Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 99: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

\ The White Dawn AT LAST I was in the free air, but unconscious of having passed through the ordinary. Bucks, of all persons! How and why was the wild rifleman in the city? That he should have trailed me about the streets was not so sur- prizing, but that he should have ventured into the tavern without being subjected to close questioning was most remarkable. When we held the city his rifle, dress, long” black hair and moccasins would not have attracted attention, but with Sir William in possession he would stick out like a sore thumb. The street was dark except for the occasional ruddy glow of a lantern. I did not attempt to look for him. I walked rapidly to the Betworth house and let myself in, and before I could turn to close the door a figure glided up the steps and entered. “Hello, sarge. Warm night, ain’t it?” greeted the well known voice. “In God’s mérty what do you do here?” I whispered, locking the door and leading him to the back of the house and into the butler’s little room. “T’m one of them danged rebel deserters a that’s hiding in the woods up ’round Rhine- ~ beck and being fed by the Tories,” he chuckled. “Got tired of it, and knowing the king’ would win I come down here to enlist.” I made sure the shades were snugly drawn and then lighted a candle and looked him over. He was dressed like a farm-hand, wore stout boots in place of moccasins. -He had sacrificed his long hair and carried no rifle. “Tt was dangerous for us both for you to send that message to me. Why did you take the risk?” “T’m dryer’n a salt herring,” he replied. I found a bottle in a cupboard, some of Old Socrates’ private stock, and waited until he had enjoyed a dash. With an appreciative smack he wiped his lps and explained: “Not much risk. Got hold of a waiter outside. Told him I was a servant gave him the note. It’s like this: Betworths, old lady and the gal, got ae and are coming here.’”’ Impossible!” ‘‘“Mebbe it’s a miracle, but it’s true,” he dryly replied. ‘General Arnold sent me to warn you to git out the minute he knew about it.” 97° “But the guard? What was it doing?? I wrathfully demanded, for my life had hinged on the women being held. “Old woman made off to be mighty sick. Heart went wrong. Captain Sant started to take her and her gal to headquarters where she could be doctored. Just before this the gal Betty slipped-away and most — of the men was looking for her. When the = old woman had a fit her daughter said it me was her heart kerflumoxing. We thought she was dying. We started her in the car- S riage. Sant galloped ahead to fetch back = a saw-bones. That left two men with the carriage. ‘Their hosses went lame—that’s : the real miracle, both lame at once—and the carriage got ahead. Then the driver | in the darkness took a cross road. So you — must git out.” “And the army? At Middlebrook?” — ‘Moved to Ramapo. General Washing- ton is ready to jump when Howe tries for Albany.” “Howe sails for the Ease on his way to Philadelphia.” — ‘“‘Lordy massy! But that’s prime news!” he gasped. “We'll take it through the lines together.” > “One of us must get through with it. But the city is sealed up. They are hunting me > even now, without knowing whom they — want. They know a spy is loose and Sa there’s no passing the barriers. I can’t even attempt it until I have different clothes.” San ng Bucks scratched his head and admitted: “Them duds won’t do. Got to be some- s thing rough’n ready. Dirt on your face— % hair mussed up— Lem’me see.” He was ex silent for a few moments, then said: “ll forage a bit. I’ve got a relation near the ud Defeat of Brandywine on Golden Hill. Br Mebbe I can git some cast-offs from him, We must be out of the city before sunup, We can find cover in the hills and woods between here and King’s Bridge.” “Go for the clothes. Leave by’the back — door. Come in that way. Tl show no light. If you see a light don’t come in.” “T’ll come in if the place is on fire,” he growled as I led him to the back door. eS “No foolishness, Bucks. If ’m caught, or in danger of being caught, you must take the word to Ramapo. Joseph Berce told me. I gotit from other sources, also. Say : PAt ts se “| I said there is no doubt about it.” “Don’t talk like you was hung,” he 4 ’ = eomicbooks.com Sate ea