Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-10-11

words concluded that Lysander Mel.
toms record was shady, and between
the memoranda of his card winnings,
which Washington had shown me, and
Selfridge'h own remarks, I gathered
that he was card.sharper, IL nothing
worse. I shook hands with the officer.
by the by, Melton, do you report
to Knyphausen or to Arnold" he sud.
denly asked. G
ITO Arnold" ] answered, after a
moment Of rapid thought; chat Is,
when can get my full report ready"
But I wished the boy--for he was
hardly more than boy--would quit
questioning me; !; made me nervous.
and I wanted to think.
"Well, that's a flight Of luck!" he
exclaimed, IL know Arnold-tl,at is, I
have met him-and like most of us.
have damned little respect for his
stripe; he came to late to his senses
in his desire to serve the king. But
twill be favor if you let me go with
you when you report. l want to get in
my story and reap as much glory as
possible. Listen, Melton! I am sta.
toned on Staten Island, as I said, but
have leave for week, and 60 up to
the city on the relief schooner to.
night CThank Heavens. I'm soon done
with this cursed boat business! Can't
we go up together 2"
jumped at the chance. For here
was fatuous ass who had leaped at
conclusions on the strength Of the on.
ly paper found on my person, for ]
had been careful to carry no other.
Not doubt Of me had he shown, and
from him had learned much without
myself asking question.
now knew that Melton was a pro-
vincial, and from the South; that he
was comparatively unknown (which
was a great comfort), and that he had
undertaken q desperate venture in
order to rehab;litate himself for some.
thing he had done--and that some.
thing was possibly cheating at cards.
Later found it to be true.
To have this babbling youth with
me might be of great help, for one
thing was now cert lin: must pose as
the Continental Amy; and ,his was
best for two reasons: first, that as
Melton would learn things otherwise
impossible to come by; second, as
deserter would re held in confine.
ment until proved; for, unlike
Champe, l had no orderly book or
other tangible evidence to voueh for
be. The thing bad not been OF my
doing; fate had cast me for the part
of Lieutenant Lys.tnder Melton, OF an
unknown regiment, and as Melton
must pose and tai" my chances. 1t
was mighty risk but | we ont for
risk. e.
cannot say how that day passed,
for between lacking sleep for two
nights, nervous tension, and my late
adventure with DC;n, / vas used up,
and in spite of my prccarious position
l slept, Selfridge spreading his own
cloak on the bottom Of the Loaf for
me to lie on.
Aye, and l slept, wet though l was,
and for the matter of five hours, and
when | awoke, refreshed, albeit lit
tie stunned when the situation came
back to me, l found that the sun had
dried my clothes, and that the patrol
had been relieved and WAS going to
port Immediately.
Even then, aud for some time there
after, had no trouble, for with Self.
ridge as my sponsor (and one might
have thought he had known me all my
life, my questioning by the authorities
at Richmond was hardly more than a
formality; certainly no one appeared
to have a suspicion regarding my iden-
tity. | told straight story, most of
it being based upon facts, | putting
myself in Melton's shoes; and both
General Simcoe, and another officer
whose name / did not learn, swallow.
ed it whole.
And so 1 was set free, and under
Sclfridges escort started that even
ing for the city, less a questionable
character than an honored guest; and
Mt about eight O'Clock that night, clad
in civilian clothes, entirely unarmed
and having nothing more formidable
upon me than The gold in my belt and
Bellmore's note (Which had been
handed back to mel. found myself
landed at the Fly Market at the foot
of Maiden Lane, an American officer
in disguise; and a moose seemed TO be
about my neck.
Wait. l said had nothing formid
able about my person. ! had Just be
fore stepping aboard the schooner al
Staten Island i had pulled down an
oak bough, and now in my breast
pocket were a dozen or so of its
leaves. Formidable! brass field
piece might be less so, and hoped &c
prove it.