The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-13
CHAPTER XIV.
The Episode of HoIt's Tavern.

of Curtis and the joviai ease Of Mr.. Jonn
Acton.
MY dear lad" said Curtis. ''you asked
for a place where we could talk without
fear of interruption. I give you one.
can do no more Doubtless this is band
of slinners of not more than six or SEVEN
and could not we three hold this house
against twenty?"
Then. look you. Balfort," urged Acton,
1--WE shall have the satisfaction of knock
ing some one on the head. / owe these
fellows a debt Nay, tbs stroke of luck
they are come"
At this moment the report of musket
rang out overhead, and heavy weight
fell against the outside of the door near
which nc sat. A deep groan was follow
ed b, a moment of silence.
"Ahal you skunk cried a voice from
the hall above, that 4or the shot you
gave my brother" The voice was scarce
~ stilied when fusilade sounded from
across the road and several bullets struck
the stout oak of the door.
Seven" muttered l to myself.
Seven whatT asked Acton.
There are eight In that party and one
is dead You are right, Curtis. t is in
deed better than thought. We can ham
die seven. / feared there were more
Stay, but do not see
my dear john" laughed Curtis, may
hap you did not notice that seven bullets
pelted the house but now"
First of ALL" said I. checking some
other remark of Acton's before | give
you my work-did you notice the two men
who ate at our table?''
"Oh, aye. they were natives. sure
enough"
Right lad. but they hail from New
York" said Curtis slowly
| From New York;" cried Acton.
Precisely" said l. But they have just
now come from Boston or near there"
'Balfort. my friend, you are better
| than l." said Curtis, smiling in the dark
ness; how know you that?"
Their boots and clothes are covered
with mud 1t has not rained to the west
ward in ten days. They have come from
| the east, therefore, where l hear it has
rained for several days.
Man you are geniusr' cried Acton.
Furthermore" said l. "the mud is
light and sandy. whereas hereabouts t
is red and dirty. It is sandy only near
the seacoast."
How do you know they hail from New
York; persisted Acton.
"S-s-st" whispered curtis. All three sat
In the darkness. Nothing could be heard
for moment and then the unmistakable
| cracking of q twig sounded through the
window OF the main room. Curtis crept
towards the window with pistol in hand.
There ~as bit of opening where the
| table failed to cover the window, and,
| placing his eye to this, he saw the dim
outline of a figure crawling around the
| the corner of the house. Softly, coolly,
he put the pistol to the opening took a
slow aim and fired, dropping Immediately
to the floor himself. There was no sound
or movement in the grass, but the next
| instant a bullet came diagonally through
the small opening and fattened itself
against the door post above my head
Did you get him? asked John
| The attacking party now consists OF
SIX" replied Curtis.
And now as to our Instructions" said
Acton.
I'VE are to go to New York to accom-
plish three things, which l may not tell
| you till we be there"
Very we'll" said Acton, 1--WE are to go
to New York; that is sufficient What
next?"
1--WE go separately and meet there. That
is, one goes alone and the other two to-
gether. l have passes for one and for two
travelling In company. Once there l can
| tell you In good earnest there Is much to
do. But here looms up the question as
to where we shall meet there and be nm
observed"
i have been in the town." said Acton.
promptly Let us meet at the village of
greenwich and go into the town to-
| gether."
so far good" said I, but we must
fo ri d.
to meet in. Curtis. what think you?p
| For moment during this bit of discuss
| sion Curtis had said not a word. Now.
| though | could not see his face for the
darkness, l got distinctive idea that
something was wrong. In fact after
once seeing Acton pulled up when he tried
TO question his friend about something IN
do with an event of several years ago
had made up my mind to steer clear OF
any references, so far as Rob Curtis was
! concerned, beyond the limits of camp life
Before I spoke t was clear to me that
something was amiss. The moment he
answered the change in his voice was
| SO great yet SO quiet, that | started as
| dld Acton, almost persuaded that some
other sat by us in the gloomy. smoking
| hall. q
"Balfort" said he, slowly. rs II nj
grave Importance that we should go into
SeW 1Ork?'
l did not reply at once I was too
| struck with the change and all that such
change must mean in such a man.
You shall judge for yourself. | am
| commissioned" and leaned over close to
| the other two. IT am commissioned nv
General Washington himself alone. No
| other knows aught of the thing but you
| two. I Is not even to be written down. I
| am TO go to New York to do three things.
| one is no more than piece of daring;
the other two are of the gravest import
ance. One. If accomplished may save
hundreds-thousands of lives
And these you may not tell TO us?'
asked Curtis. still In that low voice.
mo. friend. not till we are on the
| ground"
ct is better So" said the same deep.
sonorous voice so unlike his. 1--WE can be
of no use to them as prisoners"
These commissions are not for one man
to carry out. l therefore asked for you
two and obtained your release
And you did WE'LL" said Curtis.
well, WELL Rob, did l not say as much
ten minutes gone?" cried Acton impa-
tient,y There stands no doubt or uues-
| ton; but where are we to meet?'
Where In the town must we go?" ask
| ed Curtis, still pursuing his own course.