The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-07-12

~
POINTED DOWN ROAD WHICH LED AWAY
FROM THE MARsHY LAND
marsh, and, besides, il the Hessians staid
about there her mamma would have no
chance to see her papa. Then this little
1O-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
a long, long. way" she said, looking up
at the officer with her big, innocent eyes,
land 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, und 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 wayT
Dorothy pointed down a road that led
away from the marshy land, "But we
must hurry" she cried, cor we shall be
too late to catch him." The officer issued
a command In a 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 "rat-a-tat-tat,
rat-a-tat-tat' was echoing through the
woods.
"Dere my leetle girl, how you like
dat, eh?"
"It's beautiful" said the little guide.
And all the time she was wondering IL
her father had heard the warning sound.
On and Oh through the growing twi-
light they marched. The drums had been
stopped, and officers were holding their
swords as they lay in their scabbards
across their arms, so that there might be
no clanking as they walked, for as they
approached the spot where it was sup
posed Captain Stirling lay in hiding with
his men they wished to creep upon him
as quietly as possible.
Poor Dorothy grew very tired. Her lit
tie feet ached SO she could hardly walk,
and she was far from home with lot OF
rough, strange men, who would do harm
to her dear father If they could catch
him. Still she kept bravely on mile after
|
for the sound Of the three musket shots
that would tell of her fathers escape.
"Are we most dereY' asked the officer
, for the third time.
"Yes," said little Dorothy, almost
, there. The tavern where they will stor
, for the night is but a mile beyond"
Zach! Gootp' said the commander
Then he called a halt and sent out 9
: skirmish line to creep forward in the
E darkness and surround the tavern, the
{ outlines of which were family visible
5 against the afterglow in the western
sky.
8 Poor Dorothy! She had never told sucf
e stories in all her life before, but her wit
were sharpened by the thought that per
e haps her fathers safety depended OF
e what she said and did.
r Crack, crack, crack! Three muske
shots in slow succession rang out faint.
t on the still night air.
a Zach" muttered the German com
: mander, cooking his head like brighten
b ed sparrow. 81 wonder what dat Is. l
] sounds goot way off"
/ "Th-that's papaw whimpered the littl
D maid ''And he's safe now, and yol
can't catch him!" And, with that, Doro
8 thy flung herself upon the ground an,
e burst into hysterical sobs. "You can xii
me-" she cried, "but he's safe. and yo
a can't touch him."
The German grew purple in the fac
I when it dawned on him what fool thi
mite of girl had made of him, and
q swore a mighty oath-in fact, many o
= them. Then what do you suppose he did
!, He went over to poor Dorothy, who wa
). weeping her heart out on the dam
q ground, and picked her up In his arms.
q "Dere derer' he muttered. Don't or,
, No one will hurt you. You are brav
;, leetle girl-ze bravest ! effer knew. 70
\ shall 90 home. | will take you"
- Poor Mrs Stirling, wild with grief an
- alarm at the absence of her daughte
70 went to the front door for the fftiet
70 time that evening and saw strane
a sight. Up the dusty road came the He
sian officer, and in his arms was lit
% Dorothy fast asleep.
a MADAM" said that gentleman as
!, deposited his burden in the arms Of tt
a thankful mother. madam, l bring bac
70 your daughter. She led me FOOLS e
n rand to save her fader. Und vat do
a say? | say wish had such daughte
und l should be so broud" And the
II the funny little fat officer made state
bow and went away to join his comrade
a Captain Stirling lived to be great ar
10 honored man, and as for little Doroth
she lived to have grandchildren Of h
n own, and none was more eageE>to eel
brate the Fourth of July than the.--Bo
ton Herald.