Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

a The White Dawn 93 As a sporting proposition I believed the captain held the best end of the wager. The dead patriot’s assurance had _ satisfied me it would be impossible to secure better confirmation of the great news unless I waited until the troops were actually em- barking. I was in a fidget to be clear of the building and planning my escape. The other part of my task, to discover the leak complained of by General Arnold, ‘ must be left unfinished. The Bloomingdale engagement would give me my chance to escape north over King’s Bridge and gain Putnam’s army in the Highlands. To Cap- tain Saleby I urged: “Let’s go back to the tavern and have a punch. Nothing to keep us here.” He hesitated between his craving for the drink and his desire to remain until he had proven himself to be a figure of some im- portance. Three officers clattered down the stairs and leaped on their horses. Saleby snapped his fingers excitedly, and softly exclaimed: 3 “By St. George! It’s so. We go in haste. That German on the roan is on General Knyphausen’s staff. He’s making post haste to the general’s headquarters in Wall street. The Hessians are camped at Corlear’s Hook. The whole army is to be moved. Here comes Colonel Wentsel. Good! He’ll bring news.” We met him just inside the door, and Saleby warmly greeted— “Something in the wind, colonel?”’ Wentsel stared at him coldly and re- plied— “There’s always something in the wind, if it’s only dust.” And he would have passed us had not Saleby, made reckless by the day’s potations perhaps, insisted— “But the news, colonel?” Wentsel fairly glared at him, and then curtly said: “You had better ask Sir William for the news, Captain Saleby— Mr. Kerry, I shall not be able to partake of your hospi- | tality tonight.” Before I could express my tegrets he was’ mounting the stairs. “Roast those low-caste Germans!” hissed Saleby, his face the color of a boiled beet. “Listen to him putting on side because he’s Knyphausen’s errand boy! Well, he told me the news even by refusing. We’re off in a rush, my dear fellow.” “‘All the more reason why we should make - / the night a lively one. An early start anda late finish.’’ “With you to the tops of my boots! With that German lout away I may stand a chance of winning.: I feel it’s my lucky night. Blast my blood, Kerry, but you’re a decent sort. Wish you were in our mess. I say, could you manage to act as my privy purse tonight as well as my cellarer? Ha! Ha! turns. A happy-go-lucky officer of his gracious Majesty temporarily down to his last scudii. It’s weird.” “T shall be honored to accommodate you, Captain Saleby. But you must wait until we get to Bloomingdale and I can interview old Socrates the butler. Personally I have but a few gold pieces I happened to bring with me when I cut and ran from the - enemy.” “Tt doesn’t matter. Some of the fellows probably can fix me out.” ‘The butler has the house funds ana they are at my disposal. We'll share them in Bloomingdale.”’ “Strike me dumb, but you’re a chap of the right kidney! No cursed beating about the bush, but straight from the shoulder! | I'll see Sir }?? I vow you must get into our set. William tomorrow, his secretaries be “Thanks, captain, but I want northern service. I’m an outdoor man. Philadel- phia will scarcely suit so long as I can choose.” Devilish quaint how the wheel — We were at the foot of the steps and about — to turn up the street when the aide who interviewed those in the big room came to the door and called the captain by name and beckoned him to return: “Just you alone, Captain Saleby,’ > he added when my companion would have piloted me back into the house. “‘He’s heard a hot word,” gloated Saleby. 7 “Sir William learned I was below. Rat him, but he deserved it! Take it on him- self to dismiss Captain Roger Oakes-Welton Saleby as if he were some brute of a muffin boy!” And with chin high the captain mounted the steps. I did not have long to wait. very few minutes the captain reappeared, his visage fairly aflame, his weak eyes hot with rage. “All the dashed insolence!”’ he panted. “Warned me not to talk too much! I told him to get a weapon and step out- side, anywhere, Bowling Green—the street. Inside of — COMMEXOO SxE@