The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-02-18

AT.oryRuse
How General WASHINGTON
Kept Information From
Reaching the Enemy.
By VIRGINIA BARROW.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

At Dobbs Ferry, some thirty miles
north of New York city, is a house
which during the Revolutionary war
was occupied by General Washington
for his headquarters. 1t is a square
frame house standing in the center Of
perhaps half an acre of ground, and in
a niche in the wall separating the
premises from the road is a 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 a girl Of twenty stood
in one Of the rooms on the ground
floor Of this building-they were all
occupied for offices by members of
Washington's staff-while a young
man in the uniform of a captain sat
at the desk writing. When he had
finished he handed her a slip of paper,
saying:
"There is the pass, Janice. Remem-
Der, 1 am responsible that he who
uses it is a patriot and will give no in
formation to the British concerning
what he has seen here. General Wash
tngton has no time to attend to such
matters himself and delegates the is
sue Of all passes to me. l say this to
you because 1 know you to belong to
a Tory family, and 1 understand that
your sympathies are with the red
coats"
II shall send a letter by him." re-
piled the girl, ito q friend Of mine in
New York. He will not know what
the letter contains"
Sweetheart" said the young man
impulsively, II would not give this
permit to 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
OF a sloop that was lazily drifting
down with the tide or the heights be-
You'd. He was thinking that he had
committed an objectionable error in
yielding to the %persuasions Of one he
loved and risking 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 a map
Of that part Of Virginia bordering on
the Atlantic, looked up as the young
man entered.
General" said the aid, 81 am fear
ful Of having committed an error"
what is it, captain?" asked the gen.
eral anxiously, seeing that Captain
Stewart appeared to have something
Of Importance on his mind.
"Janice Arbuckle has asked me for
q pass for q friend Of hers to go
through the lines to New York. I
have given it to her."
"Do you know who this friend of
hers ISL"
II confess l do not, general"
Washington made no reply for a 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
sure yourself that he may be safely
trusted to so through"
II will, general"
Captain Stewart hurriedly left the
Office Of his command, and, going to
a. stable near by, a horse was led out
to him. The captain mounted and gal
Hoped 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 a citizen
trudging along slowly. Stewart accost-
ed him, asking him whittier he was
going.
ITO New York." the man replied.
"Have you a permit to go through
the Continental lines?' asked the cap
tain.
''That l have" replied the pedes-
trian. II 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 q. short time before.
saThis is indeed his excellency's pass
said Stewart, but I am instructed to
zee that no one passes our lines with
any communication upon his person.
I shall have to search you"
The man turned pale. II have with
me-" he said, 'only a letter from Mis-
tress Janice Arbuckle to a friend in
New York. You would not examine q
glady's epistle, would you?"
Stewart felt a twinge Of shame at
d~iatrusting the girl he loved. Had It
not been for the change in the mans
countenance on being asked for papers
he might not have pursued the matter
further. As It was and remembering
his commanders instructions, he called
for the letter.
The man hesitated. "As q man." he
said,, II protest against being forced
tosshsw a letter committed to my care
by . lady. Perchance you who make
this demand may not belong among
those chivalrous people who are above
examining q lady's correspondence"
Had Il not been for the influence
Washington exerted even when not