Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-07-02
Then why do you keep a secret

from met.
Tom made no reply. Phoebe studied
his countenance for awhile, then said:
tom. I'm for the king"
"You don't mean 1t. Phoeber'
Eyes. do, and believe you're real
~ on the same side"
"Are you telling the truth. phoebe?
ITO be sure i am. want to make
some money. Tom. | can easily over
hear the general when he talks with
his officers. and would like to get
some information to General Howe.
Could you take 1t for me?'
II can do better than that for you
sweetheart. I've got chance to make
some money myself. ri divide with
you. Together we can make a good
deal. Meet me tonight after lights are
out on the river bank"
Phoebe. who was trying to worm
Toms secret out of him. let him go re-
luctantly, fearing that be might gath
er caution and refuse to trust her
He did regret having placed 50 much
confidence in her, but he realized that
he had gone too far to retreat When
she met him on the river bank be gave
her the whole story.
When the Revolution broke out and
the people of New York rose against
the authority OF the king. the governor
Of the province, Tryen. fed to the war
ship Asia, the vessel Of which Phoebe
had spoken There he plotted-or.
rather, continued to plot--for Washing
tons assassination. He bribed Tom
Hickey, member of Washington's
life guard, to poison the generals food
Hickey. as soon Ms Phoebe had avow
ed herself royalist, realizing that she
would be able to do the work more cas-
lily than he. proposed the scheme to her.
Phoebe was thunderstruck. Fortu-
nately 1t was dark on the river bank,
her face at bis proposal She pretend
ed for awhile to be ayerse to the plan.
but when Hickey held before her the
reward they would receive and how il
would enable them to marry and live
In comfort she feigned to yield and
called for the poison. Tom gave her
powder. and she. after enduring his
caresses for a few moments. slipped
away from him and returned to head
quarters.
The general was engaged in dictat-
ing dispatches to his aid-de-camp. Cap
tain Hamilton. and as soon as Hamil
ton left the room Phoebe knocked and
was hidden to enter. Closing the door
behind her, she revealed the plot she
had drawn from Hickey.
"Whatr exclaimed Washington. Are
these men, not content with being ty
rants, ambitious to be murderers?"
Phoebe. who stood In great awe of
the commander, was about to with
draw when he stopped her.
II am anxious" he said. Ito fix this
crime upon the man who has instigat
ed 1t. shall not arrest this miserable
tool till you have drawn all the evi
dence from him 1t is possible for you
to get. Meet him again tomorrow; pre-
tend to be assured that you will re
and have him-if you can prevail upon
him to do so-get for you the names Of
as many persons involved in the plot
as you can
Phoebe signified her willingness to
do all In her power. The general took
the powder from her and gave it to his
medical director with an order to an
alyze it and report to him concerning
it 1t proved to he yirulent poison.
The next day Phoebe brought the
general considerable evidence, some Of
1t written. involving a number Of per
sons. Having got all the information
that seemed to be Forthcoming. Wash
ington sent out parties Of soldiers to
arrest those within his lines who were
implicated Hickey was arrested at
the same time. Phoebe saw him led
past under guard and said to him:
"Youwould be murderer! You thought
to use me In your effort to xii! the fin
est man in America. You will be hang
ed, and it will serve you rightr'
at his trial Phoebe Fraunces was the
principal witness. Washington was
especially DESTROYS to fix the intended
crime on Governor Tryon. and BY
Phoebe's testimony. or, rather. the evil
dence she had drawn from Hickey, he
was enabled to do so Hickey was
found guilty and sentenced to be hang
ed. The sentence was executed in due
course of time.
What became Of Phoebe Fraunces
history does not state. Had she not
succeeded in worming the secret out
| Of Tom Hickey Washington might
have gone down under the attempt Of
| the British to eliminate him from the
struggle.