The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

688 I was, as a rule, little more interested in reading the government-censored Phil- adelphia papers than was Lafayette. But I knew the society columns were cer- tain to contain, at least, a mention of the movements of so great a local celeb-- rity as Miriam Dacre. So I accepted the proffered sheets with gratitude, and carried them to an unoc- cupied corner of the room. There I glanced idly over the first page. The paper was five days old. Its columns were devoted largely to British government orders, lying rumors that the revolutionary cause was about to be abandoned, stale news from London, and items of social interest. ‘Through these last my eyes ran eagerly. But, to my disgust, not one word could I find anent Miriam Dacre. 3 I turned the page, scanned the head- lines carelessly, and— all at once my wandering faculties were focused to their highest keenness. Beneath this head-line, “‘ Arrested for Aiding a Rebel Spy!” I read: : All British and loyal American society here is agog with amaze at a most frightful scandal in high life, involving tthe arrest of no less a personage than the Hon. Miriam Dacre. This city was recently treated to the spectacle of a Yankee spy forcing his presence upon’ the exclusive Mischi- anza. This same spy, Ralph Dale by name, is believed to have discovered there, and elsewhere in Philadelphia, important army secrets. He pierced the close cordon of guards and carried his tidings in safety to the arch rebel, Washington. How he managed to enter the Mischi- anza, and, more especially, his means for eluding the guard and _ escaping scatheless from the city, has been a pro- found mystery. It is so no _ longer. Thanks to the cleverness of General Sir William Howe’s_ secret-service men, THE ARGOSY. Dale’s every move here has at last been traced. Here is the full and truthful account thereof: Dale entered the Mischianza through the aid of a lady of. high and renowned social fame. None other than the Hon. Miriam Dacre! The unfortunate dam- sel is believed to have been long acquainted with the spy, and to have cherished, during many months, an in- fatuation for him. Relying on this un- fortunate attachment, Dale came _ to Philadelphia, where she at once began furnishing him with all the news she could pick up concerning the govern- ment’s plans and resources. She even consented to take him, dis- guised, to the Mischianza, where he hoped to ferret out more secrets for the rebels. There, thanks to the courage and address of Sir Harvey Digby, Bart., Dale was unmasked and was forced to flee for his life. : But the audacious spy managed to get word to his misguided benefactress, and told her to have a coach awaiting him just this side of the West Road guard-house at daybreak the following morning; also to procure passports for him to escape from the city in the dress of a footman. The unhappy lady did so, and, under pretense of going to Germantown, con- ducted him in her carriage to the rebel lines, after which, with a generous gift of money, she parted from him and re- turned to her house on Chestnut Street. The foregoing narrative seems well- nigh incredible. This paper would not dare to print the account did not the British authorities here vouch for its entire truth. The rebels are to be com- plimented on their spy’s good fortune. It may distress or flatter Master Dale to learn that Miss Dacre has to-day been arrested and imprisoned in the city guard-house, there to remain with- out bail until she comes up for trial at the February assizes on charge of wil- fully aiding and abetting her country’s enemies. The penalty for this crime is death by hanging. (To be continued.) THE HOURS. Wuy talk of years and centuries and ages? What mean such mighty scrolls of time to thee? It is the hours that proffer thee their pages Whereon to trace life’s brief epitome! Clarence Uriny. COMIC OOO® (©