Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1914-07-03
I,,o guard of Washington.


directing a negro woman VINO wa
sweeping the front porch Hickey lef
his tent and went up to speak TO her
She asked him:
what do you suppose that BRUSH
warship out there in the river IS up TO
She's been lowering about ever since
the general came here"
How should l know replied
Hickey, with a show Of irritation thai
surprised Phoebe.
"How should you know" she re
peated. zone would suppose from the
way you take my question that you
We're in league with her captain.
Hickey still further astonished the
girl by turning pale at this random
Shot. Phoebe looked at him for awhile
In sort Of curious wonder; then, turn
ing to the negro woman, she said:
"That will do, Susan. You may go
in now"
The woman disappeared, and Phoebe
Fraunces and Tom Hickey were left
alone. There was no one nearer than
the sentry pacing to and fro in the
yard below.
Nov, Tom" said Phoebe. tell me
what's the matter with YOU"
Whats the matter with me? Why,
nothing's the matter with me-"
Tom, l thought you said you loved
me-"
Il did"
"Then why do you keep a secret
from NEE"
Tom made no reply. Phoebe studied
his countenance for awhile, then said:
"Tom, 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, Phoebe"
ITO be sure l am. want to make
some money, Tom. / can easily over
hear the general when he talks with
his officers. and I would like to get
some information to General Howe.
Could you take it for me?'
Il can do better than that for you,
sweetheart. I've got n chance to make
some money myself. I'll 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-
luctanty, 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 brlbed Tom |
a member Of Washington's |
life guard, n POISON the generals food. |
Hickey. as soon as Phoebe had avow-
ed herself a royalist, realizing that she
81 ould 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 |
ID for awhile to be averse to the plan, !
but when Hickey held before her the |
'eward they would receive and how it |
would enable them to marry and live |
n comfort she feigned to yield and |
allied for the poison. Tom gave her a /
powder, and she, after enduring his
for a few moments, slipped |
lway from him and returned to head
quarters.
The general was engaged in dictat-
ng dispatches to his aid-de-camp, Cap |
ain Hamilton, and as soon as Hamil-
on left the room Phoebe knocked and I
vas hidden TO enter. Closing the door
behind her she revealed the plot she
lad drawn from Hickey.
What" exclaimed Washington. "Are
hese men. not content with being ty-
ants, ambitious to be murderersY
Phoebe, who stood in great awe OF
he commander was about to with
raw when he stopped her
81 am anxious, he said, ito fix this
rhine upon the man who has instigat.
d 1t. l shall not arrest this miserable
DOL till you have drawn all the evi. /
ence from him it is possible for you
o get Meet him again tomorrow; pre-
end to be assured that you will re.
Give the reward for my assassination
nd have him-if you can prevail upon
i'm to do sO-get for you the names OF
S many persons involved in the plot
s you can"
Phoebe signifed her willingness to
o all in her power. The general took
he powder from her and gave it to his
MEDICAL director with an order to an
lyze it and report to him concerning
!. 1t proved to be virulent poison.
The next day Phoebe brought the
eneral considerable evidence, some Of :
written, involving a number Of per
ons. Having got all the information
nat seemed to be forthcoming, Wash
I