La Junta tribune., 1908-11-14


dress II TO Uncic Jnmcs Dnxgetts inn.
Market square. HOstO0.''
With that Captain John Disappeared
WarhiugiUn's messenger. having par
taken of some Of the sparkling cider
snd Incoanpn nIHbie gingerbread with
which Poliy's larder was always sup
Piled. made his how ami departed to
eros. the river and return to Ills con-
mansler.
Then Polly fligly 1ew TO her little
room. where she read with eacerness
the foIiowin: letter;
Hewbury n York. ID March. i,u.
In behalf os the Command Of which ~.
Brother Capt D.y Is m esteemed Mem
her. beg to express tn. pleasure his
Company has found In the h.ausnt evil
d,nce OF your Loyalty and Handiwork
which have b~en sent to US, Hardly
Iess than the warm blankets and the hoss
Furnished by you and your Thoughtful
Friends ,o,ir ovr most savory ioav~s OF
Gingerbread are worthy OF special Hien-
ton. Permit me TO remark that thoss
who all la irE the lot Of my soIdisrs
happier in their csrip-iif~ are ~nhferring
q special favor upon yr. Host obi. Hbis.
Servt. o. WASH. Nt.IDS.
com'ding.
Al this time Two strangers. one elder
iy. the other middle Rxs.d. were guests
at the old river tavern where Polly
lived with her Aunt Nancy.
When Washingion's messenger arriv.
ed. they had been two weeks under
Aunt Naucy's bospitnbie roof. They
had announced an Intention to 90 70
I:Ostou by the following mornings
coach. and Poiiy's tirst thought was to
usk one OF them To carry her brothers
message.
hut the more she thought OF II the
more she distrusted the austere stran.
gers
NO. no. she said to herself. "it
would not I've safe But see caiebs
roam horse mt the biacksmith's. I Will
get him to carry my little box Of gin
Ierbrcad tn John In Boston,"
She stsrtei through the garden gate.
and there she met In the narrow path
the elder NJ The two guests OF the tav-
cru
Mistress Folly" he said quickly. Il
have sadly torn the sleeve of my top
coat if might make bold to ask your
service. viii you mend II FOR me before
go:r
Certainly. good sir. she replied. Il
shall I've glad to do So as soon as ~
turn from an crrand to the blacksmith
shop" And on she went.
Caleb. she said with almost defer
enc.. Ms II she were talking to Wash.
ington himself. Il want to send boz
OF gingerbread to my brother John In
Boston by totnorrow's stage. II he
cannot I've found at Uncle James Dag
gett's inn on Marker square. yOu may
learn there where he IL. You must put
II into his hands yourself. remember"
Caleb gladly consented. and after
few minutes chat Polly tripped back
ocross the Held.
Ills eyes were not the only pair that
watched her ~ she went. Their entire
conversation had been overheard by =
young man with red hair who had
come by the last stage from New
York.
oh. II I only had more time "
think what II best TO be done"
thought poor Polly ~ she sat down to
write to her brother.
tttF tAtS teuf'ttu INV w oUh
thoughts ~ she fulfilled her promise Of
men,ling the torn topcoat In ti,e twi-
light that evening Both OF the two
strange guests were present, and %
wus Aunt Nancy. For some moments
the elder siest watched her deft nn-
gers IN Silence. Then. liking his eyes
npou her face he said quietly:
Il hope the young man who came to-
day brought you no bad tidings:''
''Oh. none at ali.'' said Polly quietly.
Il viii tell you why asked" he
went on after moments pause. To
night from where l sit I have twice
seeu young man about the SAME age
of the one who called today approach
the rear Of the house ~ II looking for
some one lsncs he look for your
Folly started perceptihly. A re~tonse
was on her lips whcn--crHsh! down
came an eartheu bowl in which plant
was blooming. II had i,een knocked
from soIue upper window. and its fs~8-
lI1enis scattered close to the doorstep
In the hard. smooth garden walk.
"Poiiy Day. Who's in your room 7"
cried Aunt Nancy
The older g,iest started up the stair
way and reached the upper landing
Just in time to see slender young man
half run. half slide. down the long slop-
ing rear roof.
After the premises had been thor
oughiy examined aud :he still excited
old lady had been lei back to her seat
Polly held mp small, square parcel
which the Intruder had dropped as be
sprang from the roof.
..See.'' said Folly. holding uP the
package. THE man only tried TO get
the box OF gingerbread that had all
ready to send to Brother J0hn by to-
norrow's coach. Poor man. Perhaps
be was hungry"
Caleb called bright and early the aeKt