Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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486 THE leader quietly, and with a deep note of sincerity in his voice. ‘I readily recalled you, from your name: you were a friend of the gallant Major Ingold, whose death added so greatly to our loss in yester- day’s engagement with the enemy.” David bowed sorrowfully, scarcely trusting himself to speak. “You will understand, sir,’’ said Wash- ington, ‘‘ that almost every man convicted of espionage is inclined to regard his case as exceptional, and that he almost invaria- bly craves the privilege of laying his plea before the highest authority. If I were to yield to every petition of the sort, my time would suffer an appreciable cur- tailment. I may say, however, that in deference to the memory of Major Ingold, I have made this exception in your case. You will oblige me by being as brief as possible, Mr. Treves.”’ ‘Tf the interview avails me nothing, your excellency,” said David fervently, ‘“‘T shall leave your presence happier for this mark of your consideration. I will be very brief, sir.. I could not tell my story to other men without the danger of compromising certain innocent persons, but I feel that it is safe in your hands.”’ He then told hurriedly, in terse sen-: tences, how Adrian Ingold had _ been sheltered by those distinguished Tories, the Murrays; how he had been prepared for his perilous journey to the rebel lines, and how, finally, he himself had gone forth * with him to afford support and guidance. Without pause and with a convincing earnestness, he told the story to the-end, then fell grimly silent. General Washington eyed him with earnest intensity throughout the recital. At the end he bowed his head and was thoughtful for some minutes. “The most important phases of your experience, Mr. Treves,” he said sudden- ly, but kindly, ‘‘ are those which followed your departure from the house of Mr. Murray. Major Ingold, unhappily, is no longer with us. General Sir Henry Clin- ton might, an he would, bear testimony to the incident of, the pass—which seems ARGOSY. to have been somewhat irregular. But could any one vouch for your movements from the time you left the British out- post to the moment of your arrest?” David shook his head. ‘ Major Ingold and I were alone, sir, until the final pursuit and skirmish,” he said. Washington sighed audibly. ‘The most unpleasant thing we have to experience, in the exercise of high authori- ty, Mr. Treves,’”’ he said, “is the official hardening of the heart. Our own impulses, our own best inclinations, have to be thrust aside with a ruthless hand.”’ David bowed silently and got up. ‘““T beg your excellency to believe,” he said, ‘“ that I am not lacking in gratitude for the attentién and consideration that you have shown me.” ‘Mr. Treves,” said Washington, with deep feeling, ‘‘ as between man and man, I believe every word that you have spoken. As General Washington I can believe nothing until I have seen, the conclusive proof. 1 hope, however, that I may lighten your heart a little before you re- turn to your place of confinement. I shall give orders, sir, postponing the ex- ecution of the court’s sentence to one week from this day, and I shall privately make some investigation of your case, if I find that such an investigation is possible.”’ David stepped to the door and bowed again solemnly. “Your excellency knows me to be a king’s man,” he said huskily, ‘but I would like to say, sir, that if it comes to pass that I must give up my life, I shall die with no feeling of bitterness toward the commander of the army for which my good friend gave his life.” ‘““T am grateful to you for that assur- ance, sir,” returned Washington, a little hoarsely. “It is my prayer, Mr. Treves, that the Lord of Mercies will deal gently with you.” David opened the door and passed out quietly, but with a heart full of high emo- tion. The soldier-guardian grasped his arm and led him rapidly back to the barn and into his cell. comicloool C©