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

GONE back with me-" he said to the
man, land after referring the matter
to the general in chief you may go on
With it for all me-. am lot person
ally Interested in the correspondence
Of women"
The man looked about him. as II
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
words:
II suppose l shall have to accom-
pany you. sir, though 1t will delay ME
in my journey. and I hoped to be in
the city before dark"
Captain Stewart marched the man
before him. keeping a watch upon him
the while. On passing through q
thicket that lined the road on either
side the prisoner-for he was nothing
~else-being for a moment screened
from Stewart. threw the letter into
some bushes. The captain caught
sight Of 1t just before 1t fell and, rid.
ing to it, ~dismounted. found it and
put it in his pocket.
All doubt that something al wrong
had now vanished. Coming to some
vedettes, Stewart called to them to
take charge of the prisoner and bring
him to Washington's headquarters,
while he rode On. In a short while he
was in the generals private Office.
"There, general" he said, throwing
down the letter. II fear it 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 q wo-
mans hand. and all the instincts Of a
gentleman rose up within him against
opening it. 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. 1t was some time be-
fore he spoke.
Captain be said presently, 'tbring
Janice Arbuckle to me-"
Stewart went out and Janice return
ed with him just as the bearer Of the
IokAz,. ~~x1 ~ ,r1I,11 Srlo A1.o -1,&1ro1s,
office.
Mistress Arbuckle,'' said the gen.
eral, '.from whom did you get the in
formation contained in this letter."
II decline to tell your excellency."
"Who is this man?" pointing to the
prisoner.
II decline to tell your excellency."
II will tell who 1 am" said the man.
ut shall not be said that l screened
myself behind a woman's skirts. l am
Lieutenant Birkenhead, Of his majes-I
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. l wrote the
general commanding to send some
trusted person here since I desired to
return a letter to New York and there
ne conveyance"
Enough" said the general in chief.
"Tbe lady's word ave 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, 81 must ask your father to
give his word that you will keep your
room till, I give you permission to
leave 1t. You. SIR" to the prisoner.
twill be confined under careful watch
in a military prison until the indie
pendence of the colonies is acknowl-
edged by your sovereign. Captain
Stewart, will you e that what I have
ordered is carried out?"
Captain Stewart took the two to his
Office. where he handed Janice Ar
buckle a chair and babe her wait his
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
one thing-how did you become ac-
quainted with this information you
endeavored to impart to-
1.-THE officers Of our lawful king"
she interrupted. II will tell you.
was in this house not long ago sitting
a room separated from another by
I thin door. I overheard the general
iictating a dispatch covering the
matter"