Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-10-04
By C. C. HOTCHKISS



uhscatfed7 i would be hanged as a
Spy, IL caught, and loved life with
the fervor of any man Of twenty-six.
On the other har d there was lure
to tempt one whose liver was Of the
proper color. l closed my eyes at the
enermity of the proposal When l re-
opened them Washington was search
ing my face with 9. penetrating gaze;
but my mind was then made up.
II will 60" | said. With the deci-
sion my heart seemed TO steady itself.
Washington smiled then, a peculiar
grim smile. 81 had little doubt of 1t,
captain he said very quietly. "Yom
will appear to desert, and your arrest
will be the apparent cause of your dis
affection. And l can facilitate your
getting away"
when shall start, your excel.
lency7"
Tonight, sir - tonight" he re-
turned abruptly, rising and pacing the
floor. Here are 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 / suggest 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 10 tell you. 1t would be dan
| gerous for you, stranger, TO inquire
| for Champe by name; therefore, you
| will 90 about New Yorl-in the tav
orns-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 so easily got
| ten That will he all, captain. You
| will find the sergeant devoted Ia
| trot. Let me see" He picked up the
commission l had captured. Your
| prisoners name, il this he his, is Lys'
| ander Melton, and Ha,"
| He hade the exclamation as a pa
per slipped from the back told of the
document. Washington read it hur-
riedly. Il see by this that your cap.
ture has sweetheart" he said What
| can be the errand to which she re-
| fers?" He handed the paper TO me. II
| was plain note, undated and unen-
| closed, and there was no evidence of
its ever having been posted. 1t ran rs
follows:
"Lysander:
1 1 "A OF ir,ct
your mission. However worthy ii may
be to spy upon an enemy. it is certain
ly inhuman and cowardly to commit
| the crime you anticipate committing.
have learned of your intention from
your mother, and l assure you that the
wealth you hope to gain will bring
happiness to none of US. If you are
successful, l shall do more than pro
test against your success. Agnes"
"You excellency," said l. looking
up from the paper, that man, who
ever he is, was fool to carry two
such self-defaming 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"
- 1T matters little" said Washing,
ton, lingering the remaining papers in
the wallet. These are of little impOr-
tance, being memoranda OF moneys
lost and won At cards. Your prisoner
lis evidently a gay blade. And here is
aNnote of hand signed by lieutenant
Balfour for one hundred pounds and
due in a week"
AS he spoke, something like an in
spiraton took possession OF me; GER
tainly l was far from having any plan
as said. May have that note, your
i fexcellency?"
He gave it to me without asking my
reason for wishing it, and which |
could not have told; but God wot that
.ote 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 it suffice, The hour is late.
think | will send Lieutenant Struth.
ers back with you 10 Baskingridge. He
will be. in front of your quarters with
in half AN hour. Sir, may God he with
you"
He gave NE rouleaa OF money
from the desk, then held out his great
hand and shook mine, standing AS he
spoke the last words. A few moments
J. ~lsterI Was in the open air; the stars
were shining, there was no wind, and
the camp MAS Ms still as death.
Strange. was II not, that as looked
up al the velvety sky should think OF
"Aenes," The unknown woman who
I had protested at the intended crime OF
The loyer she would probably never
see again?
~ CHAPTER V.
A Double Shock. r
| illla. L iauI annnI SII,uI lHIs con Ill