Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/139

126 "And I assured those worthy citizens that no one had left this house, while at the same time my own daughter had but just finished the work of aiding that most dastardly of enemies—a spy! It is shameful! Monstrous!"

"We thought you knew all about it, sir, else why did you prevent us from telling what had been done?" Sarah said as she crept more closely to Dorothy's side.

"Wait," the silversmith commanded. "Let us understand the situation first. Dorothy, explain to me when I or your mother told you to set the Britisher free?"

The child repeated the conversation which had been so misleading, and Scipio plucked up sufficient courage to corroborate her statement by saying emphatically:

"All dat am gospil trufe, Massa Dean, kase I done heared de berry same talk, else why does yo' s'pose I'd been shinnyin' 'roun' wid de clothes-line fur?"

"Hold your tongue, you black scoundrel!" and it really seemed as if the silversmith was benefited by giving way to his anger. "I should have known that you had some hand in the matter. Get into the kitchen where you belong, and I will settle this affair with you when I have more time!"

Poor old Scip went out of the room looking