Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-10-19

person, sirI" he exclaimed in a loud
voice.
"A jealous. opinionated, self-seeking,
and thankless man, who thinks of lit.
tie save his own gloryl BY God. sir.
the people should know him as he is;
then they might better appreciate my
own motives! He has tried to humble
me! he has even publicly reprimanded
me before his staff. He drove me to
desperation"
He stopped for a moment. was
hardly astonished: but did the man
think / was an idiot not to know that
Washington's reprimand, given the
year before. was ordered by Congress,
and that 1t had been made as light as
the great commander could make It?
I stood without replying, and present
ly Arnold went on in an astonishing
manner:
II have been misunderstood and
maligned, but my conscience is clear.
My greatest wish has been for peace
for my distracted country, and my act
was the sincere outcome of that wish.
Had been successful-had West
Point fallen. sir, the war, would now
be over. and England would be show
ing generosity to her PROSTATE colo
MES. They would have gained all they
have been fighting for. But the plans
miscarried at the last instant and"
: He stopped abruptly, and rising to
his feet. limped back and forth across
the room in genuine agitation. IT do
not know why I speak to you in this
way. sir" he said kindly, unless 1t be
that you are a countryman of mine
and that you have impressed me ia.
vorably. am not prone to be so open
in speech, though / am self-sacrific-
ing" He halted before me. "Sir," he
said, II even struggled in prayer be-
fore I undertook the thing that ruined
me-"
stared at him. Curse him!
could have struck the hypocrite in the
face. 1t was all could do to contain
myself as realized that here and in
my power was the man I had been
sent to help capture. But I masked
my feelings. He suddenly changed his
tense manner to one of more ease.
Lieutenant Melton, what I have
said must remain in your bosom. j
forgot myself. Now, sir, have you
reported?"
"Only to General Simcoe and your.
self, sir"
II understand. It is unfortunate
that Colonel Durand and the Seven
teenth are gone to join CORVALLIS.
Will you follow your regiment?"
II intended to apply for leave of
absence, sir. I think I deserve it," !
answered .modestly.
II agree with you and l myself will
SEQ that you get t,phe returned with
a cordially / did not think he pos
sessed; then he hesitated, and some
thing like feeble smile softened his
saturnine countenance.
Lieutenant Melton, wish to tell
you that you have been very remiss."
NJ rising spirits fell. What was
coming now? "In what manner, gen.
eral?"
"In not reporting to your betrothed
for know you have not seen her."
1t was not formidable accusation,
but as It was one for which had not
been looking, could not make no re.
ply. And he evidently expected none,
for he reseated himself and went on,
speak, g smoothly: "You were proba
bly, told that I had surprise for you
IL you came within an hour. Lieuten
ant, you will be pleased to know that
Miss Barrow is in the house and Wis
iting my wife at this moment. ! Will
send for her and give her a shock. ]
happen to be aware that she Is not
expecting your return for some time"
"Agnes?" was my involuntary ex.
clamation as the room began suddenly
to whirl.
"Agnes. Who elsei"
AS he spoke he reached forward and
struck the bell standing on the table.
At once the orderly entered.
You will go to my wife's apart.
ment, present my compliments to Miss
Barrow, and ask her to step to the IL
brary at once" The orderly went out.
you see, sir" continued Arnold,
chat l still have it In my power to
give pleasure, and nothing causes me
greater satisfaction"
God and Arnold only knew what an
swer made. II l made any.
My prospects, fair enough the mo-
ment before, were blacker than they
had yet been. thought had been up
to my neck in danger before appear.
ed in No. Broadway, but now was
immersed to the eyes. know not
what Arnold might have said to me at
that time, but l believe l stood still,
Just as stands a prisoner before the
firing-squad.
My whirling brain saw but one end
to this. Miss Barrow would enter,
take a single look at me and denounce
me as an imposter. Then would come
exposure, and I could easily imagine
Arnolds wrath. God! l died twenty
times In as many seconds, and those
seconds seemed as many hours. had
become fairly numb in body and brain
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