The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-27

the situation of the house. l could not Tor
bear an exclamation; for, dark as IL was,
could see but sorry house for our abode
The building was a straight affair, narrow
and high. with a pointed roof like Dutch
house. and. though at first the house APP
peared to be complete. 1 saw in moment
that ii had been practically destroyed by
fire. The lower rooms seemed to be hastily
repaired but the upper windows had no
frames or glass in them, and the whole was
biackened with singed wood.
Back of the house and towards the water
/ could make out in the murky darkness
the black ruins Of burned dwellings, and
here and there tents built over roofiess
rooms, with now and then light shining
through the Sits in the cloth.
Acton was standing grumbling TO himself
as was his wont.
This is no place for Us" said he; I'VE
shall be caught in a hole like rats
''The longer We stand here, the more
likely 1 answered. and forthwith raped
upon the door with my sword-hilt. No re-
ply coming. ne pushed II the door, and, it
giving easily 10 our weight, we entered to
find a long. narrow hall. and stairs running
straight UP towards the next story. At the
farther end light showed beneath door,
and with a step We're at it. finding. on
opening, an old woman confronting with
wonder and suspicion in her silent face.
who be ye, then?'' asked she. after a
moment
Listen. woman said I, quickly. speak
not so loud. We come here from Robert
from Robert, you understand" 1 added, as
1 saw her face go white and eager, land
we are to wait here secretly for him"
Him. cried she. under her breath.
you will not let him come here? He must
not now! 'T@ould be his DEATH How came
ye 10 let him conner"
HE comes of his own accord, and sent
us on before said 1. do not fear for
him! He can watch over his own safety
without aid. But instead. give US food
and drink, if you have it
She looked at US doubtfully a moment,
and then went into the back room. which
appeared to be the one chamber in the
house spared by the fire In few moments
We sat down to a dish of salt beef and
bread 1 then carefully opened the dis
patches found on the dead man. and dis
covered them to be a full account of the
forces at and around Newport. detailing
Rochambeau's strength and the number of
militia troops furnished him by Rhode
Island. Connecticut and Massachusetts,
though to my certain knowledge the num-
Der was understated.
Following out a plan l had thought up
altered the figures by scratching those Civ
en- and writing i'm between the lines more
than three times the number above, as had
already been done i'm one or two cases. The
dispatches OF Hazeltine were letters from
Major Andre written in prison. and a state
ment giving out that Washington was
about TO make an attack on Paulus Hook
and Staten island. with some description of
the plan OF attack. Whether this were true
not, L could not tell, but must take my
chance. We were in the act of sealing up
the packets again. when there came thun-
dering pound on the outer door.
What is it?" cried the woman.
open in the name of the King!" cried a
voice from the outside.
'Oho!" said Acton under his mustache.
They call upon soon. eh?'' and he drew
his sword and stood looking at me-
Quick. woman" said. Ego to the door.
and do you do the talking"
What shall l say"
ASK who it is and what's wanted"
This she did, We standing by her close to
the door.
open in the name of the Kingl' cried
the deep voice again. "or we will break
down the door"
Acton and l stood back, silent in the
darkness. with stiff problem ahead of us,
for there was no mistaking the voice of
Hazeltine
well. will you open?" cried the voice a
third time, and then babe Acton. more by
signs than anything else. stand by the
handle of the door.
when l open. catch him and bring him
In" 1 whispered. land put in all the
strength in your big body"
He nodded, and at my whispered instruc-
ton the woman said again:
What for? Why should 1 open?'
Because 1 have warrant for the ar
rest of a man now in this house,
There's none here she answered. and
then, as 1 told her. cried out: The door
sticks. You must push from the outside"
There came a mufflcd oath. and then a
savage kick at the door. and heard other
voices.
Harder" cried the old woman, who
seemed to grasp the idea. and as felt a
body press against the door, 1 let it swing
suddenly open. and a man was driven into
the hall and the door shut again before he
ISdH]eu thdl lie was down and of the
strongest men in the colonies sitting on him
with his fingers so tight upon his gullet
that he could only gurgle softly We had
him In the other room bound and gagged
In moment, but the pounding on the door
was enough 10 wake the town.
open in the name OF the Kingl' cried a
dozen voices. and then the old door strong
as II had been made, gave perceptibly 10
the force from without 1 turned To the
woman.
rs there back way out7"
"Only into the lane. thence to Beaver
street in among the ruins; but We can go
upstairs and down the outside steps at the
back"
$50 be II. and quick. tool Acton. pick up
your man and come on" We were upstairs.
had laid him IN the gable, and were hurry
ing down 10 the second story again. when
a crash told US we were too late and In a
moment the hall was full OF men. They saw
Us at the toy OF the stairs and started up.
Now. man. let them have IT," 1 cried.
and VIC both fired at the leaders as they
came up two steps at a time Two men
threw up their arms and fell back on the
others and the whole crew rolled back 10
the floor.
Again, Acton"
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