The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

673° I sped on into the other dressing- rooms, taking rapidly what garments and grease paint I needed, and leaving in exchange such portions of my court suit as were necessary for me to shed. A few minutes later a highly respect- able man of middle age, habited as an upper servant, passed down the alley to Walnut Street, standing respectfully aside to make way for some of the re- turning gallants. ‘The man’s shoulders were thickened almost in a hump by rea- son of two severed Quaker coat-tails— buckram-lined. At first, as I made my way to the heart of the city, I was tempted to chuckle over my own cleverness; or, rather, at the stupidity of my pursuers. I had accomplished my business in Philadelphia. In the buckram of my —coat-skirts were maps and specifications that would mean much to Washington in his planned attack on Philadelphia in the spring. I had, moreover, been able to alter T'arleton’s report to such an ex- tent that Howe would regard an assault on Valley Forge as little short of sui- cidal. I had entered the lion’s den—and escaped. Yet, ever in my self-gratulation and smug conceit, would arise the memory of two great dark eyes. At such times my grin would fade and a queer lump came into my throat. I wished I had never seen Miriam Dacre. Doubly I wished I had never deceived her into thinking me other than I was. Before honest eyes like hers the most needful deceptions seemed criminal. . I steeled my heart to forget her. Why not? What I had done, had to be done. And, after all, I should never see her again. Why let her eyes haunt.me? Another more practical thought tend- ed to sober my first glee. Truly, for the instant I was moderately safe. ‘The po- lice and the soldiery were, no doubt, scouring the city for a tall young man in periwig and white court suit. None would cast a second glance at a slightly deformed, liveried servant of middle age — and middle height. But day would soon dawn: And, un- der the glare of sunlight or even of fair- ly strong daylight, my grease paint and penciled facial lines would betray me at first glance. THE ARGOSY. The city was ill lit, and by the dim street - lights my disguise was perfect. But it is only in the stage plays that false “hair, beard or grease paint deceives any- body by day. No, I had not won release. Nothing but a temporary respite from the chase. What I was to do must be done quickly. unless I wished to have a hempen halter about my neck within another twenty- four hours. Plan after plan flashed through my mind, only to be rejected as fast as presented. By this time a double guard would be at every exit from the city. No one would be allowed to depart without a pass, or else a careful search. The same rule would, no doubt, obtain for days to come. Meanwhile, every nook and cranny and hiding-place in all Philadelphia would be scoured by the provost marshal’s men. In that Tory city there were few enough safe hiding-places for a patriot. I do not mean that there were not hundreds of brave, loyal, patriotic fami- lies there—families ready to risk all for the cause. But they were all known to the authorities, and were constantly un- der suspicion. Their houses would be the first to be ransacked for spies. By going to them for refuge I should not only incur discovery, but bring down imprisonment and other troubles upon those who harbored me. I made my way through the darkness to a water-front hovel I knew of, and threw myself down upon a pile of sacks. ‘There I slept for three full hours, awa- kening at the first breath of dawn. I washed the grease paint from my face, arranged my hair in a cue and powdered it with a puff I had found in one of the dressing-rooms. Thus at- tired, I was as like as not to pass muster as a footman or other house servant. I must take chances on not meeting any one who had seen me at last night’s revels. The neat livery and powdered hair gave me a look of intense respect- ability, which the smug expression of mv face emphasized. True, few footmen were so zanned of cheek as I. But that was a mere detail. The “thickening” on my_ shoulders, caused by the stolen coat - skirts, also tended to change my figure and to dimin- ish my apparent height. EO OO (©