The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-07
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

s,one Tavern. Ciin.on's spies are back. I'm thinking that hussy Moll Pitcher ls one. I have hardened well today ITS l said the general Is desperate, and mas 1 sent General Lafayette to Barren Hin | with two thousand men to reconnoiter. | Iris midway between this and the Forge. And hark. Little Fellow!-Chnton nieans even now men marching outward. and | a handful on Barren Hill cannot stand against five thousand. If l were a man, | Little Fellow bars could not hold me. should reach there first and warn La i fayette."
 i strove upward with the mad fever of trapped thing.
 If you were penned in by high walls: Mistress Brook, with no weapon and | naught?' s, Nay. now-you have weapon. Sing | to your sentries. charm them, Little Fei- | low. 'Sooth, you should have been a | woman once! Meanwhile, mark you. | wait at the Stone Taver~ with my horse | and'-a bundle fell through the laths wltn | soft thud at my feet Her quick steps | descended the stairs, and her voice again spoke to the guards below. My heart was humping against my ribs as tossed | the bundle under my bed straw, for It l was of fine rope. and concealed knife. Little Fellow, tune your pipe up l there!'
 | The night was a white one. The sentry, no longer under surveillance. lay beneath my window with his feet stretched out
  | appearing every ten minutes, ready. knew, to relieve my men at midnight l Faith. it may he compliment to
 starve bird to make him sing" quoth | l. but my throat would thrive on fat I supper, However. I have the boon or | ideness this fine night. and Of good company. your and my own. brother! so I'll out of my coat to sing the easier.
 I shook my coat out the window. 'Zooks. l know not how you enjoy your pipe such
 a night with a red coat on your back.' "'T'is a good color said he
 "Ay. good enough in full field on
 cloudy day. But in truth. I'm a free man
 with my coat off. and I'm convinced a
 red coat were never intended for the soft
 dew of a mooniit evening"
 ".As lead" said I. Bounds. man. why
 not give over to comfort while l sing of
 your sweetheart? Of with your coat and
 clasp your arms around ,si 1t: as .were her, e,,
 warrant. is abed snoring, and you are
 your own master for once!' and l broke
 into. Drink to Me Only With Thine
 ket beside him and slowly slid out of his
 coat. stretching his arms with a sigh
 of comfort and yawning. Number Two
 paused to listen. then went his way again.
 his pipe and dropped his head. while I, like panther on a bough. crouched above
 him, waiting my moment.
 Slip!
 | |
 his head and in his mouth the gag which had whittled from the window sash.
 He had no second save for one fierce
 struggle. but stiiI singing I dashed his | arms together with more of Mary BrO0k s
 good rope, then dashed his feet as he
 were a mummy, blessing my training be fore the mast, and sat him up against
 the house that Number Two should not
 mark aught aniss.
 Spring! Into his coat 1 went. and seiz- ing his cap and musket leaped off into the shadow in British uniforms leaving
 but the echo of song behind me.
 At dawn 1 staggered up to tho Stone
 Tavern. Mary Brook herself stole out
 to meet me and her horse was saddled
 ready. a How did you know I should eome? asked I, as I leaped into the saddle. "I knew you, Little Fellow, said she
 and the words were so sweet that in the ,j second I asked of God why giants heart should be in ST small body nor Hel ts,
 bridle "Hasten!' said she.
 Nay, what matters a little danger now
 Mistress Brook 'spake |, II am but Lit tie Fellow. You have said it, and wha
 you did was. know. done for the Cause , But somewhat must have leaped from my eyes to hers. for suddenly her fact
 flushed rudder than the light over Bar ren Hill. and though she spake softly twas brayely: =.
 .'Ay, but you were cause enough fol : me, Little Fellow!' could but seize her dear hand and kis! l 1t passionately as I galloped om with | tumultous heart that deied the whole British army to hold it.
 When Clinton marched on Barren Hil , at 10 o'clock, toward White Marsh, La tayette was ready warned, and the Brit
 ish retreated discomfted. And I ?- ! Happier was I than in winning ter
 battles because of her who had said tha'
 in spite of the grave cause at Valley Forge Little Fellow was cause enough } for her.