Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

118 “The false Ambrose Kerry! And I never knew!” “You’re hunted by the British. Then you must be an American.” “As loyal to America as you are,” spoke up her companion. “I didn’t recognize your voice. You’re dressed some different than when we crossed Staten and Long Island together.” 1 examined his features closely and faintly muttered— ~ “Paul Bowen!” “As good an American as you are,” spoke up the maid. “Just returned from England—had pa- pers to prove it!” I faltered. “That is true,” he quietly assured me. “At the very beginning of the war I took this way of serving my country. I went to England as a red hot Tory. I lost favor over there a bit because I gradually cooled my ardor and complained of my treatment. They were glad to have me come home, but they never doubted my loyalty. Not pleasant work, but very necessary. It was I who went through your room in the Bet- worth house by mistake. Mistress Osmond had left some papers in her room and did not dare to return for them, fearing you. I went for her. It was dusk and I entered your room by mistake.”’ IT WAS rapidly growing lighter and ’ I carefully picked a path through the - alders and led them into the shack. I asked Bowen— “Why are you running away?” “Tt was my fault,” explained the maid. “J made a great mistake in burning the papers my mistress gave me to bring to the city. Captain Sant—as I always call him— _gave them to her when he halted the car- riage at the farmhouse. I knew there was some one in General Washington’s army who was furnishing information to Madame Betworth, or her daughter, or both. But I never knew who it was until that day on the farm. I hid the papers in the house and when I saw him entering the city I got there ahead of him and burned them. I had a hard time doing it as Mother Baff recog- nized me in my boy’s clothes as Joseph Berce’s messenger. ‘That experience made me lose my sense of judgment. Had I left the papers for Sant to carry to headquarters, or if I had delivered them myself, I could have remained and been of some use. Adventure | “ “But you puzzled me—I knew I had seen you some time, somewhere, that you couldn’t be Ambrose Kerry. I didn’t want Sant to find the papers. I didn’t want you to know about them. They would have harmed us but little if they had reached Howe, but in my fright I burned them. Then Sant found me and asked for the papers. He had been to headquarters after the fight with you in the house. He knew I hadn’t taken them there. I didn’t know that Mother Baff had been killed when he came to me. I was fearful she would recognize me even when I was prop- erly dressed. I lost my head. “To gain time I told him where he would find them at the house. I searched and found Bowen. It was while talking with him that Sant came to me again. He hadn’t found the papers. He was suspicious of me, and, because of me, of Bowen. He in- sisted I go to the house with him and pro- duce the papers. I went. Bowen followed and entered by the back door. Sant dis- covered him and accused us both of being disloyal and demanded we go with him to headquarters. Bowen struck him down. I shifted to these boy’s clothes and we fled.” “You two made a mess of it,” I was forced to say. “You made a second great mistake in not killing Kerry—Sant. If you had left him dead in the house I would have been suspected and you two e¢ould have carried on the work.” “That’s what I told her, but she wouldn’t listen,” Bowen moodily said. “Some sort of sentiment, I believe.” Her pale face showed some pink and she said: ; “He’s my dear mistress’ cousin. I couldn’t bring about the death of any man, ‘let alone my mistress’ kinsman.”’ ‘But he is a spy,” I reminded her. *““ Was,’ not ‘is,’’’ she corrected. ‘‘So were we spies. He played the same part Mr. Bowen has. From the beginning of the war he posed as a rebel in order to secure information. He never visited New York until now. Jasper Betworth was stationed in the Jerseys to receive his reports. He would trust them to only one other besides Mr. Jasper—to Mistress Audrey.” ‘“‘Why didn’t General Arnold tell me you were true to'the cause?” “He doesn’t know anything about my work. .Only General Washington and one of his aides knew until, following orders, KS EComicboo () (E()