The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-02-16
.ATory Ruse
How General Washington
Kept Information From
Reaching the Enemy.
By VIRGINIA BARROW.
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

north of New York city, is house
which during the Revolutionary war
was occupied by General Washington
for his headquarters. 1t is square
frame house standing in the center of
perhaps half an acre of ground, and IN
niche in the wall separating the
premises from the road is monu-
ment with an inscription stating the
fact that Washington worked there.
Indeed in that house he planned the
Yorktown campaign, which closed the
struggle for American independence.
One morning girl of twenty stood
in one of the rooms on the ground
floor of this building-they We're all
occupied for offices by members of
Washington's staff-while young
man in the uniform of captain sat
at the desk writing. When he had
finished he handed her slip of paper,
saying;
There is the pass, Janice. Remem-
bcr. l am responsible that he who
uses 1t is a patriot and will give no in
formation to the British concerning
what he has seen here. General Wash
ington has no time to attend to such
matters himself and delegates the is
sue of all passes to me. | say this to
you because know you to belong to
Tory family, and | understand that
your sympathies are with the red
| coats
Il shall send letter by him." re-
piled the girl. "to friend OF mine In
New York He will not know what
the letter contains
Sweetheart" said the young man
impulsiyely. Il would not give this
permit 10 any other living person than
you"
The captain was sitting in one Of
the front rooms of the house overlook
ing the Hudson river and the heights
beyond But he did not see the river
or sloop that was lazily drifting
down with the tide or the heights be.
yond. lie was thinking that he had
committed an objectionable error Ia
yielding to the persuasions of one he
loved and rlsking possibly the very
cause of American independence.
Presently he sprang up and went into
| the Office of the commander in chief.
Washington, who was studying n map
Of that part of Virginia bordering on
| the Atlantic. looked up as the young
man entered.
General" said the aid, II am fear
| full of having committed an error"
What Is il. captainf" asked the gen
eral anxiously, seeing that Captain
| Stewart appeared TO have something
OF Importance on his mind
Janice Arbuckle has asked me for
n pass for n friend of hers to 20
through the lines to New York. /
have given 1t TO her"
DO you know who this friend OF
hers isf'
Il confess l do not, general"
Washington made no reply for few
moments. He appeared to be think
Ing
THE Arbuckles are arrant Tories.
1t has occurred TO me only today that
their hospitality to us may be to cover
some deep laid scheme to benefit our
enemies. Go after this man and as
'uit spbi sNii mat ut Dt SuItIN
trusted TO go through"
81 will, general"
Captain Stewart hurrledly left the
office OF his command, and, going to
stable near by. horse was led ont
to him. The captain mounted and gal
loped down the main road leading to-
New York. He had reached a point
not far north Of Spuyten Duyvil creek.
the northern boundry of Manhattan
Island when he overlook n citizen
trudging al 1g slowly Stewart accest.
ed him. ASKING him whittier he wa
going.
"To New York" the man replied
Have yor permit to go through
the Continental lines?" asked the cap.
tain.
THAT ] have" replied the pedes-
TRAN. 81 have the pass Of General
Washington himself"
Let me see it,"
The man showed the pass Stewart
had written and given to Janice Ar
buckle but short time before.
"This is indeed his excellency's pass"
said Stewart. but ! am instructed to
see that no one passes our lines with
any communication upon his person.
/ shall have to search you"
The man turned pale. 81 have with
me-" he said ''only letter from Mis-
tress Janice Arbuckle to a friend in
New York. You would not examine n
lady's epistle, would your
Stewart felt a twinge Of shame at
distressing the girl he loved. Had 1t
not been for the change In the mans
countenance on being asked for papers
he might not have pursued the matter
further. AS 1t was and remembering
his commanders instructions, he called
for the letter.
The man hesitated las a man." he
said, Il protest against being forced
to show letter committed to my care
by lady. Perchance you who make
this demand may not belong among
those chivalrous people who are above
examining lady's correspondence"
Had 1t not been for the influence
washington exerted even when not
present the tannt would have prevent
ed the young man, who was chivalrous
to fault. from OBTAINING the letter Of
lady. and that lady the woman be
loved.
"Come back with me-" he said to the
man, land after referring the matter
to the general In chief you may go ON
with 1t for all me. am not person
ally interested In the correspondence
of women"
The man looked about him, as IL
weighing the chances Of a refusal
Then he said, with evident reluctance
Indeed, there was a melancholy In
his reply that did not appear in his