The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-12-07

abe Mohawk valley. Lying open, as IL
s;d 10 Indian and tory incursions its
,,triot inhabitants were constantly
:, n state OF fear, and many who were
true TO the colonies were compelled 10
smother their feelings in order to save
both life and property.
Among the American families who
during the struggle occupied an hum
HE house in the heart OF the valley was
enc named Wilton.
some time before the opening OF hos
tiHties the chi.dless couple had adopt
id an orphan boy, who, although Amer
ican by birth. bore the name OF Gottlieb
for German grandfather.
Gottlieb Wilton. as he was known.
Was smart boy of Is, short and stout,
and the possessor OF a nature which
was hard TO rufle. Up with the lark
and 10 bed with the sun. the boy was
known everywhere in the neighbor-
hood for his industry, and parents were
wont 10 hold him up as an example 10
their less thrifty children.
The Whittons were favorablv disposed
10 the American cause, though they
had succeeded in making no enc mics OF
their tory neighbors.
The house in the valley stood on the
trail TO Fort Stanwix. an American out
post. and the spies of both parties were
Almost constantly crossing the neutral
ground
one night Gottlieb Wilton looked
from the small window of his attic and
u trnrpplinO
The moon was pale crescent in the
SKY. and the drifting clouds still fur
Their dimmed the little light it afforded
lie saw d man carrying something
into the house from the garden that
came almost up TO the back door. IL
Vas not Mr.. Wilton, and the proceed
ing was enough TO arouse the boy ;
suspicion.
Again and again the strange man
made little trips between house and
garden. each time bringing from the
latter something bulky. which he car
RED in his arms.
At last the man disappeared in the
garden and did not return.
The boy waited and watched long
time for him. and at last crept back
70 his hard bed in the corner and fell
asleep.
The next day the farmer told Gott-
heb that he and his wife INTENDED 10
visit some relatives at one end of the
valley. and concluded by saying that
he would have TO remain at home and
keep house two or three days.
Once il was on the boys tongue TO
mention the strange movements he had
witnessed the previous night. but fear
ing to let Mr.. Wilton know that he
had played the spy he let the oppor-
tunity pass.
When noon came the boy found him.
self alone with a dinner OF his own
getting. and al shutdown he had fed the
cattle and shut up the house.
His adopted parents at parting had
cautioned him TO admit nobody. and
Mrs. Whitton had taken care to say
that she had placed all the food he
seeded in the pantry. and that she had
locked the cellar till their return.
The boy went up to his bed in the
attic as the birds retired 10 their nests
In the trees.
Falling asleep almost directly. he
passed through the first sound SUM
Der. and then lay wide awake on the
cot.
Suddenly there came up from below
and into the loft through the open win
dow. the hum Of voices.
Gottlieb crept to the window anc
looked out. A large tree grew in from
81 the house. shading the long porct
curing the day, and throwing its
branches over the sloping roof.
There was figure under the tree
which was not there when Gottliel
ercpt up TO bed. While he watched j
Was joined by another which came
from the porch, and then the low voice
were resumed.
The next minute Gottlieb went down
stairs in his bare feet. The boy knew
that the men outside contemplated
mischief OF some kind. and all at once
he thought OF the mysterious proceed
ings Of the night before, and coupled
With them Mrs. Whitton's remark abou
the cellar.
Stealthy footsteps came across tn
porch, and found the patriot boy listen
ing at the door.
Are you sure the boy sleeps in tn
garrett" asked voice.
That's his nest, as everybod.
knows" was the answer. II know
where the bolt is, and here ] have tn
gimlet ready. II will not take us tel
minutes TO saw out hand-hole, AM
then we're inside"
DO you think we'll find the Yanke
powder in the cel!ar?"
1T is nowhere else. We've tracked ]
70 Jonas Whitton's house, and IL hasn'
gone onto Fort Stanwix yet. a sly TO-
= Jonas. but hereafter he can't bio,
not and cold with the same breath. 70
everybody will know how he hid Van
zee powder in his cellar"
Like fash the whole truth dawnc
~ the boy in the dark. The numerou
'ripA between garden and house wer
row explained