Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-10-20

itC IN vi AC9OiuNAOh NCOiNA IA piA
OF me.
Twas not that / was less willing to
pay the price of expiation; that must
be done in any case. But l had seen
the enemy, and all the soldier in me re-
belled at the thought Of dying like a
noosed bullock in the shambles. Could
l but strike that one good blow
h old court house of our greater
M~eckneburg was such as some of you
may remember; a stout wooden build
ing raised upon brick pillars to leave a
story underneath. In the time of the
British occupation this lower story
served as a market house, inc the pub
lie entrance to the court room above
was reached by steps on the outside
In my boyhood days this outer stair
was the only one: but now in wander
Ing aimlesslv through the market-place
beneath, | found another flight
in a corner; the jury stair"
they called IT, since it pro-
vided the means Of egress from the
jury box above.
The sight Of his inner stair set me
plotting. Could | make use OF 1t to
come unseen into the council chamber
of Lord CORVALLIS and his officers?
The market place was well thronged
with vendors and soldier buyers; the
patriotic Mecklenburgers were not
aVerse to the turning of an honest
penny apo the needs of their OPP
pressors, as it seemed. l watched my
chance, and when there were no prying
eyes to mark II, made the dash up the
steps.
Happily for the success of the ad-
venture there was an angle in the mar
row stair TO hide me whilst / lifted the
trap door in the court room floor a
scant half inch and got my bearings.
As had hoped, the trap opened behind
the jury box, and I was able TO raise it
cautiously and so to draw myself up
into the room above, unseen and un-
heard.
A peep around the corner Of the high
jury stalls showed me my lord and his
suite gathered about the lawyers table
in front Of the bar. or the staff / rec
ogni2ed only Stedman, the commissary
general, Tarleton, looking something
the worse for his late illness; Major
Hanger, his second in command, and
the young Irishman, Lord Rawdon.
At the moment of my espial, Corn
wallis was speaking, and / drew back to
listen, Well enough content to be in
earsnot. Fer if my good angel had
timed my coming l could not have ar
rived at a more opportune moment.
What we have to consider now Is
how best to reach Ferguson with an.
express instantly" his lordship was
saying. This rising of the over-moun-
tain men is likely to prove a serious
matter-not only for the major, but
for the kings cause in the two prov
inces. Lacking positive orders to the
contrary, Ferguson will Might've all
know that; and if he should be de-
feated twill hopelessly undo his work
among the border loyalists and set us
back another twelvemonth."
Then you lordship will order him
- 49,. s~ Il - -
voice which / knew for Colonel Tar
leton's.
"~Instanter, had I a sure man to
send"
"Pshaw! I can find you a hundred
amongst the late royalist recruits"
Twas young Lord Rawdon who said
this.
Damn them!" said his lordship
shortly; Il would sooner trust this
new aide of mine He comes straight
from the major and can find his way
back again"
Tarleton laughed. II fear we shall
never agree upon him, my lord. |
know not how he has made his peace
with you, but do assure you he is as
great a rascal as ever went unhung.
IT'S true, as you say, / did not go into
the particulars; but were Captain Stu
art or Sir Francis Falconnet here,
either of them o convince your
lordship in a t~winkling."
There was silence for q i.ltie space
following the colonel's denunciation of
me, n then my lord broke it to say:
Il may not be SO Credulous as you
think. Colonel. Rebel spy or true-blue
loyalist, he is safe enough for the pres
ent. In the meantime in this matter
Of reaching Ferguson we may make
good use OF him"
In what manner, your l~ordship?"
asked n whose voice l did not rec
ognize.
He has come straight from Major
Ferguson, as | say; and, loyalist or
rebel, he can find his way back to Gill
bert Town"
But you'll never be trusting Kim
with dispatches!" said Lord Rawdon.
There is no need TO trust him. He
can be given the dispatches with some
hint or their purport. and of how much
the kings cause will profit by their
safe delivery"
Again a silence fell upon the group
around the lawyers table, and Their
some one-'twas Major Hanger, as /
thought-said: "'Tis an unread riddle
for me as yet, my lord"
CORVALLIS laughed. Where are your
wits this morning, gentleman? IL he be
loyal and true, the dispatches will go
safe enough. If, on the other hand, he
De a rsDel ana a spy, he VIII doubt
less tamper with them; but in that
case he will none the less ride straight
enough TO Major F~erguson's h~eadquar-
tiers in the west"
HIN, your lerdship is still too deer
for me-" said Tarleton's second In COM
mand. III he be a rebel and a spy,
why, in Gods name, should he carry
lordship's letters to my but some
rag-tag colonel of his own Kidney"
My lord laughed again. Truly, Ma
jor, you should go to a DANES school
and learn diplomacy. Ii we tell him
beforehand what our OBJECT is, how
could any rebel OF them all defeat IL
more surely than by going TO Ferguson
with a garbied message that would
make him stand and fight a losing bat
tle?"
But. my loy5-the risk" cut in the
ccmmissary general.
There need be none. An hour after
he sets out we shall send a mounted
detail after him with an Indian tracker
to nose out his trail. The lieutenant
in command will carry duplicate dis
patches. AT the worst, Ireton will
guide these followers Ia Ferguson's
rendezvous. and. so far as we know, he
Is the only man who knows exactly
where to find the major"
I lad heard enough. Under cover OF
the cnorus of hravos raised by Lord
sCornwallis's exploitation Of his plot
within a plot ! lifted the trap door and
made my exit as noiselessly as I had
come.
Guessing that no time would be lost
In putting the plan into action. I made
haste to be found inquiring hither and