Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-03-31
that I owe my daughters

our Katherine would now be in the
river under the Ice"
"And pray, sir" asked the colonel
ito whom am | Indebted for this in.
valuable service?"
Captain Abernathy and Lieutenant
Muldrough looked at each other Then
Alternately said:
~ will not trouble Lieutenant Mul.
drough to tell you. that. am Cap
tain George Abernathy of his majes.
tvs service and a prisoner of war.
This morning before daylight found
loophole for escape. the sentry sta
toned at my door being dead tired and
asleep I walked out hnobserved and
under cover of the darkness skirted
the river north of Fort Clinton. Trav
ersing the pass through the mountains
stopped after daylight at Il house
where found friendly Tory. who
gave me breakfast and these clti-
zen's clothes. | was crossing the river
with view to going down on the
other side to board one of our men-of
war below when | saw your daughter
In peril You know the rest"
While this brief explanation of how
matters had come about was bGinG
given Colonel Cogswell's brow was
darkening He saw that the man tC
whom he was infinitely indebted
whom he would like to load with
favors, must be sent back under guard
to prison. Then. too. he remembered
that the Continental army had suffer.
oil flyr N rnpIy Of t.F.
and recently orders had been issued
that wherever such were found they
should be tried by drumhead courl
martial and hanged Captain Aber
nathy having changed his uniform
for citizens clothing brought him, ac.
cording to the military code. under the
letter of the law as a spy.
"Your service to me. sir. and to Lieu,
tenant Muldrough," he said. puts me
under an obligation that is incalcul"
BILE, but your kindly act has placed us
In painful position. Why. may
ask, did you not retain your uniform?
Il could not have hoped TO pass
through territory In the hands of your
troops In my dress as British officer
Yet In assuming the dress of o
civilian you risked a felon's death"
81 took my chances and lost"
Colonel Cogswell looked troubled
There was but one man who could
rectify any damage that might hav,
been done-the general in chlef-ard
he had issued the order with reference
to spies.
There. Is but one hope for u.s." said
the colonel ,gloomily, and that Is III
the magnanimity of our noble genera
in chief. But what view he may take
Of the matter it is impossible TO pre-.
diet. Whether he will consider that
the letter and not the spirit of his or.
der has been violated, whether he will
be willing to appear as one breaking
his own law, no one but himself can
decide. ,., Come; let US go to him"
They were about 20 leave the room
when a voice was heard at the head OF
the stairs:
Papa. II it had not been for my pre-,
server would nov be oh, it is hor.
rible! can't bear to think of 1t! II
any harm comes to him | will never
forgive you, even If you are my dear
father. And you. Jimmie, If you lie,
any trouble come to him you must give
me up
Hush, darlingr' said her father in
infinite pain. Keep quiet and keep
warm. You should not have been per.
mitted to overhear our conversation"
Il am glad" said the British captain.
that have heard your daughters
words. II ] must pay the penalty OF
the risk assumed shall be comfort.
ed by them"
The three men left the house and
walked to the headquarters OF the gen.
eral in chief Washington rose as they
entered and. advancing to Colonel
Cogswell, pressed his hand asking ca
gerly after the condition of his daugh
ter. After assuring the general tha
she was in no immediate danger h,
said:
And now, general. have to intro
duce the man who has preserved her
to us, Captain George Alternately of
the British army"
General Washington's face changed
from sympathy to curiosity. then as.
sumed n serious cast. And how comes
It," he asked, that Captain Abernathy
Is not in uniform?"
Lieutenant Muldrough." interposed
the colonel. will explain"
Muldrough told the story OF Aber
nathy's capture, their friendship. Abcr
nathy's escape and timely coming upon
Katherine Cogswell. General Wash
ington listened till he had finished, and
the three men stood awaiting the gen
erals decision. 1t did not come AT
once, but when 1t came 1t was spoken
with the decision of commander:
Captain Abernnthy, there Is no eyi
dence other than your clothing that
you are spy. There is sufficient evi
dence that you are not. l shall send O
flag of truce to the commander in New
York asking him to nominate one OF
our captains In his possession Of the
same lank as yours to be exchanged
for you Meanwhile l will accept your
parole to remain with us, and shall
be happy to have you and Colonel
Cogswell and Lieutenant Muldrough
dine with me today"
Short and Sweet.
Perhaps one of the shortest court
ships was that of an eminent jurist.
He was on his way to hold court In
town when he met a young woman