The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-01-16

"'' ''"'tH'tH Win care, occasionally
Questioning the aide Once he paused.
and glanced across at Hamilton.
Colonel do you know a dragon
named Mortimer"
i have no recollection of ever hay.
ing met the man sir / have written
nm orders, however he Is a scout at.
iachcd to General Lees headquar.
tiers"
Yes; recall the name. He Is tho
one VINO brought ~ our first definite
information this morning Of Clinton's
position | remember now. you we're
not with me when he rode up
young slender lad with the face of
girl ! could but notice hts eyes;
thoy were as soft and blue az yiolets!
Wen, IN hour agJ he came here for
favor; 1t seems the boy is son OF
Colonel Mortimer. Of the queens
rangers"
Indeed; Wayne reported the colo
mel Killed IN front OF his lines"
Not Killed but seriously wounded
The son asked permission 10 take him
home to a place called Elmhurst near
Laurel Ilill"
i kno" IN" plantation. sir" ! said,
my interest causing me to interrupt.
II Is on the Modford road
All, you have mot the lad POSSIBLY.
major" and he turned his face to.
ward me-. The boy Interested me
greatly"
No. sir, cndonyorod TO find him
at Lees headquarters, but failed. I
have met his. father and sister"
"A lovely girl, no doubt"
TO my mind, yes sir"
Ills grave face lighted with a sud.
den smile.
Il sometimes imagine. Colonel Ham.
lIton," he said quietly. that this I'M.
happy war might be- very pleasantly
concluded II We could only turn our
young officers over to the ladies Of the
enemy Would such plan meet with
your approval MAJOR"
u should prefer it to the present
method"
No 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.
! gave the boy permission to remove
hts father, and they are upon the road
Gre this. ! would that all the British
wounded had homes close mt hand.
You have informed the major Of his
mission, ! presume, Hamilton, and
there is nothing need add"
"lic undortanla clearly. sir"
Then viii complete the letter. Re
seated, gentlemen"
He wrote Tor several minutes stead. |
tly once uausiuE to consult map. .
signed the paper. ana enclosed it in |
another sheet across which he /,
scratched a line Of address. /
You will deliver this to General /
Arnold In person. major; DO not SPARE
You we're in the action
today"
with MaXwclls brigade"
THAT was a hard fight along the
stone wall; you came ont uuhurt?"
|
Ing to incapacitato me from duty
Very well: take ten Dragons as
escort Hamilton will write you an
order. have told Arnold orr victory
Is practically complete Clinton may
slip away in the night for he Is n
willy old fox, but he has lost his pow.
ar to iniure us In the Jerseys. hone
o bottle him up before morning. so
hat any retreat will be impossible,
)ut even IL he succeeds in getting his
army to tho transports at Sandy
look. he has lost prestige. and the
'ictory is ours Goodbye, major. and
he Lord guard you on your journey"
Ten minutes later, mounted on a
angy sorrel, my Dragon escort trot.
ing behind ! rode south on the
road, as swiftly as its ter.
ible condition would warrant.
The evidences of war the wreck.
re OF battle, were everywhere Sew.
raj times we were compelled to lean
he stone walls 10 permit the passage
( marching troops being hurried to
ONE new position; several batteries
assed us. rumblinE Grimly through
he night, and a squadron of horse &
alloped by the troopers greeting us y
18th shouts OF inquiry. f
We took to the fields. but. as there c
eemed no end TO the procession, | h
Irned my horses head eastward. con. h
dent We were already beyond the
ritish rear.Euard. and struck out n
cross country for another north and
,uth road We advanced now at n t,
wift trot the sound OF our horses h
oofs on the soft turf almost the only |
Dlse. and. within an hour. came again
parallel fences, and a well travelled W
lad L
This was the road running n mile, 81
: so, to the west OF Elmhurst. II 81
d az straight as any. toward Phia. g
slphia. but whatever stragGlers the II
rtish army had left behind would
. found along here. However. they ID
ould probably he scattered fugitives et
willing to interfere with as strong
! armed party as this of mine. II IN
was alone II would be safer to turn NJ
ide. Then, 1t was strong tempta. ly