The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-06-30
"Then why do you keep secret

"Then why do you keep a secret
from me2'
Tom made no reply. Phoebe studied
his countenance for awhile, then said:
TON. I'm for the king"
You don't mean it, Phoebe"
Yes, do, and believe you're real
ly on the same side"
Are you telling the truth, PhoebeT
ITO be sure l 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 it for me?"
II can do better than that for you,
sweetheart. I've got chance TO make
some money myself. I'll divide with
you. Together we can make 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 he might gath
er caution and refuse to trust her.
He did regret having placed so much
confidence in her, but he realized that
he had gone too far to retreat. When
she met him on the river bank he 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, Tryon, fed to the war
ship Asia, the vessel Of which Phoebe
had spoken. There he plotted-or,
rather, continued to plot--for Washing
toms assassination. He bribed Tom
Hickey, a member of Washington S
life guard, to poison the generals food.
Hickey, as soon as 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,
and Hickey could not see the horror in
her face at his proposal. She pretend
ed for awhile to be averse to the plan.
but when Hickey held before her the
reward they would receive and how 1t
would enable them to marry and live
in comfort she feigned to yield and
called for the poison. Tom gave her a
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 bidden to enter. Closing the door
behind her. she revealed the plot she
had drawn from Hickey.
"Whatw exclaimed Washington, "Are
these men. not content with being ty-
rants, ambitious to he murderers?"
Phoebe. who stood in great awe of
the commander, was about to with
draw when he stopped her.
~ am anxious" he said, Ito fix this
crime upon the man who has instigat.
ed ii. | shall not arrest this miserable
tool till you have drawn all the evi-
dence from him it is possible for you
to get. Meet him again tomorrow; pre-
tend to be assured that you will re
ceive the reward for my assassination
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 signifed her willingness to
do all IN her power. The general took
the powder from her and gave 1t to his
medical director with an order to an
alyze II and report to him concerning
It. 1t proved to be virulent poison.
The next day Phoebe brought the
general considerable evidence, some OF
II written, involving number of per
sons, Having got all the information
that seemed to be forthcoming, Wash
ington sent out parties OF soldiers tC
arrest those within his lines who were
implicated, Hickey was arrested al
the same time. Phoebe saw him led
past under guard and said to him:
"You would be murderer! You thought
10 use me in your effort to kill the fin
est man in America. You will be hang
ed, and ii will serve you right!'
At his trial Phoebe Fraunces was the
principal witness. Washington was
especially desirOus to fix the intended
crime on Governor Tryon. and by
Phoebe's testimony. or. rather the evi
dence she had drawn from Hickey hi
was enabled to do So Hickey wa'
found guilty and sentenced to be hang
ed. The sentence was executed in du,
course OF time
What became of Phoebe Fraunce'
history does not state, Had she no
succeeded In worming the secret on
Of Tom Hickey, Washington mlgh
have gone down under the attempt o
the British to eliminate him from til,
struggle.