Charlevoix county herald., 1917-10-12

did not forget for long.
How the little village was aroused.
how confusion and speculation ran
wild. becomes no part of my story. for
marked but the beginning OF 1t. In
the running to and fro of the people.
and the many questions hurled at
Struthers. ! saw my chance. and quiet
ly slipping a leg over my saddle as
quietly made of while II was yet dark.
and was not missed until some two
hours thereafter. and then not soul
knew in what direction had gone.
could have laughed at the ease Of
my getting away. only between what
was before me and the fact that poor
l.edare was a corpse, l was in no
mood f.: mirth. Moreover, Lysander
Melton II that was his name, was
free. That fact bothered me but lit
tie, however, as / did not see how he
could finally escape. AS for myself. l
knew ! would be at once branded as
traitor and searched for. and that In
the circumstances. any man knowing
he might shoot me at sight. Few are
ever Lsset as was then.
As the crow flies. EAzabe Import,
then containing hardly dozen houses
lies about twenty miles due east
from Baskingridge. and for the most
part the road is good. But II was hope
less for me to attempt to get there
that night. 80. after going nearly half
the distance. hearing no pursuit. and
not meeting soul. put up In piece
all that day lay at distance from the
OF thick woods just as dawn came. and
roadside with op'v water for my stom-
ach. so that at evening ! was In bad
way for lack Of food. i marked a
number of troopers passing. some rid.
ing in haste, and farmers with their
loads. but none came nigh me. and
when the sun was well down l took
to the highway once more.
1t Was black night when ! passed
through the hamlet of Elizabethtown
and went on over the Doggy meadow
thai stretched away like a vast plain.
until | at last reached Elizabethport;
and by then was tagged out ana de.
pressed.
With a feeling OF despe. alton horn
OF emptiness. l stopped at the first
house 1 came to. it lying on q little
rise OF ground by the water, and be-
i-g apart from any other dwelling.
And here ! met with a man who was
mighty good patriot, as soon learn
ed, and he received me civilly enough.
He took me In after cycling me sharp
ly, and gave me food enough to have
satisfied giant. he sitting by and
cycling me as II In wonder at my ap-
petite. When I had finished eating.
and felt like a man again, turned to
my host.
Sir" said I, Il have reason to be.
lieve that you are waterman"
Il am" he said, putting on his pipe.
Then there is one more favor you
can do me; but first. are there any
British on Bergen Point?"
II think not" he answered.; "but
their devil patrols prowl around the
bay at times"
Il must risk them. | wish to go to
Bergen Point. will pa you well to
take me across"
For what?" lie asked, and !
thought his expression peculiar. 81
like not the idea. I've been caught
and looted once by the British patrol
boats. II ] go. it will be by daylight,
when ] can see sail. What can a
gentleman want at Bergen Point?"
Il CO." said l. lying with ease. Ito
see an old aunt. who Is very sick"
The man opened his eyes. "Ye
may mean Mistress Betsy Brothwell,"
he said, pulling hard at his pipe.
! welcomed the suggestion. 1T is
the very old woman--and 1t Is a pound
In your pocket to take me over"
But nothing l could say would
move him to sail before dawn, and !,
chatting at the delay, but really in no
hurry to thrust my head into a moose,
appeared to be content. However. i
had too much wit to go to the bed he
offered me. being tribe suspicious
OF tho man and his manner. and so sat
up by the fire all night, even getting
up and following when he went to
looi: at the weather; for he did not OF.
fer TO 60 TO bed while ] remained out
OF one. though his wife and two little
ones went TO sleep In the loft above.
When at last dawn blushed on the
horizon. and we moved down to the
shore, he took an old telescope with
him and scanned the bread water of
Newark Bay ruffled by light
west wind. Not a boat of any kind
showed in the distance: the way was
clear.
Are ye armed. sir2" he asked, as
he got ready his boat. the canvas OF
which was the color of tan. Eye
might reed an arm"
Il haven't SO much as a pistol, be.
Ing man Of peace" I returned; and
at that noticed he spat violently in
to the water and became somewhat
cheerful. well. sir" he said. Il
guess I'll put ye through with little
trouble"
Il hope So" said I, not then know.
ing his double meaning.
We went aboard, and all passed
we'll NATL we wera In Tho vy,iddla NJ