Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-08-09

these TWO officerS,p L managed to say,
below Haverstraw, night before last.
| crossed the river and tried to reach
you at Fishkill. / was captured at Tel
ler's Point, and treated as q spy, be-
cause letters were found on me. es-
capped from the guard, took q horse,
and have been riding since yesterday
afternoon to catch you. You were not
at Fishkill-I took the lower road for
Hartford, and missed you; 1 found my
mistake, went across TO the upper
road, missed o again, and-rode
back! j nave covered a hundred miles
since 5 yesterday, and now-now l am
too late! 1t is fate! 1t could not have
been otherwise"
Several EXPLANATIONS had burst from
the third occupant of the room as I
spoke. and he muttered to himself at
the end:
ride!"
1T must have been, indeed, Lafay-
Itte," said Washington. Then, turning
TO me, he said:
You are hungry and worn out, SER
geant. Sit down and eat
Il have not eaten in twcnty-six
hours | answered. but | cannot wait.
| must, l VIII find that mar and bring
him back"
A sudden CLEAN shot into the gem
erals eye. Patience. young man, pa
tience!" he said In q voice that would
make a mar ashamed of his own
weakness. I'VE viii ind him. And he
VIII be punished, never fear, whether
we find him or not. and you shall have
your chance! But who are your" And
ne looked at me with a glance that
seemed to take in all my thoughts.
Il am called Merton Balfort."
You are an American soldier, too?"
Yes, your eXCellency. l am a leu
! tenant serving under Can2co1 DIT
man,"
You have come from him recently?"
asked Washington suddenly.
Yes, your eXcellency, | am here to
deliver these two letters to you from
him. and / handed him the two notes.
You may sit down, lieutenant"
said the general, as he took the letters
and moved towards the window. But.
Whatever the desire might be, / would
not sit In the presence OF his man.
AS he read the note from General
Putnam to myself, the chief glanced
once or twice at me with q
thoughtful look, and Their went on
reading. Opening the other note, and
discovering it to be in cipher, he took
a small book from his pocket and,
with General KnoX's assistance, made
out its meaning. AS they slowly dis
covered its import, the two generals
~conversed.
STRANGE said the commander;
and Rochamheau knew nothing of
this before yesterday.
The letter is dated ONLY q few DAVIS
ago, and it speaks of the affair as TAX
ing place off Boston"
True, he cannot AVE been informed.
Lieutenant" asked Washington, do
you know what this note speaks Off"
Not absolutely, your excellency.
Only in a general way"
What is it?"
That General Putnam has advices
from Boston, saying hat British war
ships are appearing singly off the coast
here and there"
THAT is correct"
That they seem to be combining
Into a fleet"
"Also correct, but q mari signifies
here that you will add something"
The general wished me to say, your
exeellency, that he felt sure that there
was a plan to retake Newport, or to
make some attack on Boston,"
The note also says he advises hay
Ing the feet watched.
He thinks that an outpost should be
established beyond Cape Cod, both at
he north n towards the south"
THAT sounds reasonable n could
be DONE said General Knox thought
fully.
Evidently" said the communicating
chief to Lafayette, ut is a fleet sent out
by George the Third to cope with
R~ochambeau."
Il do not understand NJ. Rochambeau
not having heard" answered the latter.
He could not know, your e~Xcellency,"
| Interrupted, since the news was
brought in by one of the Boston fish
ermen, who had been chartered TO
watch out beyond Cape Cod"
Gould such n watch be kept up along
the coast?" asked Washington.
There is no doubt of it, your excel
lency,' said 7.
Lieutenant" said Washington, after
a moments thought, you will return
to Colonel Livingstone, and hold your
self In readiness to set out"
1 saluted, but hesitated, with a long
ing to get in a word.
You wish to say something's"
Il am an escaped prisoner OF the
c~olonels, and he holds me as a spy. I
was being sent on as such to General
Arnold when i escaped"
I Arnold?" cried Lafayette with
enthusiasm. "Ah, that is sublime! Sent
to Arnold! He escapes-he rides q hum
dred miles, and neither eats nor drinks,
All, that is glorious, young men," And
the Frenchman, whom l now knew for
General Lafayette, patted me gently on
the shoulder. GLORIOUS! glorious! We
should have such men in France to-
day."
Nay, General" said Washington
sadlyl; w need them too much here"
Their he wrote a few words on a bit of
paper and handed it to me.
THAT will save you from rough hand
ling"
/ stood for a moment looking into the
commanders carcworn but kindly face
What! There is still something on
your mind?"
Yes, your excellency."
Speak out, man! You have spoken to
such good purpose that / can well afford
to heal more
General Washington" 1 cried. IT de-
mand permission to recapture that
traitor to the American cause"
There was q moment of silence. Tho
three generals looked at one another.
and hat same fierce CLEAN came into
the commanders eyes for another in
slant.
Lieutenant Balfort," said Washing
ton slowly and solemnly, with that
same sagacious look, take what food
and rest you need. Then return TO
Colonel Livingston's command, and
hold yourself in readiness night ard
day to set out on whatever mission the
success of our cause or my will may
command"
l Saluted and turned away: for / had
learned Of this man by hearsay to know
that he neither liked nor brooked dis
cusSion.
And now, gentlemen he added III
that even o that never seemed to
leave him, now, gentlemen, since Mrs.
Arnold is i'll, and the general is not
here to entertain us, let us sit down and
breakfast without ceremony"
l went into the open air, and, as If to
add the last straw to my nerve, came
upon the good horse that had so
steadily. so bravely, carried me mile
after mile. His cold body, bridled and
saddied, lying there on the grass, com
pietely unnerved me; inc l sat me