The Press., 1910-09-07

while he rode oi1 III short while he was in the generals private office.
 'There. general he said, throwing down the letter. T fear 1t contains something of moment destined for our enemies"
 Washington looked at the tiny mis- sive, read the address-"To Mistress Sarah Scudder, on the Bowling Green. City of New York"-written in a wo- mans hand. and all the instincts of a gentleman rose up within him against opening 1t. But after an account of what had occurred after Stewart over took its bearer he broke the seal with out further ado. The letter contained a summary of the disposition being made for the coming Yorktown cam paign and information that such cam paign was soon to be inaugurated.
 Composed as was the commanders nature, a slight tinge of pallor came over his face. It was some time be- fore he spoke.
 "Captain." he said presently, ''bring Janice Arbuckle to me-"
 Stewart went out and Janice return ed with him just as the bearer of the letter was marched into the generals office.
 Mistress Arbuckle," said the gen eral, from whom did you get the in- formation contained in this letterY'
 q decline to tell your excellency."
 "Who is this man?" pointing to the prisoner.
 q decline to tell your excellency."
 ''I will tell who am," said the man. ''It shall not be said that l screened myself behind a wOman's skirts. l am Lieutenant Birkenhead, of his majes- tvs tn foot, and am alone responsible for this attempt"
 ''He is not responsible for it." said Janice calmly. "He did not know what the letter contained. wrote the general commanding to send some trusted person here since desired to return a letter to New York and there was no conveyance" "Enoughv' said the general in chief. ''The lady's word saves you, sir, from the halter"
 The case of Major Andre was doubt less fresh i'll Washington's mind, and he was not disposed to enter upon an other such case.
 Mistress Arbuckle," continued the general, 'I must ask your father to give his word that you will keep your room till give you permission to leave it. You, sir" to the prisoner, twill be confined under careful watch in a military prison until the inde- pendence of the colonies is acknowl- edged by your sovereign. Captain Stewart. will you see that what have ordered is carried outY
 Captain Stewart took the two to his office, where he handed Janice Ar buckle a chair and bade her wait his return. Then he dispatched the pris. oner to the guardhouse, from which he was next day removed to more perma- nent quarters. Returning to Janice, he stood for a moment looking at her fix. edly.
 "Janice," he said presently, "tell me one thing did you become ac, quainted with this information you endeavored to impart to-
 'NThe officers of our lawful king" she interrupted. "I will tell you was in this house not long ago sitting in a room separated from another by thin door. I overheard the general dictating a dispatch covering the whole matter"
 Stewart was silent for moment He was very much moved and was breathing heavily
 "I am surprised" he said at last. ''that you should have told me a''-
 'I told you nothing, except that the bearer of my letter did not know its contents He did not"
 eff you should give your word not to attempt further to communicate this matter to our enemies. would you con. slider 1t your duty to break it for your kingT
 ''Yes, would"
 "Then shall take the responsibility of confining you under guard" he said, 'sand without the generals order He has enough to attend to without attempting to muzZle a woman"
 The next day Washington set out for Virginia. Stewart went with him, but before departing he directed that Janice Arbuckle be confined in her room at her fathers house, with a guard at the door and under the win dow. The situation for her remained unchanged till the surrender of Corn wallis, when Captain Stewart return ed to Dobbs Ferry and himself set her free.
 As she stepped out of her prison chamber the captain asked her to be his wife.
 Tn reply she made a "face" at him. Nevertheless a few months later she marVied him, Washington gracing the ceremony with his presence.