The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-05-08

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"A moment, gentlemen"
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 a dragoon
named Mortimer"
II have no recollection of ever hav-
ing met the man, sir. | have written
him orders, however; he Is a scout at
tached to General Lees h~eadquar-
ters."
Yes; recall the name. He is the
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. could but notice his eyes;
they were az soft and blue as violets!
Well, an hour ago he came here for
a favor; It seems the boy is a 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 to take him
home to a place called Elmhurst near
Laurel HILL"
II know the plantation, SIR" ! said,
my interest causing me to interrupt.
1T In 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; / e~ndeavored 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 a sud
den smile.
II sometimes imagine. Colonel Ham
ilton," he said quietly, that this un-
happy war might be very pleasantly
concluded II we could only turn our
young officers over to the ladies of the
enemy. Would such a plan meet with
your approval. major?"
II 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 remov
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. I 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 a map.
signed the paper. and enclosed 1t in
another sheet. across which he
scratched a line of address.
"You will deliver this to General
Arnold In person. major; do not spare
horse-hesh. 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. hope
to bottle him up before morning, 10
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 o 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 Il 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
fdent we were already beyond the
British rear-guard. and struck out
across country for another north and
south road. We advanced nov at q
swift trot. the sound OF u horses
hoofs on the soft turf almost the only
noise, and. within an honr. came again
to parallel fences. and q well travelled
road.
This was the road running q mile.
! or 90. to the west Of Elmhurst. II
led as straight Is 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.
unwillins to interfere with AZ strong
am armed party Ms this or mine. II
was alone Il would be safer to turn
aside. Then. II was . strong tempta-
4 49, -. - uoua thrrm <IoaA 20 WlDo.