The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-23
CHAPTER XIV.

My dear lad" said Curtis. you asked
for a place where we could talk without
fear of interruption. l give you one. L
can do no more. Doubtless this is a band
of SINNERS of not more than six or seven,
and could not we three hold this house
against twenty?"
'Then, look you, Balfort." urged Acton.
I'VE shall have the satisfaction of knock
ing some one on the head. 1 owe these fell
lows a debt. Nay, it's a stroke of luck
they are come"
At this moment the report of a musket
rang out overhead, and a heavy weight fell
against the outside of the door near which
we sat. A deep groan was followed by a
moment of silence.
AHA! you skunk cried a voice from the
hall above" that for the shot you gave my
brother" The voice was scarcely stilled
when a fusillade sounded from across the
road and several bullets struck the stout
oak of the door.
Seven" muttered 1 to myself.
Seven what?' asked Acton.
There are eight in that party and one
is dead. You are right, Curtis, tbs indeed
better than 1 thought. We can handle sew
en-. 1 feared there were more"
stay, but 1 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 1, checking some 9TH
er remark of Acton's. before L 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 1. But they have just
now come from Boston or near there"
"Balfort. my friend, you are better than
l." said Curtis, smiling in the darkness;
"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 / hear it has
rained for several days"
Man, you are a genius!" cried Acton.
Furthermore" said /, the mud is light
in color and sandy, whereas hereabouts tbs
red and dirty. IT'S 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 a moment and then the unmistakable
cracking of a twig sounded through the
window of the main room. Curtis crept
towards the window with pistol in hand.
There was a 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 corner of the
house. Softly. coolly. he put the pistol to
the opening, took a slow aim and fired,
dropping Immediately to the floor him.
self. There was no sound or movement in
the grass, but the next instant a bullet
came diagonally through the small open
ing and nattened itself against the door
post above my head.
Ibid you get him?" asked John.
THE attacking party now consists of
six replied Curtis.
And now as to our instructions" said
Acton.
1--WE are TO go to New York to accomplish
three things, which 1 may not tell you till
we be there"
Very WELL" said Acton, I'VE are to go to
New York; that is sufficient. What next?'
we go separately and meet there. That
is, one goes alone and the other two to-
gether. 1 have passes for one and for two
travelling in company. Once there, 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 unob-
served"
II nave been in the town." said Acton.
promptly. LET us meet at the village of
Greenwich and go into the town together"
$50 far good" said 1. but we must have
some base to work from-some spot to meet
in. Curtis, what think you?'
For a moment during this bit of discus
sion Curtis had said not a word. Now,
though L could not see his face, for the
darkness. 1 got an instructive idea that
something was wrong. In fact. after once
seeing Acton pulled up when he tried to
question his friend about something to do
with an event of several years ago, l had
made up my mind to steer clear of any
references, so far as Rob Curtis was con-
cerned, beyond the limits of camp life.
Before I spoke, twas clear to me that
something was amiss. The moment he an
swered the change in his voice was so
great. yet so quiet, that L started, as did
Acton, almost persuaded that some other
sat by US in the gloomy smoking hall.
''Balfort," said he, slowly, lis it OF grave
Importance that we should go to New
York;"
| did not reply at once. l was too struck
with the change and all that such a change
must mean in such a man.
You shall Judge for yourself. l am COM
missioned," and leaned over close to the
other two. 81 am commissioned by General
Washington himself alone. No other knows
even to be written down. / am to go to
New York to do three things, one is no
more than a piece of daring; the other two
are of the raves Importance. One, If ac-
complished, 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"
"'Tis better So said the same deep.
sonorous voice so unlike his. I'VE can be
of no use TO them "a prisoners"
These commissions are not for one man
TO carry out. / therefore asked for you
two and obtained your release"
And you did we'll" said Curtis.
We'll. well, Rob. did 1 not say as much
ten minutes gomez" cried Acton, impa-
tiently. There stands no doubt or ques-
ton. but where are we to meet?"
Where in the town must we go?" asked