Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-10-12

excellency. 1 answered, now seeming
the trouble.
"The orderly reports that he deliv.
cred my note just after retreat. You
we're absent from quarters. but your
servant assured him that you would
receive IT,"
Here was startling news. Your
excellency," returned. II respectful
ly continue to deny having received
any order, written OF oral and l have
no servant"
Washington lifted his heavy eyelids
and looked squarely at me. "No SER
want, sir."
mo general"
who, then. was the man acting as
such?"
Il have no idea, your excellency."
"You were absent from Quarters?"
Il obtained leave for twenty hours
from General Colfax, sir"
Where have you BEEN"
told him.
Lieutenant Struthers reports that
you have had an adventure. sir. You
) will recount it,"
did so, and Washington's stern
face relaxed a trifle as he listened.
finished my tale and laid the wallet
with it's unread papers on the table.
He opened the leather. took out a pa
per, glanced at it, and then exploded:
"Sir, am / to believe you to be
colossal liar?"
\ fol an tA Nv 70 hxtf
before could answer he threw the pa
per before me, his blue eyes like dag
gers. The thing had originally been
sealed, but the seal was now broken,
and on the back was written my name
in full
There is the order you deny hav-
ing received! What have you to say
for yourself, Captain Dressler?"
For the moment l was too stunned
to make answer. but at length, instead
OF breaking down, as Washington evil
IDENTITY expected. drew myself up to
my full five feet-eleyen and returned
his piercing glance with one as steady
as his own.
your excellency, / solemnly de-
clare that until this moment / have
never seen that paper. nor do know
what it contains. / took it from the
prisoner"
think he was astonished at my
stout denial. How do you account
for its having been in his possession,
sir?"
"Your excellency. can only sur.
mise. l believe he went to my quar-
tiers expecting to find me"
For what purpose, since you claim
not to know him."
ITO kill me, your excellency. l
have proof of his desire. l think he
was surprised by the entrance Of your
orderly, and posed as my servant.
Afterward, learning where had gone,
he followed me, still with his purpose
i'm view -
IAN ingenius explanation" was
Washington's skeptical return as he
picked up the document l bad found
in the shoe of my prisoner. Before ga
opened it fully he continued in a hard
voice: Captain Dressler, were ii not
for the high opinion Of you held by
General la Fayette, and the fact that
your record hitherto has been unex-
ceptionally good, would dismiss you
from the army. AS il is Hal"
He was opening the paper he held
while he was speaking, and as he saw
it's contents he bent over it with sud.
den interest. His face bore a differ
ent expression as he turned to me.
do you know what this document Is,
Captain Dressler?" he asked
NO, your excellency. No time was
allowed me to go over the papers"
Sir, this is the commission OF a
provincial British officer; lieuten-
ants commission in the name of one
Lysander Melton"
Then the man is a spy!" l ex-
claimed, great light breaking on me.
He has been about the camp for
days. Your excellency," continued.
forgetting my position, mo more than
you do know who he is, but for some
unknown reason he wishes my life,
and he has brought me into this coil.
/ am victim of circumstances"
II am inclined to believe you, cap
tain" was Washington's quiet return.
Tell me what the man looked like;
and be CAREFUL shall test your truth
at once" -
Your excellency, he is about OFF
own age, gather. and about my own
size. He has very black eyes, and
black hair Queued with rusty black
ribbon and not powdered. His teeth
are white and even, like my own, but
he does not otherwise resemble me.
He was dressed like farmer, but he
might easily be British officer in dis
guise."
Without a word Washington arose.
stepped to the door and called. At
once Lieutenant Struthers entered
and saluted.
Send to me here Orderly Kelly"
Struthers saluted again and disap-
peared.
Captain Dressler," said Washing
ton, reseating himself. your frank
ness and insistence leaves me with lit