The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-26
BOOK w
Chapter VIII.
INFORMATION.

|
| street, half an hour before, he had seen the
boy following Sotheran. The ingratltude of a
dependent or child cuts deep, and Frank,
! sitting in the library with a book on fortif-
cation, paused moment to sigh as he
thought OF the boy. There came a rap at the
| window. .-r
Roger himself was peering through the
! glass. Frank. moved more than he cared to
| show, sat still and looked at him. ,rTIA
Master Frank" cried the boy 'let me in ="
1.-The front door is unlocked,' was the reply
Roger entered the library slowly, and stood
before Frank with head as low as If he had
! been in fault.
We'll Roger" said Frank, with gentle re-
| proach. .'--
Roger looked up; tears were in his eyes.
II meant it for the BEST he said. II have
news for you, sir. / have Teen watching all
I this while.'' %S2a
! ''You, Roger" exclaimed Frank
every minute, cried the boy, with burst
! of emotion. every minute of four months,
sir. I burned a letter once. Master Frank
that would have sent you to prison. Now
But Frank sprang up and caught him by
the shoulder. Roger, what is this?' he
| CRIED and drew the boy toward him. Almost
sobbing his relief, Roger told OF the letter
which the mufted visitor had brought to-
Sotheran. NJ .'f- -
Truly" cried Frank, 'it might have
hanged me. But there Is a traitor some
| where" He questioned the boy closely, yet
! could not lnd out who the cloalSed man was
only this more, that letters came to the cap
tain every little while, that they were written
| in numerals that the captain turned them all
| into proper script and took them to the gen
eral.
| who could send these?' asked Frank Of
| himself. He found no answer.
| And HOW cried Roger eagerly, and
l Ao1I H,;~ pjob tyxn npH3rp had
sotheran e4 his ROOM All three had been
dressed in nomespun, and near midnight we'll
cloaked, they had gone to the Meek. AT the
! lines they had left their cloaks. with Roger
to hold them and, looking like Yankee farA
| ers, had passed out into the darkness And
| ROGER said they had studied at the room,
and Sotheran carried with him a piece OF pa
per with a curious drawing on it--a drawing
like star of many points.
"The plan of a fort!' cried Frank and his
heart sank He remembered Knox 9 Words
"Did they co. he asked quickly, Ito; Dor
chester Hefghts?'
! They returned at early twilight, Roger said,
from that direction and that was the only
nlace they could have visited without passing
the American lines They took their cloaks
and went to Sotheran's room. where the boy
served them with wine while they marked,
| with ink figures upon the drawing.
! ..Measurements," cried Frank, with GER
talnty. ~.....s IT, s,-s' .a ~ :.
| ..Then.". described the boy, "the two OF
Acers went away very merrily, and Captain
| Sotheran slept Until 9 o'clock, but the paper
| was buttoned In his breast AT Roger at
tended the captain to the general, VINO wei
coined him ana took him into room: Roger
waited until the door opened AGAIN: tnen
| he heard the general says Sunday night.
! You shall 20 with the detachment If you de-
| sire" Then the captain told the boy to go
! home. but he slipped away to Master TranK.
~ don't understand it, finished Roger,
land may not be important, but I thought
| that you would know. ..~ p y
"Important?" cried Frank. 'Tis the most
important happening yet. Roger, you oe-
serve everything from us"-the boys eyes
shone-"and yet what is to be done? a.,
Only one thing he saw at once; one thing
upon slender hope. II the army OUTSIDE
were strong enough to risk a battle, II they
| could seize the heights and hold them, they
miyht drive the British from the town. If
and r. But whatever should be done must
he done at once. There were but four days
to anticipate the scheme, and hurriedly Frank
took pen and wrote.
"I have" were his words, Intelligence
that the governor means to seize ana tortNy
Dorchester Heights on the night OF sunday
the 18th ......
That was enough. Nick would take the
note To the mainland that night. Frank
paused and thought, then signed his full
name, Crank Ellery," that there might
be no doubt of the information. Then, as ne
addressed the note to DR.. Warren, the tnougnt
came If there is to be fight must be
there" and he added the postscript: MAY
! not now leave the town?
| To go. to leave behind the town, with all
its frettings, and to fight against the British
Roger had given an opportunity TO n1m as
well as to his countrymen. But while crank
folded the note, thanking the delighted boy,
49, H,1yf a
/, and came into the library: He scoWled at
Roger. resentinE tbs lads dsloyalty to Frank.
$50 you've returned" he said. why did
you comet +.s.
Because" cried Roger boldly, II came to
warn Master Frank
'4Roger, say nothing" interrupted Frank
II know what am saying" answered
Roger Master Dickie came to say thai
.. your uncle, whom you love SO much, haf
been plotting with Captain Sotheran against
, your brother; and III couldn't stand It.
Dickte looked at him contemptuously. YOU
little liar!'' he said. -s,s
"'Tls true" asserted Roger.
Indeed" sneered Dickie. Then let MI
: hear the story he commanded "All Ou
with it: let me see how we'll you can lie ;
He sneered again while it was told. Tha'
his uncle had been to see the captain-pooh
I they barely ACQUAINTED That MI
' uncle wanted Master Frank from the town
| 3>D-S
If Master Frank were arrested, and sent II
$ london for trial. wouldn't that suit
.sRidiculous!" cried Dickie-and Mr.. Eller!
promised to watch everything Master Franl
: did, and get scraps of his writings.
s ..You little fool!" roared Dickie. '..Whe!
was this?"
Day before yesterday; and listened at th
door
Prank" cried Dickie, will you strap him
or shall I?''
is this true. Roger?'' asked Frank
''It is true said the boy.
tsurely, Frank, F." exclaimed Itckle yo'
don't believe that?"
+ .Surely,', answered Frank, 'I do"
"And SO came to warn him, " cried Roger
as Dickie stared at his brother, to mins
everything he does, to keep his writing
under lock, to do nothnis,. nothing. nothins
that might be reported against him!'
60 you little devil" cried Dtckie. "befor
I strike you!''s
8 Have you said everything, Roger1" in
quired Frank.
8 Everything" answered the boy.
.'Then go,'' directed Frank, "lest you b
missed"
: Roger shot one defiant glance at Dickie, VIII
Q stood red-faced with rage. "It is true! /
8 is true!" he repeated, and went to the door
IL In another moment they saw him speeding ou
of the gate.
81 Will ask you to remember, Dickie.
+I,o fxvnh hrof 1Rcrc t,trn oA an