Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-08-02

nerve No sign at headquarters! The
commander had been there. tired and
ready to rest, when he had been called
south to the headquarters Of the West
Point commander. And SO on ! went
towards the Robinson house.
Ii was close upon 8 O'Clock as / made
the old house under the side OF Sugar
Loaf, and turned up into the drive that
led to the side door. 1t was patent to
the eye that something unusua was
going on. Horses stood about, held
by orderlies. on the piazza walked
several officers, aides, as l guessed,
talking together, and voices could be
heard from within. Just as | pulled
up, came the pitiablc shrek OF q
woman
No one paid tho slightest attention
to me; and, d~ismounting, / started to
run to tilc door, when the good horse,
who had carried Fe so far, quietly lay
down without a groan. l could not
pause, for / felt that II j stood still
long the nerve would be lacking to set
me moving again. 1T does not behoove
a man to magnify his own doings by
telling of his troubles, but ( is no
weakness in me to say that l walked
into that house, pushing aside several
men who would hav stopped me, in a
kind Of dream. Each in turn looked at
me, and then. as / pushed him aside
without a word, i caught an exclama-
ton, but met no further resistance
from him.
SO on into q great, long, low dining
room. One look told me my chief was
found; the huge, sombre man, the
great face with It's sad eyes, the wide,
straight mouth-there he stood by the
window. At the moment Of my en-
trance nc turned and said TO a mill
tary companion in n calm, self-pos-
scssed voice, that was still full of grief
and sorrow:
General, whom can we trust now2'
Then the three occupants Of the room
turned and saw me.
What do you here, sir?" asked the
stern voice of him just called Cen
eral."
II must speak with the commander
in-Chief at once, sir" I answered.
You cannot now. Retire at once!"
One momen Knox" said n deep
voice. Then, turning TO me, Wash
ington added. Here he is, my a
What IS it,"
Your eXcellency,' said l, looking at
the others. Il rave something of the
greatest importance to say to you"
We'll. say it quickly. These gentle
men may heRr anything | can"
At this moment all heard again hat
woman's shrek. The generals face
was Immediately overcast with a look
of pain.
You said that some one was with
Mrs. Arnold, Knox, did you not?" he
asked.
Yes, general. The maids are with
her, and Il man has gone across for a
physician"
Now, young man, speak up said
w shinEton again.
Il overheard, night before last, q
conversation, your cXCellenCy, between
"A British OfiiCer-Aiajor Andre"
"Nho Is captured and in custody"
interrupted Washington.
"And-Gnd-" l hesitated.
"Vell?"
And Major General Benedict Arm
old"
who has this morning escaped to
the British lines"
"~EsCaped?"
"Escapcd.'
1T is fate!"
Sergeant" said the general solemn
~, 1T is the will of Cod" This was
spoken in a voice filled with infinite
grief sorrow, 4 disappointment.
But the young soldier is ill.," he add
cd hastily, for I was like the last
blow Of q weeks hardship, and I
grasped the breakfast table to steady
myself, "Tell me what you heard"
Continued Next Week.)