Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-12-20

TIC HAolS SLOWLY Dis though framing
his sentences with care, occasionally
Questioning the aide. Once he paused,
and glanced across at Hamilton.
Colonel, do you know Dragon
named Mortimer"
i have no recollection Of ever hay-
ing met the man, sir. | have written
him orders, however; he is a scout at
taehed to General Lees headquar-
ters"
Yes; recall the name. He is the
one who brought us our first definite
information this morning Of Clintons
position. ! remember now. you were
not with me when he rode up
young, slender lad, with the face Of
a girl. | could but notice his eyes;
they were as soft and blue as violets!
Well, an hour ago he came here for
favor; it seems the boy is a son of
Colonel Mortimer. of the queens
rangers"
Indeed; Wavne reported the colo
mel killed in front of his lines"
mot killed, but seriously wounded
The son asked permission to take him
home to place called Elmhurst near
Laurel HILL"
Il know the plantation, sir" said.
my interest causing me to interrupt
1T is on the Medford road"
"Ah, you have met the lad. possibly.
major" and he turned his face to-
ward me. "The boy interested me
greatly"
mo, sir; endeavored to find him
at Lees headquarters, but failed.
have met his father and sister"
"A lovely girl. no doubt"
ITO my mind, yes. sir
His grave face lighted with sud
den smile.
Il sometimes imagine. Colonel Ham
ilton." he said quietly, that this I'M
happy war might be very pleasantly
concluded If we could only turn our
young officers over to the ladies of the
enemy Would such plan meet with
your approval. major?"
Il should prefer it to the present
method"
mo doubt, and Mistress Mortimer
/ 7Dhl ACt thaI pass Until We uOlu
council of war upon the subject. Just
now we shall have to be content with
| the more ordinary plans of campaign.
gave the boy permission to remove
his father, and they are upon the road
ere this. would that all the British
wounded had homes close at hand.
You have informed the major of his
mission, presume, Hamilton, and
there is nothing need add"
HE understands clearly, sir"
Then | will complete the letter. Be
seated. gentlemen"
He wrote for several minutes stead
lily, once pausing to consult map,
signed the paper, and enclosed it in
another sheet, across which he
scratched line of address.
"You will deliver this to General
Arnold in person. major: do not spare
] horse-fesh. You were in the action
today?"
with Maxwell's brigade"
"That was hard fight along the
stone wall; you came out unhurt?"
"A slight bayonet wound sir; moth
ing to ineapacitate me from duty"
VERY well; take ten dragons as
escort. Hamilton will write you an
order. have told Arnold our victory
Is practically complete. Clinton may
slip away in the night, for he is a
willy old fox, but he has lost his pow
er to injure us in the Jerseys. | hope
to bottle him up before morning so
/ that any retreat will be impossible.
| out even If he succeeds in getting his
army to the transports at Sandy
Hook. he has lost prestige, and the
victory is ours Goodbye. major, and
the Lord guard you on your journey
| Ten minutes later. mounted on a
rangy sorrel, my dragon escort trot-
| ting behind. l rode south on the
| Plainsboro road. as swiftly as its ter
! rible condition would warrant.
/ The evidences of war, the wreck
age of battle, were every where. Sew
eral times we were compelled to leap
the stone walls to permit the passage
of marching troops being hurried to
some new position; several batteries
passed us, rumbling gyimly through
the night, and squadron OF horse
galloped by, the troopers greeting us
with shouts of inquiry.
We took to the fields, butt as there
seemed no end to the procession. /
turned my horses head eastward con-
fident we were already beyond the
British rear-guard. and struck out
across country for another north and
south road We advanced now at a
swift trot. the sound of our hoeses'
hoofs on the soft turf almost the only
noise. and. within an hour. came sgain
TO parallel fences, and well travelled
road.
This was the road running a mile
or so. to the west of Elmhurst II
, led as straight as any, toward Phila
| delphia. but whatever stragglers the