CHAPTER XXIII

SLY PUSS PEGGY

I HURRIED back to Brother John as Mrs. Mummer bade me, and I noted on the way that the arrival of Colonel Taunton had had a decided effect upon the British officers. They had stopped their loud talking and laughing, and, instead of lounging about the hall as they had when I came down-stairs, they stood in groups, speaking in low tones and with an air of alertness about them. Evidently the new commander did not tolerate the lax ways of Blundell and his like. This I thought might help us.

"At any rate, we won't be entirely at the mercy of Captain Blundell," I said to myself as I hurried back to my room.

Locking the door behind me, I hastened to the book-shelf, and in a moment had opened the panel letting me into the secret chamber. I had expected to find Brother John still lying as I had left him, but, much to my surprise and delight, he was stretched on the small bed in one corner of the room, and smiled brightly as he saw me. "Oh, I'm so glad you are better," I exclaimed; for, though he was still pale and weak, he seemed more like himself.

"I'll be fit in no time," he answered; "but I played you a scurvy trick to swoon like a silly woman, and you alone! How did you manage to drag me in here?"

I told him just what had happened, and at the end he praised me for a brave girl, vowing that surely I had saved his life.

"For, Bee," he explained, "that man Blundell will not have forgotten that I was here once before, and he 'd bring the charge of spy against me if I were taken, be sure of that. But he won't catch me now, Bee, though I'd like to catch him."

We talked a little further, and he told me what I had already guessed, that it was into this secret room he had disappeared so mysteriously once before. Soon, however, I saw that he was too weak to talk much, and remembering the posset, I went to fetch it.

Thinking it best to leave my chamber door locked, I passed through the dressing-room into the one where Peggy slept, and there found the girls on the bed. The long hours of anxiety in the vaults during the battle had worn them out. I, too, felt the strain of it, and would have

been glad of a rest, but I had other things to think of.

I tiptoed to the door, but some sound waked Peggy, who sat up in bed and called me.

"Oh, Bu-Bu-Bu-Bee," she cried, "did you know he 's de-de-dead?”

"Dead, Peggy?" I said, alarmed, for the thought of her brother Bart popped into my head. "Who is dead?"

She got off the bed, and, picking up something in her arms, came running to me.

"He was sh-sh-shotted," she murmured, her voice breaking, and she held out to me the soldier doll we had posted at the window, and there, sure enough, was a bullet hole through his body.

"Poor fellow!" I said; "but we must remember that he was a brave soldier who died at his post, fighting for his country."

"Ye-ye-yes," answered Peggy, "and to-to-tomorrow we must bu-bu-bury him."

"Bury him?" called Polly from the bed, having waked at our talk. "Nonsense, child! Dolls cost good, hard money which is not easy come by. I'll mend the hole for you and put a sash over it, and he 'll be as good as ever he was.”

"Nay, you shall do no su-su-such thing!" retorted Peg, vehemently. "He di-di-died for his c-c-country, and he sh-shall never again b-b-be the s-s-sport of idle children.”

It was a very grown-up idea for so little a maid, yet I sympathized with it fully.

"Yes, Peg dear, we will bury him as a soldier should be buried"; and telling her to hop back into bed, I went off for the posset.

It was quite dark by this time, and I had little fear that I should be seen carrying the bowl. Nor was I; and when I put it into Brother John's hands, I was overjoyed to see the hearty way he supped it. Afterward he felt much better, and said he was strong enough to get into bed without help, and that I had better go for a rest. So I kissed him good night and went out with the empty bowl, closing the panel behind me.

I wanted, of course, to be rid of the dish, for having it about our sleeping-rooms would create suspicion if it was seen; so I thought the best plan was to run at once to the kitchen with it.

The hall was dark, except where the lights on the floor below shone against the walls, and I started along without dread of danger; but scarce had I gone ten feet, when a figure stepped out of the shadow and gripped my arm, dragging

bered how Brother John had given him the slip before, and meant to discover the secret of it if he could.

This, of course, made it most difficult for me. to carry food to Brother John, and there were times when he had to wait throughout the entire day with but dry bread. I early brought a kitten to our rooms to give color to my previous suggestion, and it still served as an excuse in case of need; but the quantity and kind of food suited to so small an animal was hardly enough to sustain a large man, who, as he regained his strength and needed building up after his wound, developed a huge hunger that craved not victuals in bowls of kitten's size, but good dishes of roast beef.

Brother John fumed, and Mrs. Mummer was beside herself, but to show annoyance at this constant watching would be a confession that there were grounds for suspicion.

We were forced, then, to watch Captain Blundell as carefully as he watched us, and whenever he rode away on some errand, Brother John feasted royally; but this was seldom, because the British were very inactive, and seemed satisfied to occupy Philadelphia and the country near at hand.

But, even with Captain Blundell gone, our way was not always open, for there were soldiers about the kitchen, and Mrs. Mummer was forced to storm them out of it in order to prepare those dainties she considered needful for the invalid up-stairs.

Polly and Betty had no idea that Brother John was in the house, but of Peggy I could not be so sure. She was so little, and so devoted to me, that she was constantly at hand, and there were many times when Mrs. Mummer and I forgot her presence entirely. But she never hinted by word of mouth that she guessed the secret, though she would give me a glance now and then, as if to say, "I know."

Matters had been this way for some days when, one evening, I saw Captain Blundell ride down the drive leading out of Denewood. The other officers were just gone in to dinner, and it occurred to me that here was a splendid chance to get a good meal to Brother John, and at the same time to take away a huge pile of dishes that had been accumulating in his room; for taking his food to him was but half the risk.

I ran to the kitchen and whispered my news to Mrs. Mummer, and she, instantly seizing the opportunity, drove out the lounging privates, and filled a large platter for Brother John. I hurried with it to the secret room, and he fell upon it ravenously, for I think it was the first warm

bite he had had that day. When I told him that Blundell was gone, he agreed with me that it was too auspicious a moment to be missed, so I started back with a pile of empty dishes, planning to make two trips of it.

Peg was in her room when I went through, but, though she opened wide her eyes, she said nothing, and I stepped into the hall.

Hardly had I done so, when Captain Blundell stood before me.

"Ah, ha!" he cried triumphantly, "you thought I had gone, did n't you? Well, I came back—and just in time, too! 'T is a vastly hungry kitten you harbor," he went on, with a mocking sneer. "Art sure 't is not a tiger cub?”

"Think you no one eats here but yourselves, sir?" I retorted, determined to put a bold front on the matter, though far from feeling courageous.

"Nay!" he said, with a laugh. quite plainly that there are others. least," he added significantly.

"Nay, I see One other at

I think he was a little taken aback at my bluntness, but he felt sure of himself, and answered promptly:

"T is in my mind, miss, that you have some one concealed in your room, and I mean to have it searched."

I set down the pile of dishes on the floor, resolved to do a desperate thing. I felt that a search would have to be made, but I meant to disarm suspicion if I could.

"That," I retorted, "you shall not do!" "Vastly brave!" he taunted. "Will you prevent it?"

"Aye," was my answer, "for I shall ask for a search myself!" and I moved toward the stairs.

"I'm go-go-going with you, Bu-Bu-Bu-Bee,” said Peggy, who, having heard my talk with the captain, had come into the hall. So, hand in hand, we ran down the steps and entered the dining-room.

Now, although he had been there for some days, I had never come into direct contact with Colonel Taunton. First of all, because he was busy in the library, which he had made his own quarters, and, next, because I had little to say to any of the officers, though with two or three

of the younger men I had exchanged civilities, for the great majority had treated us with every consideration.

So it was not with fear for myself, or dread of how I should be received, that I trembled as I entered, but because of the desperateness of the step I was about to take.

As Peg and I stood in the doorway, there was a moment's silence, and Colonel Taunton, at the head of the table, saw us.

"Whom have we here?" he asked.

"'T is Mistress Beatrice Travers, who is chatelaine of this estate, sir," answered one of the younger officers who had always been polite to us. "And the younger miss is little Peggy Travers, her cousin."

Colonel Taunton, like the courteous gentleman he was, rose to his feet and made us so grand a bow, that I thought at first he must be mocking us; but I was mistaken.

"Pray be seated," he said, "and let me thank you for this opportunity to express our appreciation of your hospitality."

"Nay, I will stand," I replied; "my errand is soon told. I come to beg a favor."

"Now," said Colonel Taunton, heartily, "this. is kind of you! Then will we feel less in your debt. What is it, and 't is done?"

"I would beg you, sir," I answered, "to have my chamber thoroughly searched, and then to relieve me of the spying of this-this-gentleman"; and I pointed to Blundell, who, rather red in the face, stood in the doorway.

"Have your room searched?" cried Colonel Taunton, in surprise.

"Nay, believe me, it is necessary!" I said. "I cannot even feed the cat but he must be after me, insisting that I have some one concealed there."

"You were not feeding a cat with a stack of dishes as high as your chin!" put in Blundell, sullenly.

I controlled a desire to drop that chin a little, for at the moment it was very high indeed.

"You have our dining-room-and you are quite welcome," I added to forestall polite protests; "but we must eat somewhere."

"Aye, to be sure!" said Colonel Taunton, catching the meaning I wished to imply. "I regret that matters are in such a state that it is needful for us to discommode you."

"Colonel Taunton," Blundell broke in desperately, "I am as certain as that I am alive that there is some one concealed in that girl's room, and I think it is a wounded man, from the posset I have seen carried there. She makes a plausible story of it, but I am sure she is lying to you."

"Nay now, Blundell, you go too far!" exclaimed one of the young officers, half rising. “Gentlemen, silence!" said Colonel Taunton, sternly; "you forget where you are. Captain Blundell, you will be more careful of your speech."

"If you will but search the room, 't will end the matter," I said boldly.

"Nay, it goes against me to reward your hospitality in such a fashion," the colonel demurred. "What are these suspicions founded upon, Captain Blundell? Weightier reasons, I hope, than a few soiled dishes."

"Sir," Blundell began, "this girl is an arrant rebel, and, to be plain, in this house we are in a nest of them. Her brother, John Travers, is Allan McLane's right-hand man, and a pestiferous nuisance to boot. The last time I was quartered here the impudent rascal had the hardihood to enter the house and tell a dozen of us to our faces that we were to treat his sister somewhat differently; and when we went to take him, he vanished from this very room there now is talk of. I beg you take her at her word, for I think she is not so desirous of having a search as she would have us believe."

"Sir!" I broke in, "I was as ignorant of where my brother went as Captain Blundell himself, but he is mistaken when he says I do not wish the room searched. I should like the matter determined so that I shall not be constantly dogged with his attentions."

Colonel Taunton shook his head thoughtfully. I hoped he would agree to the search and perhaps go himself, and, taking a casual glance about the room, retire satisfied; but I saw plainly that he did not like the business, for he was a gentleman.

He lifted his head presently and beckoned Peggy.

"Come hither, little maid," he said. "I 've a babe about your age at home." It was evident that he was fond of children, for, when Peg went up to him, he picked her up and set her on his knee, caressing her in a manner showing that he was used to little folk.

Peggy perched there for a moment, regarding the colonel gravely, then she spoke:

"I'm the youngest, bu-bu-but I'm no ba-ba-babe."

"Nay, to be sure!" cried the colonel, starting back in pretended surprise. "I see that now, and I think you are old enough to tell a true tale." "Aye," answered Peg, "I'll tell no o-other." "Gentlemen," Colonel Taunton proposed, speaking to the table at large, "let us make this the test of the matter. 'Out of the mouths of babes,'