Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-11-22
The
Trail of a Traitor
BY C. C. HOTCHKISS ;
Copyright-The Frank A. Munsey Company.
By C. C. HOTCHKISS

But tneE0 Wbb hometnln9 NANes AZ
his eye saw the stroke coming he
threw up his left arm. The act was
qulck enough to divert my sword up
ward, for his wrist caught 1t about the
middle, but 1t was not quick enough to
render the stroke abortive. My steel
travelled along his forearm, going
higher and higher each inch 1t pro.
gressed until the point struck him full
In his barred throat. Well do re-
member the sense OF Joy mingled with
. feeling OF sickness as I pressed home
the thrust and saw the point. of my
steel enter and pass through his neck.
could have shouted with horror as
La Classe dropped his weapon and
plucked at my deadly blade. falling 10
his knees the while, then he went side.
wise to the sand.
l dropped my own rapier; the knight
ran up to support the wounded man,
but before he was able to do so La
Clssse, with a sudden accession Of
strength, raised himself to his elbow
anu pointed at me.
LET not that man escaped" he
shouted thickly. "By the glory OF St.
Denis, he is a devil from hell, and
Satan is his sponsor! To be killed
and by boy! Listen! He is traitor
mon Dieu-a spy-and she Is with
him - she of the governors house!
Iookl It was for this we fought! Let
him not escape-nor her! 1t is-in the
note! It-tells-great mattersl He
is-mon Dleul"
He spoke thus brokenly al he tore
open his shirt. blood now coming from
his mouth, and brought forth the pa
per. Even at first glance / saw 1t had
been opened, but before l could inter
fere the Knight Of Malta had posses
sion of it. The next instant La Classe
fell backward, either dead or uncon-
sciouS.
did not try to determine which,
for every atom of consideration for
the fallen man was lost in the knowl-
edge that he had broken his word and
betrayed my secret. | had held sort
of respect for him before, now /
loathed him.
know not why it was, but l became
singularly calm; perhaps from my
loss of blood, though that was not yet
great; perhaps from a through realiz.
alton of all that the situation entailed.
! made no pretense at subterfuge or
denial, but having recovered my
sword, stood looking at the man who
held the damning evidence in his
hand. His lips had turned white in
the moonlight as he listened to the
last words of the wounded renegade,
but he was quite as calm as | as
he Strengthened himself and pointed
at the lifeless figure sprawled on the
sand. 'Fy t1 ..t b..
'I think he is past all surgery" he
said. Il congratulate you on your re-
markable skill, sir"
/ did not speak; but my mind was
made up.
He looked at me with strange eX-
preston, then continued: Does this
note carry out the accusation in de-
tail? Shall read it?"
'If you consider it consistent with
your honor, sir" l answered. ut
makes no difference to me, since you
must know that after hearing what
you have heard it will be impossible
for us both to leave this spot alive.
Think not that 1t Is from fear for my
self alone. am protecting lady.
Yonder poltroon spoke the truth.
am an American, sir knight-and a
Spy, II you please-in the interests Of
General Washington and my country.
Draw your sword, sir; and, by God, If
you cry out or otherwise attempt to
attract attention I will spit you with.
out mercy!
Come! am bleeding - and there
10 no time to lose!"
lifted my rapier and stepped to-
ward him. my purpose being most
desperate; but he neither drew his
own weapon, which he had sheathed,
nor did he retreat or show single sign
Of fear. Instead, he threw both arms
above his head, as one might do under
the emotion of great joy, and in stri-
dent whisper, as If he feared the 81.
lent figure on the beach might hear
him, be exclaimed: .., ,.....
"Stop-stop! For Gods sake listen
q moment! This is surely the hand of
Providence! also am an American
- spy! l am Sergeant JohI
Champe!"
almost fell backward and stoot
blinking at the man for few mo
menta, my mind finally grasping tht
significance of his words. Z
q
CHAPTER XIV.
The Boot Shifted.