myself without seeking to pass the
| guard OF practiced swordsman.
| II was simply that would use rapier of
greater weight than my opponent (Which
| would be but naturaD, and at the proper
time throw my guard wide open by lowering
my hand On the instant of the onset which
| would be sure to follow, had but to step
back pace and bring up my weapon with all
strength and speed, the fairly sure result be-
| ing that the sword of my adversary would be
driven from his hand or the blade fly to
| pieces by the force Of tho blow. Whether
| this trick il allowable save under the rule
| that Calls fair in war;" scarcely know, but
| in sport had tried it often, and with never
| failure, even though my opponent knew my
| intention.
With the hint of ScammelPs light hand
which had been given me by Belden, was
sufficiently without worry to take with full
zest the apparent good luck which had come
to me, and, with no thought of an untoward
| slip ia my fair prospects, returned to the
| Kings Arms, and there wrote a note in
get terms inviting Scammell and his second
| to meet me the day and hour on which had
determined.
This being dispatched to his room to await
his coming, ate my evening meal, and then
sailed to the shipyard for my usual look at
the Phantom.
She still swung in the old spot, with an
easy grace and an apparent uniting of her
forefoot, an effect caused by the sheer of her
deck lines. My soul went out to her. for she
seemed to know me and strain at the cable
like high-mettled steed that only needed
the word to take the bit and be off. Rusty
she was, and foul besides, but, rusty and foul,
she could outpoint half bis majesty's heavy
going cruisers, and waved my hand at her
40 would have done to my lady had / onA-