Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/122

Rh "My dear little maids," and he took Dorothy and Sarah by the hands, "you saved my life when the majority of the good people in this city would have enjoyed seeing me hanged by the neck. My own dear girls shall know, if I live to see them again, that two little ladies, out of the kindness of their dear hearts, made possible the meeting between us, and every night they shall pray to the good God that He will ever have you in His holy keeping. As for myself, I hope it may be my good fortune, when the war cloud has blown away, to show how deeply I hold myself in your debt. Will you kiss me, my dears?"

With his arms around their necks he leaned over and pressed his lips to theirs, whispering a "God bless you" as he did so.

"You won't come back and try to do the people any harm through what you have spied out, will you?" Dorothy asked pleadingly.

"My little Mistress Dean, let me tell you this for your peace of mind, and that your father may not repent having shown mercy when an enemy was in his power: I have learned nothing that was not already known to General Howe. An American officer recognized me when I would have entered Fraunce's tavern, and since that time I have had my hands full with trying to keep clear of the mob. I shall be obliged to come