Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-08-14
CHAPTER TX.
THE REAL MOUSE TRAP.

I could not help wondering, after my
two friends disappeared in the dark
ness, at the peculiar chance of fate, Or
whatever one might wish to call 1T, that
left me now standing here by the house
! had SO longed to enter but few short
days ago, With orders now to enter IT,
but the inclination to do so gone. Gone,
did I say? Nay. hardly that. for. If any
one of us entered there, 1t must be i;
and, whatever might be the real rea-
SON of her going there. could not let
her be taken in arrest as q comimon
spy.
Why she should be there now. did
not want to guess And indeed, the
doubt of II growing on me. / turned to
the sergeant of the troop and looked
him over. a grizzly bearded old cam
paigner, used to wars. but honest and
. stalwait colonial. I'd be bound. I
was, in fact. the picket who had taken
me the night ! reached Teller's Point.
What would he do with Mistress Phil
ipse, IL he found here there? / did not
like to think, but spolse TO him instead.
callahan" said i, know we why
We're here?''
THAT / do not, llftinint said he. II
am ordered here, and here be. Indade,
sair I've outgrown askin' questions"
You can keep your mouth shut
well?"
Ash the lift,nint," and he jerked his
thumb over his shoulder towards the
departing troop.
Good. Remember that, should the
time come.-tahe now two men and 90
around that house to the left Leave
and let the other go With me TO the
right"
Aye sir"
eve must enter that house, search IT,
get what may be inside. and lie low
for more. And look sharp. for I Is Hike
there lie no less than II dozen red coats
there ROW, watching for U.S.
Aye SIR" said he, saluting again.
IF you hear or see aught, leave Il
man ana make q wide circait til you
meet me-"
SO we started away crawling on our
stomaehs and keeping a bright eye on
the gloomy house that appeared 10 bo
dark from top to bottom, and that con
taine;l God knew what
fortunately fer US. there had grown
up a wealth OF underbrush on all
sides, and keeping well within this I
turned the first corner, skirted the
nothing appearing amiss, moved slow
" and labo.iously on, turning the sec
otd corner
There AT last was light shining from
an open window IN what appeared To
be room adjoining itself Soon wa,
up to it, and, seeing it unoccupcd,
made bold to enter. sending one man
to call the others wi.h Callahan
Silence reigned throughout the house
and nothing changed in the few min
utes that passed till, silently, one by
one, the five men and Callahan slid
over the sill and stood waiting my in
structions.
Some one is here, or this is trap,
said /. in Il whisper. I'VE must act
quickly, or be caught ourselves"
L is simple enough, SIR" said the
old man, cooly.
And how?'
not touch a hair of your head, but tell
me trIthfully Is this house occupied by
British soldiers? Nay. do not move
away. Ii must trust yon. Listen!
There is an attempt to take Andre
this house is the rendezvous tell me
you know naught of 1T! Oh. t is useless
to try to escape. ] have the house
surrounded with my men; but tell me
you know naught of it, that 1 may pro-
tect you from my own people! DO you
not see? You will be arrested as a
spy" She was sobbing. convulsively
and l could not stop her. / knew not
what to do. and In the bewilderment
found myself kissing the hand that
lay In mine, and begging her to stop.
Still she sobbed on. l was near at
my wits ends.
Stop! stop! mistress; for the love of
heaven. listen to me! Well, SO be it!''
for she was almost hysterical in her
weeping-"so be it," said I. rising and
moving away. There is the door. Go
out and down into the very arms of
my men and be taken to West Point
AZ SPY in the employ of the British.
She was on her feet, running wildly
to the door. that now stood open; and
| waited to hear the result, when she
stopped. as If turned to stone, for a
long, low whistle came to our ears from
below. jumped to her side and
grasped her arm.