The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-17
A Stirring Story of Love and Ad> venture in Revolutionary DaYa
-. BY .... HAMBLEN SEARS
low of War" copyrighted, 1902. by Dodd. Mead Col

she whispered with strange doubt In her voice.
 That he may bel But he is the foui- est spy in the British army and his name iH Hazeltinef'
 Her change of attitude gave me a sick eninK senae of loss. She Bhrank back from me with a cry. and looked at me as if her eyes would burn into my soul.
 "Youl Youl" she cried hoarseiy.
 'I7 What of me" haid I, vaguely.
 You have led me here to decoy him. You have stood here and--and--talked to me so that you might do this wretched thtngY"
 You eowardi" she cried bitterly And I-what a fool-what fool I wasI'' and she sank down on the wet grass in a hys- terical 1t of tears and laughter.
 But her moods flew after one another too fast to be understood She was up in an instant
 Come Frank, let us go and leave this this wretch to himself"
 But listen to me, Deborah, you do not understand"
 "Do not dare to speak to mel What can I fail to understand7"
 But this man is q spy whom am here to-"
 
 have said to me be a great falsehood unbind him and let him gof'
 looked at her standing before me waiting for my reply, and groaned aloud at the misery of 1t. Then she turned from me with utter contempt and started to- i wards him as he rose to his feet drew my pistol and pointing it within two feet of his breast. I said:
 ''If you move put a step I'll firel-Mis- tress Philipse do not touch that manp'
 "So 1t is true! 1t is true! Oh, you cow ardl You cowardp and she wrung her hands and her voice broke down com pletely
 So we stood, misery in my heart and gloom over all the world for me. when a figure 1eaped out from the underbrush. and heard the voice of Curtis cry out: ''So you've got himl You've got him. Balfort. at lastl I should know that cape and figure in crowded"
 A piercing cry was his answer, and the next moment Mistress Philipse was lying in his arms, crying as If her heart would break. I heard an exclamation of sur prise break from him as he said in sud- den bewiderment:
 How came you here, Debby? What is 1t! Stop, and tell me the trouble"
 "Oh, Rob, my dear, dear brother" she cried. Take me away from this dread full plaee Take me away and save Frank from that man!"
 l saw him make sudden movement He stood a moment and then set her quickly away from him. A stride brought him up to Hazeltine, and grasping the man by the arm he turned him around so that they stood face to face.
 God in Heaven!" whispered the as- founded man hoarsely, as Hazeltine stood looking him in the face without a word Curtis gazed at him long and steadily, as If he were coming out of a dream. Then he twirled Hazeltine about again and looked at his back as the man stood with his long cape over his shoulders. mo- ment, and the dazed had turned the other face to face again.
 Great God in Heavenr he groaned, under his breath.
 Well, cousin, do you know me?" said Hazeltine with a forced attempt at hilar- ity.
 Do know thee, thou foul spy? Do I know theel Aye, now I dol But not till this moment did I suspect the fiend Haz- eltine could be my own cousin, Frank Pendletonr
 Iris a mistake. Rob. You have the wrong man.
 He lies, Curtis" I cried, Ties in his teethl I've followed him and caught him
 
 take him across the river to fill one of the orders that sends us here"
 Never fear, Merton. I could never mistake that figure. I've followed him these three months." and I saw his strong face set in grim resolution, and turned to look at Mistress Philipse. She was standing by in silent horror at what she had heard but as she saw me ap- preaching her she ran to Curtis.
 My brother, will you not protect me from this man?"
 Why, Debby dear, do you not know Merton Balfort! What harm would he do you? None, dear sister, none"
 He has already! He led me here to decoy our cousin Frank to his ruin. And IT." and she broke down completely again.
 Iris not so. Mistress Philipse. came"
 Do not dare to address a word to me, sir" cried the girl, jumping from her brothers side and stamping her foot And she was back again sobbing in his arms.
 Iris a gross misunderstanding. Cur tis,' said I at my wits ends You are her brother?" He nodded q felt 1t long ago I knew 1t, aye, knew 1t all along! ct did I never understand 1t till now! Well. then, came here to help her in- in another matter-look not at me so, Robert Curtisl my conscience is as clear as a bell-but when I came here this man appeared, and I knew him at once for Hazeltine, and no more suspected his re- lationship to you and to her than you did ten minutes ago."
 Iris a le!' cried the girl passionatelys "A gross"
 Mistress Philipse, cannot answer you as I would man. l can but say to you aye, swear to you-that you are wrong And may God forgive you for your hard words and your lack of faith in one who