Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-14
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
In April. 1875.

dressed to 'Ye Taverne of ye Belle and
Hande in ye Town of Boston,"
Ny swete and Noble Lover-'T1s muehe that ye
would Of me, and tho fain l would pleasure
you in allie thyngs-yet thys fear cannot be. that
i should betray my countrie. Yet will / meet
thee tomorrow nighte thys place ye speake Of.
Till then adieu Ever thy sweetinge,
April ye is. 1sIe- ASNABELLE-
"Ho, mine host PeterY cried Jaf-
frey "'Tis in my mind to tarry to-
night with you. See to it that bed
Fairface. my mare. She is gravel lame,
methinks."
With these words he walked away
into the town, leaving the hostlers to
do his bidding.
Not till late did he return, and then
in n perturbed mood. So quietly did
he enter his chamber that the men in
the next room heard him not nor ceas-
ed in their loud talking. But Jaffrey
paid little heed to them, thinking them
some noisy topers. till word caught
his ear, and that word was ANNA
belle" Then look not good to see
settled upon his face. and nearer to the
wall he crept and listened.
Anthony, why art such Il poltroonF"
angrily exclaimed one of the speakers.
II tell you this coup must be success
full, and surely we are not in such good
odor with the commander that we can
afford to let slip any opportunity. More
over" he added, "'the girl Annabelle
will aid u.s."
Think you the jade is faithfulT' de-
manded another. ''MeseemS she look
too fairly on yonder puppy, Warrell."
"Pshaw, but she dupes the poor fool!'
said the first, with IL hoarse laugh.
"She said as much herself"
Warrell, on the other side of the wall,
gritted his teeth in his rage and felt
frantically for his rapier.
Then reveal your plan, De Lacy"
growled q third impatiently. Thine
flies. and tomorrow is soon here"
Briefly, then, it is to seize about
twoscore of the chief farmers and hus-
bandmen of Lexington and Concord as
hostages, then demand a general sur
render under threat of executing our
prisoners. This will effectually put
down the trouble which is brewing in
the quarter and at the same time do us
a world of good with CORVALLIS. To-
morrow we will act. Are ye agreedT'
I'VE are" returned the others.
AS the conversation ceased Warrell
turned away, and Immediately the
rumble of q carriage and the hoof beats
of galloping horses sounded on his ear.
"She comes" he muttered. And now
for the truth"
AS the stage dashed up before the
door he stepped into the courtyard and
assisted a young lady, heavily yelled,
to alight; then, leading the way, he en-
tered the inn, closely followed by his
companion.
"You are come" he whispered, "Now
by the heavens above, speak truly.
adjure your
WHAT" she asked.
as it possible you deceive me?"
"Jaffrey, / am as true as the eternal
Skies
They entered the breakfast room and
were astonished to find four British Of
ficers standing near the fire. They
seemed very merry.
What" exclaimed one. laughing.
"'Tis our little Annabelle.'
The girl shrank back, while Jaffrey's
rage rose high, for he recognized the
plotter's voice.
What mean you. sirrah?" he de-
manded. You owe the lady an apollo
gy."
"Ho, hor' laughed the soldier. This
is the Yankee lover, is it? Ho. ho!'
And he turned his back impudently on
the pair.
"Aye. and 1 know your precious
plot~ shouted Jaffrey, whipping out
his blade. ION guard, sirr'
"Whatr' roared the officer. "Then,
indeed. has your time comet Down
with him, lads"
In an instant four blades were play
ing about his head, and the American
was in extreme peril.
BY the fierceness of his attacks he
beat down the officers blade and In a
twinkling had passed the steel through
his body; then, fiinging a chair at the
man between him and the door,, be
leaped over his PROSTATE form and
flung shut the stout oaken portal. AS
he braced himself against 1t he was as
tonished to see Annabelle standing be-
side him.
"Beholdp' she murmured. 'The
latch has been lost. They may easily
force their way out"
'Tis true" he muttered modify.
"rheir plot will be carried out despite
me-"
mot So" she made reply. Behold
the proof that 1 am an American,
though my kin be English"
She thrust her arm through the two
openings for the missing bolt and thus
with her flesh and blood barred the
door.
Fly, my love, posthaste to Concord!
Warn the people and bid them rise to
arms. For some time can 1 hold these
men here, for there is no other exit.
So go, my love. and at oncep'
He madly kissed her lips and then
dashed TO the stables. Two minutes
later he was galloping for the lives of
many men through the darkness and
gloom of that ADril night Long ere