Charlevoix county herald., 1917-10-12

affection. And I can facilitate your
getting away"
When shall I start. your excel.
lency?"
Tonight, sir - tonight" he re.
turned abruptly. rising and pacing the
floor. Here ere my orders. As IL
you were still tainted with arrest you
will at once return 10 Baskingridge
with a file Of men and a corporal for
the purpose of bringing in your pris.
oner. On the road. during your re.
turn, you will desert. Isuggest that
you make your way to Elizabethport
and cross Newark Bay to Bergen
Point. There you must act as circum.
stances demand.
"And now, sir, remember what
am about TO tell you. Il would be dan
gerous for you, q stranger. to inquire
for Champe by name: therefore, you
will go about New York-in the tav-
trns--on the streets. and among the
troops, twirling an oak leaf in your
left hand. When Champe sees you he
will challenge you with: Friend. that
leaf should be,a laurel and you shall
answer: 'Laurels are not 30 easily got
ten That will be all. captain. You
will find the sergeant 4 devoted Ia
triot Let me see" He picked up the
commission ! had captured. Your
prisoners name. IL this be his, is Lys-
ander Melton. and Hat"
He hade the exclamation a. q pa
per slipped from the back fold Of the
document. Washington read 1T hur-
riedly. Il see by this that your cap.
ture has a sweetheart" he said. what
can be the errsnd to which she re-
fers?" He handed the paper to me. II
was a plain note. undated and unen.
closed. and there was no evidence of
its ever having been posted. It ran as
follows:
"LysAnder:
AS your betrothed.i protest against
your mission. However worthy 1t may
he to spy upon an enemy. It Is certain
ly inhuman and eowardly to commit
the crime you anticipate committing. l
have learned of your intention from
your mother. and assure you that the
wealth you hope. to gain will bring
happiness to none OF Us. II you are
successful, I shall do more than pro-
test against your success. Agnes"
"Yor ercellency." said I. looking
up from the paper. that man, who
ever he is, was q fool to carry two
such self.defsming documents on his
person. have no doubt that the crime
he anticipated committing was the
killing OF me. And yet. ! do not know
the man, had never spoken to him un.
til shot him, nor knew his name until
tonight"
E at matters iittle," said Washing.
ton, lingering the remaining papers in
the wallet. These are OF little impor-
lance, being memoranda of moneys
lost end won IT cards. Your prisoner
Is evidently a gay blade. And here Is
a note OF hand signed by Lieutenant
Balfour for one hundred pounds. and
due In week"
AS he spoke, something like an in.
SEPARATION took possession OF me; GER
tainly l was far from having any plan
as said. May / have that note, your
excellency?"
He gave il to me without asking my
reason for wishing 1t. and which
could not have told; but God wot that
.sote came nigh to running me, though
perhaps it was really my salvation.
And now. sir" said Washington.
here are twenty pounds in gold. You
must make II suffice. The hour Is late.
think / will send Lieutenant Struth.
ers back with you to Baskinsridge. He
will be in front Of your quarters with
in half an hour. Sir. may God be with
you"
He gave me a rouleau OF money
from the desk. then held out his great
hand and shook mine. standing as he
spoke the last words. A few moments
later / was in the open air: the stars
were shining. there was no wind, and
the camp was as still as death.
Strange. was II not, that as looked
up at the velvety sky should think OF
Agnes" the unknown woman who
had protested at the intended crime OF
the lover she would probably never
ace again?