The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-21

And III there II dttdA ShlfSSS
can wear your uniforms"
"Certainlyr'
I'm that case you are welcome 10 my
clothes But | suppose You VIII not
need them till tomorrow
Indeed | shall | need them now.
"very well. take them.
While Strin.fellow was dotirg tls
uniform and putting on the citizen ;
clothes the latter asked him WHAT It
all meant The captain told him of rs
capture by the British and his esral
and that he expected pursuers nl7ht
arrive al any moment and scarh tie
house Tor him The stranger hstehed
to all this intently but made no con-
ment
by the bye" said Stringfellow. sud-
denly remembering that If the man
were so disposed he might hetiay hiE.
(which side are you on:
Never mind that ! shall do sou no
harm or any one else in this house.
That | promised the young lady VINO
kindly took me In. fed me and gave Ere
a bed for the night
When Stringfellow had chan"cd liS
clothes the stranger said that If men
came to the house to make II search
he would prefer To be up and about.
So he arose, put on the captain Till
form and went downstairs Win hiiti-
Kate Rutledge received the two meh
i'm the great hall, used principally for Il
living room. and. seeing the stranger
In the uniform of an American officer.
was not only surprised at his costume,
but that in such apparel lie appeared
far more gentlemanlike than ever be-
fore Besides, he greeted her with the
manner of born aristocrat
"Do you not fear" she said, that III
this uniform II British soldiers come
they will make prisoner Of your"
IF they do will prove that am
not an American officer"
But that will betray Captain String
fellow. They will surmise at once that
he has changed clothes with you"
"Never fear for that | will not re-
veal the true situation until there Is
no danger Of betraying him. You kind
ly took me in and gave me meat. drink
and shelter. No one in this house
shall suffer through me-"
The three chatted together. the
stranger being Informed as to the re-
lation between the other two, and the
lady's name. But he gave no informa-
ton about himself His change from
poor white man to gentleman
would have excited the curiosity Of
Stringfellow and his fiancee had 1t not
been that they were momentarily ex-
pecting party Of British soldiers to
look for the American.
Presently sounds of horses hoofs an
nounced the coming of the pursuers A
voice without was heard detailing Il
sergeant and six men to search the
house, while the rest rode on Then
the door was thrown open and the
searchers entered
Come, come, sergeant said the
guest in a tone of authority when
sou SHttt a uNtiitiiS VI SeHtftioih USE
the knocker."
The sergeant looked at the speaker
in puzzled way, then suddenly stood
erect and saluted
What means this, Major Thorn.
dyke? How come you to be in rebel
uniform?"
what is your business here" asked
the major instead of replying.
I'VE captured rebel captain this
afternoon. He escaped, and we are
following him. | have the orders OF
the lieutenant commanding to search
this house.
And you have now the orders OF
Major Thorndyke to retire from this
house and leave 1t undisturbed"
The sergeant looked for an explana
ton to follow the words, but since nc
explanation was vouchsafed he salut
cd and retired with his men. How
ever. as he was about to close the dool
behind him Majo Thorndyke ordered
him To ride on and recall the search
ers.
During this scene Stringfellow ani
Miss Rutledge looked on with increas
ing wonder. As soon as the soldiers
had gone the guest turned to them ant
said:
You see. captain. that l have KEEP
my word. You are as safe here from
the kings troops as IL you were a
General Marion's headquarters. 1
there are rebel troops about ! am Ii
far more danger than you. Three day,
ago I left Colonel Tarleton's headquar
tiers In the disguise you now wea
with a view to gaining information a
to the swamp Fox's" lair. that W,
might trap him. failed and wa
working my way back to where l be
! long through this country. where tn,
kings troops and the Continentals ar
both rowing. when a few hours ago
asked food and shelter of Miss Ru,
ledge. She gave them to me. and
verify believe In her kindness of hear
i III I had been discovered here by you
men she would have protected me
Won ruuSt admit capfain that rick a.