Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1911-Jan 1912)

A BOY OF THE REVOLUTION 87 to observe what was taking place and to find Bob. Alas, the luckless boy had run into the captain and his party! At first, he withstood the captain's badgering, stoutly, scornfully refusing the gold coin which was offered for information. "Now, my lad," coaxed the captain, "if I give you this bag of gold, dont you think you will remember having seen our man ? ' ' ' ' No, sir ; I have seen nobody. ' ' "What! Not a man, in the uniform of the Colonial Army?" "No, sir." "Well, perhaps this will help your memory," said the captain, placing a pistol to the boy 's head. i ' Now, take your choice — either the bag of gold and tell what you know, or be shot ! ' ' The boy hesitated. He was but a child in years, tho developed under the strenuous conditions of those pioneer days. He stood here, alone, a mere child, alone in the first great crisis of his life, facing a party of armed men, threatened with death for refusing to divulge the whereabouts of a man who was a stranger to him. His mother's frightened face, his father's courageous one, swam before his eyes. What would they tell him to do ? he wondered. Trembling with a sense of his helplessness, his present fear obscuring his usually clear perception of right and honor, his hand closed, almost unconsciously, about the bag dangled before his eyes, and, suddenly, he led the band of soldiers to the hollow tree. They tore the branches away and dragged the lieutenant forth. As they placed him between two of their number, his glance met Bob's, and the boy, ashamed and remorseful, turned from the man's accusing eyes. An understanding of what he had done began to grow, as he heard the marching command and saw the prisoner led away. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, concealed behind bushes, were astonished to see the patrol sweep by, with Lieutenant Ralph in their midst. His hidingplace had seemed so secure that they had not dreamed he would be captured. With sincere regrets for the young officer, they sadly returned to the house, speculating anxiously as to what had become of Bob. At last he appeared, looking very crestfallen. "Ah, Bob; we were worried about you. What do you know about Lieutenant Ralph's arrest?" asked the father, eagerly. "I know nothing about it, father," answered the boy. But his downcast look belied his assertion and aroused the father's suspicion. He grasped his son by the shoulder and shook him, with the idea of extracting a truthful explanation, and the boy, driven to bay, began to cry. As he drew out his handkerchief, something jingled upon the floor. It was the bag of gold coins. Mr. Smith picked it up, and, with a fierce exclamation, sent it spinning thru the window. "My boy!" he gasped, overwhelmed. "Can it be, my own son is a coward and a traitor ! " As he gazed at the shrinking little figure, his anger rose fiercely. ' ' Leave this house ! " he shouted. " Go ! I will not harbor a coward and a traitor beneath my roof!" "John," pleaded the mother, clasping the boy in her arms, "he is but a child, and the temptation was very great. Do not send him from us. He is our only child. ' ' But the father, beside himself with rage, tore the boy from her arms, and drove him from their door. Even in his bewildered state, Bob realized that it would be useless to return to the house. His father's "yea" and "nay" had ever been final. So, broken-hearted, and with the desolation of the homeless upon him, he wandered aimlessly down the lonely road. His punishment seemed greater than he could bear. Then his childish thoughts flitted to the cause — to the man he had delivered into the hands of his enemies — and, gradually, he comprehended the magnitude of what he had done. He had betrayed a man — had sent him to his death ! His father was right — he was