The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-12-12
CHAPTER xxIx-contInued


"Oh, my Fatheri I" he cried in
broken voice and with tears streamtn
down his cheeks. ARNOLD has sol
Ameriky an all its folks an gon
down the river"
Washington knelt beside him and fel
his bloody garments.
"The colonel is wounded" he SAT-
to his orderly. Go for help"
The scout. weak from the loss o
blood, tried TO regain his feet bu
failed. He lay back and whispered:
Il guess the sap has all oozed GU
o. me but had enough"
Washington was one of those who
put him ON a stretcher and carried
him to the hospital.
When he was lying on his bed and
his clothes were being removed, the
commander In chief paid him this well
deserved compliment as he held his
hand:
Colonel, when the war Is won It will
be only because have had men like
you to help me-"
Soon Jack came TO his side and then
Margaret General Washington asked
the latter about Mrs. Arnold.
my mother is doing what she can to
comfort ner,' Margaret answered.
Solomon revived under stimuants
and was able to tell them briefly of the
dire struggle he had had.
at were Stops that saved me-" he
whispered.
He fell into deep and troubled
sleep and when he awoke In the mid
die of the night he was not strong
enough to lift flis head. Then these
faithful friends OF his began to know
that this big, brawny, redoubtable sol
der was having his last fight. He
seemed to be aware of 1t himself for
he whispered to jack
"Take keer o. Mirandy an the Little
Cricket"
Late the next day he called for his
Great Father. F'eebly and brokenly
ne had managed to say:
"Jes' want-to-feel-his hand"
Margaret had sat beside him all day
helping the nurse.
A dozen times Jack had left his work
and run over for a look at Solomon.
On one of these hurried visits the
young man had learned of the wish of
his friend. He went Immediately to
General Washington, who had just re-
turned from a tour of the forts. The
latter saw the look of sorrow and
anxiety in the face of his officer.
How Is the colonel7" lie asked.
"I think that he Is near the end"
Jack answered. "He has expressed a
wish to feel your hand again"
Let us go to him at once" said the
other. There has been no greater
man In the army"
Together they went to the bedside Of
the faithful scout. The general took
his hand. Margaret put her lips close
% Solomon's ear and said:
General Washington has come to
lee you"
Solomon opened his eyes and smiled. |
Then there was a beauty not of this |
world In his homely face. And that !
holding the hand he had loved |
md served and trusted, the heroic soul
# Solomon Binkus went out upon ''the
onesome trail"
Jack, who had been kneeling at his
ide. kissed his white cheek.
"Oh. general, / knew and loved this
nan" said the young officer as he
rose.
ut will be well for our people to
now what men like him have endured
Or them,' said Washington.
II shall have to learn how to live
-ithout. him." said Jack. ut will be
ard"
Margaret took his arm and they went
ut of the door and stood a moment
'oking Off at the glowing sky about
re western hills.
Now you have me-" she whispered.
He bent and kissed her.
mo man could have a better friend
nd fighting mate than you" he an
vered.
We spend our years as a tale that
told" Jack wrote from Philadelphia
his wife in Albany on the Both of
me, 1887; Dear Margaret. W. !
oNSht thdl inc StOiy WIS tuucu Nntu
ashingtOn won. Five years have
ssed, as a watch In the night, and =
g most impressive details are just l
w falling out. You recall our curl o
lty about Henry Thornhlll. When
'pping at Undertook i learned that c
Q only man of that name who had Z
ed there had been lying in his grave d
csc 20 years. He was one of the {
st dreamers about liberty. What b
Ink you Of that? /, for one, cannot l:
lieve that the man saw was an I'm s.
ster. Was he an angel like those Il
10 visited the prophets? Who shall o
Y? Naturally. I think often of the
'k Of him and of his sudden disap- d
| II