Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1168 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

ow Fis a “a= 12 extend every favor to those of with the king; and this gives the enemy’s spies a iden opnortunity by their hing advantage of our Emdnect On the other hand, a friend of ours can geok no refuge in the American camp, even by the most perfidious and artful treachery. With the eais a man must either be a soldier in their ranks, or else he is persecuted as a Tory. Therefore, our spies have a dozen dangers to risk where the rebel spies have but one,”’ ‘ Prodigal Tom, my lord, has been a succcssful Spy ” said one of the generals. ‘Vor whom?” , ‘““Why, the king, of course,”’ answered the officer, surprised at Cornwallis’s question, At this juncture-an orderly entered and announced the presence of one Wesley Marble, who was desir- ous of seeing the commander. “Show himin at once,” said Cornwallis, eagerly, “Tt desire a private interview with him.” This was a hint for the officers to retire, and the next moment Wesley Marble, the Tory, was ushered into the general’s presence. “Well, Mr. Marble,’’ said the commandant, “I suppose you have been busy since we last met.”’ Ves, d general,”’ replied Marble, * but not as busy as Washington has kept you. I didn’t think he’d men inge” e to whip a corporal’s guard.”’ “Of this, . Marble, you can speak another time,’’ said the British general, displeased at being reminded by every Tory of his late disastrous cam- paign; “but if you have anything to report con- perning the Melinott family, I shall be pleased to ear it.” . ‘“*T have a good report to make, general,’’ answer- ed the old Tory; “by tracing them up, I succeeded in finding the widow Melinott and her daughter, Ger- aldine.’ * Ah, indeed!” exclaimed the general. “Yes; and what is more, they are living in New ag ck, and upon this very street, three doors south,” ‘Then one or both of them shall be summoned here at once,” said Cornwallis, and touching a bell on the table at his side, an orderly immediately an- swered the call. ** Glaston,”’ the general said, addressing the order- ly, ‘I have a request to make of you, It is that you roceed to the residence of the widow Melinott three oors south on this street, and request the widow Gnd her daughter to call at my quarters without, de- ‘But, suppose they refuse to come, general,’’ said the orderly. “Impress upon their minds the importance of their coming without delay. Tell them that I desire tosee them upon a matter of interest to them- oe ee selves.” Glaston retired and at once proceeded to the resi- ated. He found the mother and daughter alone. The former was an elderly lady of some fifty years, whose calm, composed features were indicative of patient suffering and silent forti- dence desi tude. The daughter was not over eighteen, and possessed of a stately form and features that were wonderful in their beauty and power of expression, Her eyes were of a dark brown, and as they met those of the orderly, he felt that they were possessed of a necro- mantic power—the power of noble womanhood radi- ated from a pure and spotless soul. Orderly Glaston at once introduced himself, and turning to the elderly female, said: ‘* Madame, I am requested to say, that the pres- ence of yourself and daughter is required at the quar- ters of his excellency, Lord Cornwallis.” * Por what?” asked Geraldine, with imperious dig- nity. , 0) I know not, more than that it is for something a pn ourselves,” The mot ae and daughter exchanged glances, and while the color faded from the face of the former and fear seemed to seize upon her heart, the face of the other flushed crimson, her eyes flashed scorn, and her whole countenance assumed alook of disdain. “Has Cornwallis come here to make war upon wo- men?” the young woman demanded, soe at all, madame,” answered. the officer, po- litely. 9: Mandan, then, we ignore his summons?”’ “T advise you, ladies, tosee him. It will save you the embarrassment of having the general cali upon ou.”’ ‘‘ Mother,” said Geraldine, “I will go alone to Cornwallis’s presence... I fear him not, nor his de- o this the mother made no dissent, and so attir- ing herself, Geraldine set out for the commandant’s head quarters, accompanied by Orderly Glaston. In a few minutes she was ushered into the general's presence, and introduced to hin. Cornwallis received her with as much ceremony and politeness as though she had been one of the highest born ladies of the realm; and as soon as she been sea he said; ‘“‘Miss Melinott, it almost seems that I am ac- nted with you, having known your brother, gigal Tom, so long. And Ihave met your broth- er, Delaware Dick, to whom you bear a remarkable resemblance.” ‘* You have heard, have you not, general, that my brother Dick was killed in the Raritan valley a few days ago?’ Geraldine said. _ “The sad intelligence reached my ears yesterday; aud I now desire to ep Sex my heartfelt symperby fer you and your mother in your afiiction, I sin- t Dick ever espoused the cause that arrayed his brother and king, and led to th.”” ce rs general,’ Geraldine exclaimed, with r : 90 ee oo rofessed sympathy Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. me a ee eee owe all the fervency of her soul, ‘‘ that I have no other friends to give in the cause of freedom.”’ ‘You have already lost a father and brother, I be- lieve,’’ observed Cornwallis. ‘*Yes; my father was murdered by British Bills’ Tories; he was not killed.”’ **Miss Melinott,’’ said Cornwallis, fixing a search- ing look upon the young woman’s face, ‘I have just learned that you never had but one brother, and that His name was Thomas R. Melinott /” Goraidine wes tskcn completely by surprise. A. thunderbolt from the wintry sky would not have sur- prised her more. The color receded from her face, and fixing a DAE CORDELE look upon the face of the wily general, she said: ‘Who isit that presumes to know more of my fam- ily, than I domyself?” ‘*“One Wesley Marble,”’ replied Cornwallis. ‘As vilea Tory as ever burned a Patriot home,”’ returned Geraldine, her eyes flashing with indigna- tion. nen you do not deny his assertion, Miss Meli- nott?’ ‘*T deny nothing—I make no concessions one way or another. You know who Delaware Dick was, and who Prodigal Tom is; and so let that_suffice.’’ ‘Very well, Miss Melinott,’? the British general said, touching the bell at his side, in answer to which the orderly appeared, ‘‘ thisis all that I wished to see you about, You will please accept m wishes and regards for your and your mother’s wel- pete Glaston, you will now escort Miss Melinott ome. Cornwallis accompanied her to the door and kindl " of. we ue 44 AAW bidding her good-day, returned to his table and sea ing himself, took up a pen and hastily dashed off a note. Then he summoned Sergeant Loveridge, his special courier, to whom he gave the paper, saying: “Sergeant, Lhave a hard ride for you: take this dispatch, and ride with all speed to Fairmont Place, twenty-five miles south of here, and deliver it into the hands of Captain Walton, aias British Bill. Guard it with your life, and halt not until the camp of the partisan is reached.”’ * General, your command shall be obeyed,” replied Sergeant Loveridge; and bowing himself out of the eneral’s presence, he mounted his horse and gal- oped away upon his mission. ut little did the thousands, who had heard the name of Delaware Dick and Prodigal Tom mentioned daily for the past yearin the valley of the Delaware, dream of the start facts contained in the dispatch sent to British Bill, CHAPTER XX. NOT APPROVED. As the courier, sent to obtain Washington’s approv- al of Prodigal Tom’s sentence as a British spy, would be compelled to journey to Morristown where the general had taken up his winter-quarters, he could not reasonably be expected back short of two days; and for fear of an attempt being made by the enemy to release the condemned man, Major Dalrymple, of the dragoons, and Lieutenant Banks, of the Scarlet Wings, moved their camp down to Clay’s Point, a little village or settlement of. about a dozen log hou- ses, half of which were unoccupied. This placed them about six miles from British Bill’s camp, They took up their quarters in the deserted cabins; and as the people remaining in the village were all Patriots, the soldiers were mio eared entertained, Guards were posted. on all the roads and by-ways converging at that point; and every precaution tak- en to guard against surprise, And it was well that they did all this, for they had scarcely passed a day in the vilage when British Bill came sweeping down from Fairmont Place like a whirlwind, and attempt- ed to carry every thing before them by storm. But they were promptly met by a deadly fire from the Patriots whom they had expected to take by sur- prise, but who really turned out to be the surprise arty. ~ A Aeon of the enemy were unhorsed at the first fire, which terrible loss caused the Tories to check thoir advance, when they were soon driven dack un- der cover of the woods. ae Feeling certain, however, o” air ability to dis- lodge the patriots, the enemy dismounted, and form- ing upon foot withIn the forest, they charged upon the Americans again, The latter were posted ina good position bebind a garden-wall, and were enabled to see the enemy the moment they issued fromthe woods and pour a de- structive fire into their ranks. Before half the dis- tance between the woods and fence had been tra- versed, British Bill fell seriously wounded: This terminated the battle, and, with their wounded ca tain, the Tories again withdrew into the w Here they. held a short consultation, when it was decided t6 give up the battle, and withdraw in the direction of Fairmont Place to await reinforcements. Ignorant of this decision, however, our friends ex- pected another attack the coming night, and so they made preparations to meet it. Prodigal Tom was securely locked-in one of the strongest buildings, aud a double guard placed over him. When the sol- eee lay down to rest, it was with their guns at their sides. Thus the first hours of night passed quietly away; a horseman, galiopin me from the direction of New Brunswick, was suddenly halted by a voice issuing from the shadows by the roadside; and two patriot sentinels confronted him, Involuntarily the man drew up, and before he could recover from his surprise sufficiently to act, one of the sentinels seized his animal by the bits while the ie cemaperty the muzzle of a musket to his breast, said: : re ge rp ee + ee ete kindest, **Dismount, sir Britisher, or you'll recetve the con- tents of this ae **Confound your rebel skins,"’ began the nian; but mtn promptly checked by the sentinel, who ex- med: **Not a word, or I'll splatter your brains all over the night.”’ “It’s strength that gives you courage,” said the man SeMOUERS and giving himself up; “but I'd have you know that Gershom Loveridge is no cow- ard; nor is he a fool te contend with such odds.”’ “Of course not, Gershom,” replied one of bis captors. ‘‘ We observe you are a brave and sensible man, and, therefore, will march you up to head- quarters and introduce you to Major Dalrymple.” Having relieved the courier of his weapons they searched his pockets, his boots, and, in fact, eve place where any secret papers might be concealed; and the very t place they looked, they found a folded paper. Holding it up to the moonlight, they were enabled to see it was superscribed to Captain William Walton. ithout attempting to read the note, the sentinels waited until the corporal of the guard came around and relieved them, when they proceeded at once to camp, aod delivered the prisoner aud his dispatch over to Major Dalrymple. The latter was seated, in earn with Harry Banks and several of the Scarlet Wings, before a roaring fire, in one of the cabins; and as he took the dispatch and turned to the light to read it, the door opened, and a man entered the room amid the mur- mur of excited voices. Dalrymple turned to the new-comer, and, to his surprise, saw that it was the courier whom he had dispatched to Washington’s head-quarters for the paseo signature to Prodigal Tom’s death-sen- nce ‘“Why, Corporal Jarvis!”” he exclaimed have taken us completely by surprise. not expecting you so soon.” : ‘“‘T have had a long, hard ride of it through frosty nights and chilly winds,” replied the courier, seating himself beiore the cheery fire. ‘**And you saw Washington, of course,” said Dal- rymple. “ Yes: he is at Morristown, and will remain there through the winter,” the corporal answered, with a provoking ease of manner, as if courting the inter- est centered in him, and, apparently, desirous of working his friends’ anxiety up to the highest pitch of exci ent. He removed his gloves, and held his palms before the glowing fire. He warmed his feet, one at a time; yawned drowsily, then arose, and from the lining of liis hat produced a paper which he placed in Dalrympie’s hand. All knew what it was, and as the major unfolded the paper, his friends gathered around him almost breathless with suspense. “vou © were ‘* Let us have or, 2% soldiers,"’ exclaimed the nar rr x read Washington’s ap» proval.’ A dead silence, broken only by the roar of the fire on the hearth and the whistle of the wind outside, prevailed. In a deep, strong voice, the major read: “€he sentence of abe Tom, as a British Spy, is not approved, You will, therefore, release the prisoner, GEORGE WASHINGTON.” The little band of patriots were thunderstruck by this order of their commander-in-chief; and a mur- mur of dissatisfaction and dissent rose from every lip. The major himself was astonished. He could see no just reason for liberating the. young Tory and spy. e had been proven guilty by the most convin- c ns erasende. but this, it is true, had not becn sub- m D on, as we Fie oy did not supp the general would take exceptions to his course action after having intrusted the trial of Prodigal Tom to him and his command. ' ‘* Boys,” the major said, “I am astonished by Washington’s course in this matter.”’ ‘We are all astonished, major,’ cried a Scarlet friar A I, for one, declare that Prodigal Tom 8 7 ‘““Ay! ay!" chorused a dozen voices, And the words of the Scarlet Wing soon became kindled into a pas blaze that spread through the camp like wild-fire, Major Da ple saw at once the course the muti- ny would take, and endeavored to quel it; but as well might he have attempted to check’ the onward rush of a torrent. Never before had his followers shown ‘such an utter disregard of his commands; their very souls seemed filled with the spirit of re- bellious nature; and he knew that Washington’s own orders would be ignored, and the prisoner become the victim of an infuriated mob. In such a case, the major knew that he would be held aménable for the deed, and to avert such a calamity now became the eohinding tat there was t of quelling th at there was no pros of que ” riot, neatale out of his at ne acladh3 the buildin in which 1 Tom was confined, Arrived att door, he made himself known to the guard, who per- mivéed him to pass into the prison. In a few moments he came rushing out, and ex- ed: ‘“*Man! what are you guarding here?” ‘* A prisoner— i Tom, of course,” was the answer. ‘“You are not—you ere guarding an empty house,” said the major; “ Prodigal Tom has rit Has treachery or bribery set him at liberty?” ** Neither, or,’ replied the guard, with terror; ‘‘upon my word and honor as a soldier—as true as there is a heaven, I have let no one but you pass out at this door to-night.” . : ““T dare say you have not, for the back-door is =. COMICDOO - ~~ _<-. —_ —<-. ¥ | | - _ a eee ce ee ee ee ee ee es eae eee e —— a Po” ie nil tenn a, & ae ee Ry ee EEE ae 2 = , . + | == ~e . oe P > S ont . | . —_ laf ‘