The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1900-12-27

by T. C. Harbaugh.

the MOnaWk valley. Lying open, as lt
did. to Indian and tory incursions, its
patriot inhabitants were constantly
in state of fear. and many who were
true to the colonies were compelled to
smother their feelings in order to save
both life and property.
Among the American families who
during the struggle occupied an hum
BILE house in the heart of the valley was
one named Whitton.
Some time before the opening of hos
tiities the chi.dless couple had adopt
ed an orphan boy. who. although Amer
lean by birth. bore the name of Gottlieb
for a German grandfather.
Gottlieb Whitton. as he was known,
was a smart boy of Is, short and stout,
and the possessor of a nature which
was hard to ruffle. Up with the lark
and to bed with the sun. the boy was
known everywhere in the neighbor-
hood for his industry. and parents were
won't to hold him up as an example to
their less thrifty children.
The W'hittons were favorably disposed
to the American cause. though they
ndu Succteueu Ill hluS hO VI
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 Whitton looked
from the small window of his attic and
witnessed very unusual proceeding.
The moon was a pale crescent in the
sky. and the drifting clouds still fur
ther dimmed the little light it afforded.
He saw a man carrying something
into the house from the garden that
came almost up to the back door. 1t
was not Mr.. Whitton. and the proceed
ing was enough to arouse the boys
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
ried 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
to his hard bed in the corner and fell
asleep.
The next day the farmer told Gott-
heb that he and his wife intended to
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 it was on the boys tongue to
mention the strange movements he had
witnessed the previous night, but fear.
ing to let Mr.. Whitton know that he
had played the spy he let the oppor.
tunity pass.
When noon came the boy found him.
self alone with dinner of his own
getting. and at sundown he had fed the
cattle and shut up the house.
His adopted parents at parting had
cautioned him to admit nobody, an6
Mrs. Whitton had taken care to say
that she had placed all the food he
needed 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 to their nests
in the trees.
Falling asleep almost directly, he
passed through the first sound slum
ber. 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 and
| 10 in
of the house, shading the long porch
during the day, and throwing its
branches over the sloping roof.
There was figure under the tree
which was not there when Gottliet
crept up to bed. While he watched il
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 a bou
the cellar.
Stea,thy footsteps came across the
porch, and found the patriot boy listen
ing at the door.
Are you sure the boy sleeps in tht
garrett" asked voice.
That's his nest. as everybody
knows" was the answer. 81 know
where the bolt is, and here I have tn,
gimlet ready. 1t will not take us tel
minutes to saw out hand-hole, ant
then we're inside"
DO you think we'll find the Yanke,
powder in the cellar?"
sit is nowhere else. We've tracked j
to Jonas Whitton's house, and it hasn'
gone onto Fort Stanwix yet. A sly TO,
is Jonas, but hereafter he can't bIov
hot and cold with the same breath, fo
everybody will know how he hid Yam
kee powder in his cellar"
Like a flash the whole truth dawnet
on the boy in the dark. The numerous
trips between garden and house wer'
now explained.
There was powder in the cellar. ant
1t was patriot powder at that. intendet
to be smuggled into Fort Stanwix a
the first favorable opportunity.
Gottlieb felt his heart leap with a de
sire to save the powder. He knew hov
sorely the little garrison of patriot
needed the hidden article. and he re
solved that If he could prevent it, i
should not fall into the hands of tn
L