Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-03-30

Suddenly we were all startled by a
rattle of hoofs filling the square with
quick echoes.
Instantly every man there reached
for his rifle. The alley itself sudden.y
resounded with the gathering hoof
strokes of hard ridden horse. There
was a rush, a shadow and breathless
shout from the horseman: Express
hol Stand back! pass, | pass!'
Rolfe. i'm his shirt sleeves and apron,
came out of the door, holding his hands
up for the packets.
Three for you, Jimmy" said the
bareheaded express rider. passing the
letters over. And I've packet for
q certain Michael Cardigan, somewhere
to be hunted up south of Crown Gap
Fright herer' said Rolfe promptly.
and the express passed the letter to
him. Then. with a careless, See you
later" be wheeled his horse short and
galloped back along the alley.
Light the coach lamps" | whispered.
and, taking the candle and letter sat
down on pile of pine timber to read
what Sir William had sent me:
Dear Lad-By runners from Cayuga /
know how calamity you have conducted.
Dearer than son you are TO me- prouCCr
am | than any parent. If what we had
hoped and prayed for has failed as / can
no longer doubt IL is SO ordained. and W.
struggle in vain.
am holding the Mohawks back by
f1,.f,s
the Upper Castle whittier Joseph Crha-
yendanegea) has gone with the belts from
me.
Colonel John Butler his conduct con
Germs me, and / needs must view it with
grief and alarm. His dishonored son,
Walter Butler is still absent. The elder
Butler has retired to the lakes, where. I
am informed he Is gathering Tory mall
contents and foolish young Onondagas.
for what ultimate purpose / can only inn
agine.
most bitter and deadly feeling runs
food In Johnstown: nightly outrages are
reported to me, and / fear that the so
called patriots are quite as blameworthy
as are the loyalists.
IL you, by hazard. pass through Fort
Pitt, you will accompany Felicity on her
return hither which return / have in
stantly commanded her by this express
Lord Dunmore, which has astonished me,
My answer to him l delay until Felicity
returns Doubtless she will travel hither
by way OF Richmond. The escort, which
Lord Dunmore must furnish, will, on
their return journey, take with them my
reply to his lordship.
IL this letter reaches you In time, come
back with Felicity; II not, come by the
safe route through Richmond. Overtake
her II you can do 80
Your Aunt Molly is well and sweetly
anxious to see you safe home.
The news from, Boston is ominous
More ships are about to sail, bearing
more troops and cannon. l know not
how II will end. Aye. but l do know, and
SO must every thinking man.
Michael. / have had a most strange and
unpleasant letter from Sir Peter War
rem, who incloses with it certain amazing
documents which he has carefully perus-
ed, to his great modification and discon-
tent. These papers were lately sent TO
him from Chatham dockyard. having been
discovered under the cabin flooring of the
warship Leda, which his brother lately
commanded and which is now repairing
at Chatham
The documents concern Felicity-and
US all--and ] wish you to know that / no
longer approve of your union with her at
least not until both she and you are fully
acquainted with the contents Of these
documents Always your affectionate
WILLIAM JOHNSON, Bart.
rose and laid the letter to the can
dies fame. watching it burn and crisp
and fan in flakes which no prying spy
might decipher. Then looked at my
watch and was amazed to find that it
lacked but few moments TO the time
set for our departure from the Virginia
Arms.
Rolfe had already lighted the chaise
lamps, ShemueI had crawled inside
with our weapons. and Renard sat his
post saddle, adjusting the stirrups,
while Mount was preparing to climb
into the saddle of the nigh leader.
Us 1t dark out there in the squarey'
Iasked Of Rolfe.
81 guess the lanthorns swing alight
on every seventh" he said. II dark.
ened mine, but the Waterman came
battering and bawling to the door
and made me light up again"
Mount was now in his saddle. | held
my ticking timepiece under the coach
lamp. eyes following the slow pointers
travelling toward the hour.
And as / stood there, there came
creeping a woman into the alley,
cloaked and bareheaded, hating and
crouching to scan our chaise lamps un
der her inverted hand. Ere RoIfe or
could stop her she ran to the horse on
which Mount was sitting and caught
the forest runner by the fringe on his
sleeve. Then In the rays of the chaist
lamp ! knew her for the thief takers
child.
"Oh. Mr.. Cardigan called Mount
softly, "Sir Timerson and gang o
cudgels Is coming up Pitt street .snt
Bully Bishops with them"
The girl turned her frightened face
to me:
"They came for father to take Jacl
Mount. ran out the back door. sir
Oh. hasten. hastenr she walled. look
Ing at Mount and wringing her hands.
The big fellow stopped from his sad
die and deliberately kissed her.
THANK you, my dear" he said; 'Tl
come back for another before l die