The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-07

The mountain of the hut was noe
far across the plain of Peekskill; the
night was dark, yet she could find the
way. Stealing out of the American
lines, the girl fled across country and
finally reached the place she sought.
But to her surprise, on entering the
hut she found there not Harvey and
her brother, but Mr.. Harper, who was
intently studying large map.
Rapidly the girl told her story and
reminded Harper Of his promise made
at The Locusts. He seemed to know
himself arranged it, and told her to
hurry back to camp and try to detain
Dunwoodie there for two hours. II
she could do this he would guarantee
the safety of her brother.
Frances sped back to the Wharton
quarters and a little time after Dun
woodie arrived. He had been unable to
find Harper-and washington was not
at his headquarters. But he had hopes
of being more successful the next morn
ing in time to prevent the execution.
When he was told of the escape OF
the captain he foresaw with despera-
tion that he would be sent in pursuit,
and that he would be hunting Henry
like a wild beast when he should have
been invoking the powerful aid of Har-
per in his behalf.
Soon the expected orders came. Dun
woodie's troop was under arms. and
only awaited his appearance to ride
of in the pursuit.
Frances, who had kept an anxious
eye on the clock, now tried in every
manner to delay the departure of her
lover. Finally when she had exhaust
ed all other arts, she played her last
desperate card and handed the young
man a note which Henry had hastily
written before he left the house. This
note begged the Virginian officer to
spare Caesar for his part in the escape
and to protect his aunt and his two sis
tiers.
Especially did ne recommend Fran
ces to the love and tenderness of his
old friend and besought him to gain
the right to protect her by marrying
her at once.
"Am worthy of this confidenceT
exclaimed Peyton. 'T. who ride this
night to capture your brotherTs
And would you do less of your duty
because I am Your wife, Major Dun
woodie?" asked Frances.
Henry is safe anyway" said Dun
woodie. Harper will save him even
II I capture him; but ! will show the
world a bridegroom who Is not afraid
to arrest the brother of his bride.
But now Frances broke down. 81
cannot enter into such relation with
a fraud upon my soulr' Then she con-
fessed that she knew--no matter how
that time was all Important and that
she had been trying to detatn her lover
until the clock was on the stroke of
nine.
Time enough" said Dunwoodie.
1.-TWO hours will take me through the
hills, and tomorrow I shall return with
Henry to enliven our wedding feast
with Washin gton's pardon for him in
my pocket"
clergyman was called in, and, Just
the
woodie and Frances Wharton were pro-
nounced man and wife kissing his
pride, the young officer ran to mount
his horse.
But before his foot touched the stir
rup an orderly from Headquarters
dashed up and handed him a note 1t
was an order from Washington order
Ing him to immediate dIty at Croton
Heights, and adding: THE escape of
the spy has been reported to me, but
his capture Is unimportant compared
with the duty I now assign you"
So there was merry wedding party
after all, and a few days later Harvey
Birch placed his charge safely on board
of British man-o'-war lying off Yonk-
ers.
Poor Lawton rode away with Dun
woodie and found his longed-for fight
ing at last. But when it was over he
did not ride back on his black charger
Roanoke, for he lay dead on the field
in his youth and beauty.
Some time later Harve- Birch, al
the headquarters OF the American Ar
my in a New Jersey town, stood befora
a stately and noble man. 1t was the
stranger whom the family at The Lo-
Gusts had known as Mr.. Harper. But
the world knows him as George WASH
ington.
George Washington was looking al
the spy with appreciation and regard,
for Harvey Birch. while pretending to
be a Royalist spy had in reality been
a spy in the personal service of WASH
ington-a secret known to those two
only.
The movement on Yorktown was
about to be made and Washington,
having no further need for the spy in
the North, where alone he was useful,
now proposed to pay him for his work.
But Birch refused sternly to touch
the offered money, and the two patri-
OTIS separated with feelings of mutual
admiration and respect.
The war over and the country free,
Peyton Dunwoodie and his wife lived
happily to a good old age on their Vir-
ginia plantation. Captain Wharton re-
signed from the British army at the
close of the struggle and settled down
with a wife as an American citizen.
In the war of 1912, an old. old man
again went about as a peddler and did
good service as spy for the Americans
on the Canadian frontier. One day
when a battle was Joined near him. he
threw away his peddlers pack. seized
a musket from a fallen soldier, and
rushed into the fight.
After the battle they found the OLD
man lying there dead. with a smile or
his lips, and in a little packet next
to his heart was a letter from Wash.
ington addressed to Harvey Birch and
certifying to the virtues of "a faith.
full and unrequited servant OF his coun'
try"