The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-06-29
-. BY
HAMBLEN SEARS
A Stirring Story Of Love and Adj
venture in Revolutionary Days.
as n the Shadow of War;" copy GIFTED by


| Benedict Arnold's house. at No. 8.
Bro adway. You are TO form some plan
for abducting the traitor Arnold across
| the Hudson to Communipaw, where you
will be safe
1 could not reply now.
You will then bring Arnold alive to
ne here" l could scarce tell where 1
was with this calm voice laying upon me
so easily such work"
You can do it?'
ut shall be done, your Excellency. IL
| the traitor is in town"
You will also search out a man who
goes ny the name of Csutain Hszeltine
-ah, you know him?' for l had started
/ invountarily. HE may not he in the
town when you get there. II not, wait
for him unless the Arnold matter is
! more urgent"
1T shall be done, your Excellency."
None night question TINS
"If you bring him to me dead or alive
you will bring tho most dangerous spy
in the British army. Stin further: Sir
Henry Clinton mas by this time heard
of the arrival of Rochambeau's meet, and
will be forming some plan for cutting off
his cooperation with me. I must know
this plan in tine TO stop 1t, or"
OR"
you must stop Z yourself"
1T shall be done, your Excellency."
Why I spoke with such confidence, God
only knows. The whole bearing of the
great soldier seemed to so into me for
that moment and felt certain all should
be done as he said. l little knew what
was to come.
Lieutenant" said Washington. still
more slowly, mo human soul in this
world Knows Of this commission but you
and l, and IL you are taken-"
1T shall not be, your Excellency.'
"If you are taken. sir, neither 1 nor
sny human soul can save your life. You
| will bs hung as spy and cannot lift
a finger to help you"
81 understand" said I. looking him
in the eye.
Now as 20 your coesseries," and he
went into another room, returning in
moment with several pape4s, In the in
slant cf his absence l had made mp my
mind to enc thing, and as ne returned
asked
Your Excellency gives me rnree com
mjssions?'
We'll, sir," said he. in some surprise.
1T will bs wiser to have three men
execute them"
That Is impossible he answered
quickly. Three American soldiers in
New York would be discovered in an
he ur."
Not the three that will go.'
ut is impossible reiterated the com
mander 81 am putting great reliance in
my judgment when 1 give you these
weighty commissions, but 1 must do 1t
pertly because tine few men I have are
known In New York partly because
rely on General Putnam's rcconmenda-
ton of you"
THAT confidence shall not be mis-
placed"
II feel that ii is not"
Besides, If l fail, as you say, I shall
be hanged, and that will be the end of
it."
What is in your mind?' he asked with
| slow, quiet smile.
There are two lieutenants in Colonel
| LivinG5tor's command.
Washington glanced at a bundle of
papers on the table again. "Lieuten-
ants Curtis and Acton?'
Yes, your Excellency."
you have known them long and WELL
"rhey may betray YOU
THAT will be impossible"
How is that"
! Because | will not tell them anything,
your Excellency."
They will go with you In ignorance?"
'"rhey will go with me without knowing
the purpose of their journey. II they are
taken they will die without ever know
ing why they died"
Then they are brave men,
That they are, your Excellency," said
1 earnestly. ARD I beg you. sir to let
me have their assistance and counsel"
1T know one of them well, the other
I have heard somwilat of. You will an
| swer FOR them
IT will answer for Them, your Excel
lency"
Thereuron he sat down in his chair
and looked ttoughtfully out of the win
| dow for a few moments. Then, collect
| ing himself again, he opened the package
of papers brought from the inner room,
and selecting two, handed them to me.
They were peculiar hits of waterproof
| paper not more than couple of inches
| by one IT measurement, and as l reao
them carefully / could not repress an ex-
clanation. Both were sigred by Henri
! Clinton and read as follows
| Captain Hazeltine is TO be allowed to
pass and rcpass the British lines any
| where Mt any time With one person ac-
conpanying him.
| CLINTON, commandments"
Neither date nor mark stood on these
| letters How Washir gton could have
! obtained these priceless passes was, and
still Is, beyond me- But no one yet
knows the workings Of that mir.d and
the power for details and foresight and
| prepare t!tn he could compass.
| Lieutenant" said he" II would be as
| well for YOU to be dead as to have these
papers found upon you within our lines,
| for you would soon be dead thereafter
| IT shall need an order FOR money and
an order to Colonel Livingston, releas-
| ing Curtis and Acton, your Excellency,
said I.
| Again a smile played over the sad fea-
| lures as he said kindly:
! You have q cool head, young man.
Keep It always on your shoulders. And
now good-by and good forture!' And
| with the same cool, self-possessed voice.
| after the orders were written, he signi-
| fed to me that the Interview was over.
| With salute I went out, procured NOR
| ey with an order, and then went to the
| quarters assigned to me.
Zoo tired to "trip for sleep lay down
| and thought of the future. Hazeltne
! as abe ad AMI had the powers of Clin-
toms army behind him. He knew us
| all threr Furthermore, he would do
| much, l knew instinctively, to take me.
| for that I mad defeated something ne had
| to do with Mistress Philipse. And
| man who would go to the daring of send
| ing his agents into camp to take me,
| would do much to correct mis- mistake.
| I must not be known to leave Tsppan,
| ther efore nor could Acton and Curtis
| be known to leave Verplancks. I was
| as plain IS p,kestaff-and so l slept
| TO Be Continued)
|
| Cause and Effect.
i