Rock Island Argus., 1914-01-31
The Daily Story
THE PATRIOT SPY-BY f. A.. mitchell
Copyrighted. 1919. by Associated Literary Bureau

ington while maneuvering against the
British army at New York occupied
as his headquarters. 1t is kept in ex-
cellent repair by an association organ
lied for the purpose and contains
great many relics connected with the
Father OF His Country. In the kitchen
is the same enormous fireplace, with
cooking paraphernalia, as was used In
Revolutionary times. To some the most
interesting room is one op the ground
floor, in the rear of the building that
was used by Washington as a private
office.
One spring morning in the year 1777
a young man wearing the uniform of
lieutenant of cavalry in the Continen-
tai army passed the sentry before
washington's headquarters at Morris
town. returned the mans salute and
entered the main hall. There he was
met by the generals orderly, whom he
! told to aannounce Lieutenant John
| woodville. In few moments the off,
Ger was standing in Washington's
presence.
BE seated said the commander.
turning from his desk. "I have sent
for you to do a more important work
than any with which I have yet in
trusted you. I wish you to go to New
York and If possible learn the inten-
tions of General Howe. / suspect that
he is intending to move against Phila-
delphia. II SO he must either march
across New Jersey. where he viii have
to fight US, or go by sea. If he goes by
land 1 desire to be advised of the time
he moves, that I may be prepared to
| intercept his passage. My main OBJ
ject is to SO threaten him that he will
not be able to send any more troops to
assist Burgoyne. / deem it essential
that you should understand the situa
ton in order that you may act intelli-
gently. How soon can you leave"
LAS soon as can secure disguise"
VERY we'll. Go, and remember that
our cause may depend upon your sue
cess"
Lieutenant Woodville left his COM
mander and within an hour, in the
garb of young countryman. rode out
of Morristown down the road leading
to Orange. where he stopped at the
tavern-the building Is still standing
for dinner. thence to Newark. where
he turned south toward Elizabethtown. |
of the British at New York, and it be- |
hooved him to keep sharp lookout |
not only to conceal his mission. but for |
indications of the movements of the |
enemy.
Woodville pretended to be a Tory to |
Tory sympathizers and found those OF |
that persuasion jubilant at the pros |
pect of ending the war and re-estab-
~ ,.kx a.
told him that the troops from Canada
We're to be met near the mouth of the
Mohawk river by troops from the
south and the line of communication
by way of the Hudson and Lake
Champlain would soon be open to the
British, cutting the confederated colo
nies in two parts. But he also heard
from patriots" that Burgoyne was
marching through a wild country. in
which it was difficult to feed his army.
and unless he were successful in form
ing a junction with the force moving
from the south he would be in crit
ical position.
This indicated to the young lieuten-
ant that what Howe did in the way
of sending troops to support Bur
goyne was of great Importance to the
cause. and it was especially essential
that General Washington should know,
so far as possible, just what Howe was
doing in the matter. But WoodviIle
was not near enough to the British
headquarters to learn much about the
matter. so he determined to move on
to the west bank OF the Hudson,
where Jersey City now stands. A
family of patriots of the name of
curtiss lived there, TO whom he was
Known and on whom he could rely. On
his way he passed the Kings Arms. a
tavern kept by a Tory named Smith
son, who had a pretty daughter. Jen-
lie. upon whom the young soldier
ooked with loving eyes. He desired
20 pay her visit in passing, but dare
not do so. because If recognized by
ler father he would be betrayed to the
British and hanged as a spy, So he
vent on to the Curtisses, where he
vas taken in and given a lodging
Woodville noticed number of ships
ying at anchor in the river and that
he boats going to them usually car ,
led what appeared to be supplies. 1t
ooked as If they were preparing for
voyage. but to what point did not ,
ppear. The spy was near the ferry i
Ind noticed soon after his arrival +
British soldier disembark. mount his
lorse and ride westward. A soldier I
ecomes used to the ways of soldiers, /
md there was something in the mans I
movements that indicated to Wood n
lille that he was going somewhere +
With an object. The most likely OBJ h
ect he could have was carrying a mes s
age.
The spy ran to the barn. got out his h
orse and. mounting. started to follow :.
be soldier. Catching sight OF him n
scendirg the heights back OF the riv- y
r, he slowed his pace, riding only ii
ear enough to him to keep him in
ght The Rritisher took the road 20 -
lizabethtown. 1t was drawing near
lie close OF the day, and, passing the