The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-12
BOOK vi
RETRIRUTION
ChapteR ].


"rHE MAN is BADt'
The story turns 10 Alice. who now, for
| nearly ten months having borne the hardshdps
| of the siege, was at ths beginning Of those
last tremendous changes which were to. at
tiict alike the fortunes Of Hrttain and Of her
self. .~rs =
For Washington was at last preparing for
action. Throughout the summer he had
planned and made that chain Of Notifications
which seemed the work of years instead Of
months. Though each succeeding redoubt was
built a little nearer to the British defenses,
Gage lay quIst In Boston, and when, recalled
to England, he left Howe in command. that
deliberate general began the series Of delays
which was to give America the war. Wash
| ingtons difficulties grew less through Howe
inuetion; in peaes the rebels disbanded one
army and enlisted another; with cartridge
boxes nearly empty they patrolled their lines,
and manned cannon which twenty minutes
| fire would have randefad useless for want OF
powder. The colenists were poorly paid and
| disaffeeted; there were not muskets enough
to equip them all; yet Howe. remembering
| Bunkers HILL gave them the one thing they
needed-time.
And. Washinston shaped his army at last
It was no longer a "eomnissipned mob; Il
was housed and warm; musksts were found
Knox and Ellery were bringing from Tieopds'
roga cannon Of all kinds. And the Suddmsnt'
airy navy. nothing more than IA few hshtne
vessels, was bringing into the New England
ports and hurrying to Cambridge valuable
supplies, among them powder. Yet stall ths
commander knew hds weakness, seeing wei
the difference between holding post around
sluggish enemy and attacking him IN hal
stronghold. Congress might press tor action
tho country might clauor, but Washingtef
would not stir. To storm tho town would b
madness. lie appointed a new engineer, tha'
was all, To consider the possibility OF fortify
ing Dorchester Heights. s.
! That man was Rufus Putnam, natilwrtgh'
and farmer, hardy, self-educated and able
yet unschoeled for his task. Only one man II
the camp had studied fortihcatiop. Bridly
the engineer Of Bunker's Hill. who nevefthe
| less could suggest no way to make. In stngl.
night from frozen ground, earthworks II
withstand cannon fire. That was Putnam
problem it weighed upon him and tormentet
him for MANY days His Is the cradit fos
solving it-yet Frank Ellery deserved I
| share. ..~ - ~ ~.
Knox and Frank had returned with th,
cannon from Tieonderoga, and learned OF th,
I difficulty. Frank spoke to Knox. Knox SPOKE
to Putnam, Putnam came To Frank II, haste
| what Is this the engineer cried, II heal
that you have said7 We can fortify In wiH
ter? With chandeliers? And what are they
Timber frames to hold fascines?" His eye
:
are descr1bed!' -..--
He took the book away with him; in tb
morning the problem was solved. He cam
to Frank with enthusiastic face; there was n.
jealousy in the man. 1.-THE credit for thi
shall be yours" he said, "And you shal
command the cannon whom We take tn
heights. y
THE latter will be reward enough" m
swered Ellery. ~
A,,4 Al
scheme was Putnams. It was be VIII
planned the huge attempt to make two fort
in Roxbury, to carry them to Dorchester, ant
there to set the pieces In their places. II
it's magnitude 1t was plan unique IN his
tory. .-.. . -. ->s.r
| Meanwhile IN Boston the troops and tories
far from comfortable to be sure, were naakini
the best Of a bearable situation. Dances wer
not uneommon and card assemblies were fre
quent There was sleighing In the street
and skating at the Neck, and receiving at las
a portion of their back pay the officer
might gamble. And yet this last amusemen
went no longer at its old time pace, for 1t
leader, Captain Setheran. played no more
in attendance as he was upon Misstrea Tudor
She, it was whispered, was reforming him.
Seven months had passed since Alice ha
heard of Frank. He had become shadow
What should she think of him or how knoN
that he loved her? she had waited. ready
unloverlike he had delayed The feeling wa
! mot dead but it was dying. Alice was be
ginning to look upon 1t as ct the past. Wit
ii regret she watched 1t go; woman does no
willingly give UP her first love. But sothera
was there to take Franks place. Imperoepti
= bly, he was becoming a necessary part OF he
) ljfe A little longer and habit, with th
! wishes and efforts OF all Of her friends, woul
bring about the end.
But Barbara knew. She heard the new
! Pete brought from Ann. The ropernaker we
almost speeehless with disrnay. What woul
Master Frank think7 But Barbara7 M
Barbara had never yet lost the power {
speech She thought; she planned; che wer
out upon the mall one morning and put hei
} self In Aliees, way.
Had Tudor been there Barbara would hay
failed. But Sotheran drew away as Alic
. went to Barbara, and waited for the civilitfe
) to end. at Q distance from the knots {