The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-11-28

| hSu'h ZIG iOuV OI pdCh
Which is Captain Lawton?", said the
leader of the gang. ,....
He waits your pleasure" said the
trooper, dryly.
Then here deliver to your hands a
condemned traitor; this is Harvey Birci,
the peddler-spy."
Lawton started as he looked his old
| acquaintance in the face and turning to
the Skinner with a lowering look, he ask
ed:
"And who are you, that speak SO free
ly of your neighbors? But" bowling to
Dunwoodie, here Is the commanding off,
cer."
Are you Harvey Birch?" said Dun
woodie, advancing with an air of author
ity.
IL am" said Birch, proudly.
"And a traitor to your country" con.
tinued the major, with sternness; ''do you
know that l should be justified in order
ing your execution this nightY'
'Tis not the will of God to call a
soul so hastily to his presence" said the
peddler, with solemnity.
"You speak the truth" said Dun.
woodie; 'and a few brie; hours shall be
added to your life. But as your offenss
sure to meet a soldiers vengeance; you
die tomorrow"
'Tis as God wills"
II have spent many a good hour to
entrap the villain" said the Skinner, "and
l hope you will give me certificate that
will entitle us to the reward"
Major Dunwoodie," said the officer of
the day, entering the room, 'the patrols
report a house to be burnt near yester-
days battle-ground"
Twas the hut Of the peddler," NUT
tered the leader of the gang; I'VE have
not left him a shingle for shelter;
should have burnt it months ago, but I
wanted his shed for a trap to catch the
sly fox in"
you seem a most ingenious patriot"
said Lawton. major Dunwoodie, l Sec
ond the request of this worthy gentleman,
and crave the Office of bestowing the re-
ward on him and his fellows"
Take it-and you, miserable man, pre-
pare for the fate which will surely befall
you before the setting of to-morrow's
SUM-"
Life offers but little to tempt me
WITH" said Harvey gazing wildly at the
strange faces in the apartment
Come, worthy children of America :"
said Lawton, follow and receive your re-
ward"
The gang eagerly accepted the invita-
tion, and followed the captain toward the
quarters assigned to his troop. Dunwoodie
paused moment, from reluctance to tri-
umph over q fallen foe, before he pro-
ceeded.
"You have already been tried. Harvey
Birch, and the truth has proved you to
be an enemy too dangerous to the liberties
of America to be suffered to live"
THE TRUTH" echoed the peddler, start
ting.
"Ay the truth; you were charged with
lettering near the continental army, to
gain intelligence of it's movements, and,
by communicating them to the enemy, to
enable him to frustrate the intentions Of
Washington"
"Will Washington say so, think your
Doubtless he would"
"No, no, no." cried the peddler, In a
voice and with a manner that startled
Dunwoode; washington can see beyond
the hollow views of pretended patriots"
Have you anything, wretched man, to
urge to the commander-in-chief why you
should not die?" said the major.
Birch trembled. His face assumed the
CHASTITY paleness of death, and his hand
drew a box of tin from the folds of hhs
shirt; he opened it, showing by the act
that it contained small piece of paper;
on this document his eye was for an in
stant fxed-he had already held it toward
Dunwoode, when, suddenly withdrawing
his hand, he exclaimed
Not dies with me; know the con-
ditions of my service, and will not pur-
chase life with their forfeiture"
Deliver that paper and you may pos
sibly find favor" cried Dunwoodie, ex-
pecting a discovery OF importance to the
cause.
''It dies with me-" repeated Birch, a
flush passing over his pallid features,
and lighting them with extraordinary
brilliancy.
Seize the traitor cried the major,
"and wrest the secret from his hands,"
The order was Immediately obeyed but
the movements of the peddler were too
quick; in an instant he swallowed the
paper.
Dunwoodie whispered his orders In the
ear of a subaltern, and motioned to the
peddler to withdraw. The interruption
caused by this scene prevented further
enjoyment around the table, and the Off
GERS dispersed to their several places Of
rest. In short time the only noise to
be heard was the heavy tread of the sem
tinel, as he paced the frozen ground In
front Of the Hotel Flanagan.
Ito be continued.)