Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1910-02-25

from Stewart. threw the letter into
some bushes. The captain caught
sight Of 1t just before Ii fell and. rid
ing to 1t. dlsmoanted. found it and
put ii in his pocket
All doubt that something was wrong
had now vanished. Coming to some
vedettes. Stewart called 10 them to
take charge Of the prisoner and bring
him TO washington's headquarters,
while he rode on In q short while he
was in the generals private office.
There. general" be ssid. throwing
down the letter. Il fear it contains
something of moment destined for our
enemies"
Washington looked at the tiny mis-
sive, read the address-'sTo Mistress
Sarah Scudder. on the Bowling Green,
City of New York"-wrftten In . wo-
mans hand. and all the instincts OF
gentleman rose up within him against
opening It. But after an account Of
what had occurred after Stewart over
took its bearer be broke the seal with
ont further ado. The letter contained
. summary Of the disposition being
made for the coming Yorktown cam
paign and information that such cam
paign was soon to b. inaugurated.
Composed % was the commanders
nature. = slight tinss OF palloe came
over his face. It was some time b.
fore he spoke.
Captain" he said presently. bring
Janice Arbuckle to me-"
Stewart went out and janice return
ed with him just a. 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 letter."
II decline to tell your excelleney."
"Who is this man?r pointing to the
prisoner.
81 decline to tell your excellency."
81 will tell who I am said the man.
1T shall not be said that | screened
myself behind woman's skirts. | am
Lieutenant Birkenhead. of his majes-
tvs til 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 l desired to
eturn b letter 10 New York and there
was no conveyance"
Enough" said the general In chief.
"Tbe lady's word saves you. sir. from
the halter"
The case of Major Andre was doubt
less fresh in Washington's mind, and
he was not disposed to enter upon an
other such case.
Mistress Arbuckle." continued the
general. II must ask your father to
give his word that you will keep your
room till give you permission to
leave 1t. You. SIR" to the prisoner.
twill be confined under careful watch
In q military prison until the indie
pendenee of the colonies Ia acknowl-
edged by your sovereign. Captain
Stewart. will you see that what have
ordered is carried outT
Captain Stewart took the two to his
Office. where he handed Janice Ar
buckle chair and babe 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
eddy.
Janice he said presently. tell me
quainted with this Information you
endeavored to impart to-
THE officers Of our lawful king"
she interrupted. 81 will tell you. !
was in this house not long ago sitting
in room separated from another by
thin door. | overheard the general
debating dispatch covering the
whole natter
Stewart was silent for a moment
He was very much moved and was
breathing heavily.
81 am surprised" he said at last.
that you should have told me a.
Il told you nothing, except that the
bearer of my letter did not know its
contents. He did not"
'If you should give your word not to
attempt further to communicate this
10 our eDtluieS. Wbulu tou tOu-
slider 1t your duty to break 1t for your
kingY
Yes, / would"
''Then ! shall take the responsibility
Of combining you under guard" he
taid, land 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,
hut before departing he directed that
Janice Arbuckle be confined In her
room at her fathers house. with
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.
D reply she made a face" at him.
vertheless few months later she
arried him. Washington gracing the
remony with his presence.