The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-11-16

he wrote slowly. as though framing
his sentences with care. occasionally
questioning the aide. Once he paused.
and glanced across at Hamilton.
Colonel. do you know q dragon
named Mortimer"
Il have no recollection Of ever hav-
ing met the man. sir. I have written
him orders, however; he Is q scout at
tached to General Lees headquar-
ters"
Yes; l recall the name. He is the
one who brought US our first definite
information this morning Of Clinton's
position. remember now. you were
not with me when he rode up
young. slender lad. with the face OF
a girl. l could but notice his eyes:
they were as soft and blue as violets!
Well, an hour ago he came here for
a favor; It seems the boy 10 q son OF
Colonel Mortimer. of the queens
rangers"
Indeed: Wayne reported the colo
mel killed in front of his lines"
mot killed. but seriously wounded.
The son asked permission to take him
home to a place called Elmhurst near
Laurel HILL"
Il know the plantation. SIR" l said.
my interest causing me to interrupt.
'It 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: l endeavored to find him
at Lees headquarters, but failed.
have met his father and sister"
"A lovely girl, no doubt"
"To my mind. yes, SIR"
His grave face lighted with sud
den smile.
Il sometimes imagine, Colonel Ham,
ilton," he said quietly, that this un-
happy war might be very pleasantly
concluded IL we could only turn our
young officers over to the ladies Of the
enemy. Would such plan meet with
your approval. major?"
81 should prefer 1t to the present
| method"
mo doubt and Mistress Mortimer?
But let that pass, until We hold
council of war upon the subject. Just
now we shall have to be content with
the more ordinary plans Of Campaign.
| I gave the boy permission to remove
his father. and they are upon the road
ere this. I 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 l need add"
HE understands clearly, sir"
Then 1 will complete the letter. Be
seated. gentlemen"
He wrote for several minutes stead
lily. once pausing to consult a 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-flesh. You were in the action
today?"
with Maxwell's brigade"
THAT was a hard fight along the
stone wall; you came out unhurt?"
"a slight bayonet wound. sir; moth
ing to incapacitate me from duty"
VERY well: take ten dragons as
escort Hamilton will write you an
order. l have told Arnold our victory
Is practically complete. Clinton may
slip away in the night. for he is
| willy old fox. but he has lost his pow
er to injure us in the Jerseys. l hope
to bottle him up before morning, so
| that any retreat will be impossible,
but even II 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. az swiftly as its ter
rible condition would warrant.
The evidences of war, the wreck
age of battle. were everywhere. 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 grimly through
the night. and a squadron of horse
galloped by. the troopers greeting US
with shouts Of inquiry.
We took to the fields, but, as there
seemed no end to the procession I
turned my horses head eastward. con-
f1dent we were already beyond the
British rearguard, and struck out
across country for another north and
south road. We advanced now at
swift trot. the sound OF our horses
hoofs on the soft turf almost the only
noise. and, within an hour, came again
to parallel fences. and . well travelled
road.
This was the road running mile.
or SO, to the west of Elmhurst. 1t
led as straight as any. toward Phila-
delphia. but whatever stragglers the
British army had left behind would
be found along here. However. they
would probably be scattered fugitives.