Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-07-05

POINTED DOWN A ROAD WHICH LED AWAY
FROM THE MARSHY LAND.
marsh. and, besides, if the Hessians staid
about there her mamma would have no
chance to see her papa. Then this little
10-year-old girl. spurred on by her love
and loyalty, set about to fool this fat old
German in a way that would have done
credit to an old grayhead.
81 can take you to my father, but it is
long, long way" she said, looking up
at the officer with her big, innocent eyes,
''and I'll lead you to him if you will play
the drums for me. l love to march to
drums"
"Ach," cried the officer. rubbing his fat
hands, you are goot leetle girl. You
shall command, und re drums shall play
a leetle bit Not much, for your papa
might hear zem, ind we want to gif him
pleasant leetle surprise" Here the
man gave a queer. gurgling laugh.
Then he took Dorothy by the hand and
led her to the head of the column.
"Now," he said. (which is re way?'
Dorothy pointed down road that led
away from the marshy land. But we
must hurry" she cried, ''or we shall be
too late to catch him" The officer issued
command in n foreign tongue, and the
long column Of soldiers was again in
motion, with the fat German and DorO-
thy leading the way.
1.-THE drums.' said Dorothy reproach-
fully. "Why don't they beat the drums!"
The officer laughed and gave another
order, and Immediately the rata tat-tat
rat-a-tat-tat" was echoing through the
woods
Deere. my leetle girl, how you like
dat, eh?'
Its beautiful" said the little guide.
And all the time she was wondering if
her father had heard the warning sound.
On and on through the growing twi-
| light they marched. The drums had been
stopped and officers were holding their
swords as they lay in their scahbards
across their arms SO that there might be
no clankng as they walked, for rs they
| approached the spot where il was sup
posed Captain Stirling lay in hiding with
his men they wished 70 creep upon hln
Us quietly rs possible
POOR Dorothy grew very tired. Her lit
tie feet uched 80 she could hardly walk.
and She was far from home with lot of
rough, strange men. who would do harm
t. her dear father if they could catch
him. Still She kept bravcly on mile after
mile. All the time she strained her ears
for the sound Of the three muskct shots
that would tell Of her fathers escape.
Are we most derc| asked the officer
for the third time.
YES" said little Dorothy, almost
there The tavern whore they will stop
for the night is but mile beyond"
"Ach, Goot," said the commander
Then he called a halt and sent out
skirnish line to creep forward in the
darkness and surround the tavern, the
outlines of which were family visible
against the afterglow III the western
sky.
Poor Dorothy. She had never told such
stories III al hcr life before, but her wits
were sharpened by the thought that per
haps her fathers safety depended on
what She said ana did.
Craeh, crack. crack, Three muskct
shot in slow succession rang oat taiat.y
III the still Hicht air.
"Aeh" muttcred the German COM
mandcr. cooking his head like frighten-
an sparrow II wonder what dat is. II
sounds d goot way Off
..Th-that's papa" whimpcred the little
mail And he's safe now, and you
can catch Liza" And, with that. D9ro-
thy flung herself upon the ground and
burst INTO hystcTical sobs You can Kill
me" 81. cried but he's safe. and YOU
can't touch him
Tho German grew purple in the face
when il dawned on him what fool this
mite Of a girl had made Of him and he
sworc 4 mighty oath-ln fact, many Of
them. Then what do you suppose he did,
He went over 10 poor Dorothy, who was
weeping her heart out on the damp
ground, and picked her up in his arms.
'Derc dcrei" he muttvfed. Don't cry.
No one will hurt you. You are Il brave
leet!c cirl-ze bravest | effer knew. You
shall 70 home | will take you"
Poor Mrs. Stirling, wild with grief and
alarm at the absence Of her daughter
went to the front door for the fiftieth
time that evening and saw strange
sight Up the dusty road came the Hes
sian officer. and in his arms was little
Dorothy fast asleep.
madam" said that gentleman as he
deposited his burden in the arms Of the
thankful mother, madam. | bring back
vour daughter She led me fools or
rand t. save her fader. Ind var III
say say wish had such daughter,
ind I should be 50 broud" And then
-. funay l.ttle fat officer made Il stately
bow and went away u join his comrades.
Captain Stirling lived u Dr. q Great and
haa0re3 man, ard as for LITTLE Dorothy,
she lvel o. have grandchildren II her
own. aMi none was more eager 90 celc-
biate us Fourth II Ju.. than .he.-BJs-
- Ueral-.