Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-02-08
err. 1t may be a Tory in female cloth


ing
Was she n siantess in sizc:''
II did not see her, but old Dobhins
may not be too stupid to give You II de-
scrption of her"
Amelia. who had been listening at the
door. started up the stairs The rlstiing
of soft robes and scampcring of feet just
ahead of Ecr Indicated that she was not
and she caught glimpse of Molly.
Flying to the room in which her 10 -er
was IL prisoner, She unlocked the dvor
and entered
What is it, Amclia:" he asked
The Tory Dragons have surrounded
the house, she hastily painted. They
suspcci-they know you are here
Manrice's face was very grave, hut
laid one hand on the hill, of his sword and
asked:
''Eiow many are thcrc!"
~ know not exactly. but there must be
a dozcn.'
''Twclvc to onc-thc odds are great,
Amelia; but l will not be takcn.'' She
began to weep softly aud wiring her
hands, moaning:
"Oh. what shall we do? What shall we
do?"
He tcndcrly placed an arm about her,
and in his low, gentle voice, said:
Come. come, my little sweetheart; you
are too brave TO give way in that man
ner. Let us never give mp in despair
But there will be bloodshcd.
Perhaps, but we hope it will not bc
ours. Keep your wits about you. and
await Developments
The rain was beating in torrents
against the window. Maurice blew ont
the candle and gently lifting the window
put out his head. The tread of sentry
below, induced him TO abandon the half
formed resolution of climbing from the
window Closing the window he took his
pistols from his belt and examined the
primins to see that the powder WAS ,iry
Maurice, have you Il horse near"
asked Amelia.
''Nes, my stccd is under the old oak !,
few rods west of the garden. They will
not find him."
"lf you could get away from the house,
would You not cscape?"
Il should have little to fear if L Was
only three rods in this Darkness
She cautiously opened the door. and
seeing that the hall was yet clear. whis-
pcrcd:
"!'ollow me-"
They hurried along the hail. quickly de-
seconded the rear stairway and were in
total darkness.
Give me your hand.' she whispered.
and led him along narrow corridors. uu-
til they finally reached Il large apart
ment. Accommodating at the windows.
they asccrtained that a sentry had been
posted at each.
1--WE are completely cut off," Amelia
! sighed.
/ At this momert they heard footsteps
moving hurl'iedly all over the house. Be
/ fore they could retreat the door was
! thrown open and Il trooper with Il lantern
| i'll one hand and sword in the other.
| entered. Maurice in Il second had the
soldier by the throat. With almost super
human strength and agility he threw him
no!sclessly on the floor and quickly chok-
| III him into insonsibility.
"Qnick, Amelia. Get cords and l will
tie him so he can do no HARM" The
! girl. who had now partially regained her
coolncss, FASTENED to bring cords with
! which the dragoon was tied, hard and
| fast. Maurice tore strip from the
| table cloth and bound it about his mouth.
| The light of the lantern showed that
they We're in the large dining room, and
there was Il closet leading off from it in
which was usually kept the silver plate
of Sir John. Amelia pointed to il. The
closet was locked, but she had the KEY
in her possession. She quickly unlocked
the closet and they put the Tory inside.
Zone less to contend with" said the
patriot.
They were still debating what to do
when. turning toward the door, they saw
Captain Mark Tapley and Sir John
standing there, covering the young con-
federate with their pistols.
Hold! my fine fellow!" said the Tory.
1--WE have you in close quarters, and il
you make move to seize that sword,
or draw weapon, we will drop you
where YOU stand"
Notwithstanding to move was certain
death, the brave young Continental
would have seized his sword or drawn a
pistol had not Amelia sprang to his side
and chisped his right arm and held it
captive.
"lIa! ha! ha. Sir John you are con-
WINGED now that your niece has a lover,
are You not! We have caught the sly
! HouliS LON III MS own Ifap-tHe trIp OF
love-
Keeping him still covered, they advance
ed step into the apartment, when am
other parsonage appeared on the scene.
The fair traveller noiselcssly stole to the
door. With cooked pistol in each hand,
evcling one ut Sir John, and one at the
captain, she said:
Hold. gentlemen! l have word to
say.'
WHO. in the tiends name. are you?'
cried the captain, wheeling about, 10 find
the muzzle of n pistol almost touching
his face.
II am Moll Pitcher. of the Continental
Army. woman cannoneer mt your service,
and the best shot in Putnam's army. If
you want to live, obey me, for my fingers
are strangely inclined to touch these tris-
gers"
She spoke in n low, firm tonc.. The two
men whom she covered with her pistol
knew only too well that it was certain
death to move. The power of the woman
was felt, and when she commanded them
to drOn their VaaponS fhev did CD