The Knights of the White Shield eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 202 pages of information about The Knights of the White Shield.

The Knights of the White Shield eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 202 pages of information about The Knights of the White Shield.

This was in Charlie’s handwriting.

“Why not go?” asked Aunt Stanshy.

“O we keep our funds up there in a dipper.”

“It looks unsafe to me, for somebody climbing up there might reach into the cup and steal the money.”

“O no, I guess not.”

Sid Waters now stepped forward.  “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “two more individuals having arrived”—­these were nail patrons—­“we will begin our entertainment.  First is the dialogue called ‘The Spy.’”

The curtain rose and there stood the inheritor of the warlike name of Jugurtha.  He was rather sober and melancholy, and was dressed in a semi-military style that betrayed not in the least the fact to what flag he might possibly be attached.  Sid was crouching down, hiding behind a barrel.

“What am I?” Juggie now asked in low tones, “American or British?”

“Of course,” Sid was heard to say, “you are an American, or ought to be.  Hush up!”

Juggie now strode over the floor, an exiled broom-handle resting on his shoulder.  Suddenly a step was heard.  From the rear of a box crept out the governor.  He wore a farmer’s dress, and was half smothered under his father’s tall hat.

“Advance!” shouted Juggie, “and gib de count—­count—­”

“Countersign!” whispered the prompter behind the barrel.

“Count-de-sign!” shouted Juggie, pompously, at the same time presenting the broom-handle threateningly.

“George Washington!” answered the farmer.

“All right.  Go ’long dar!”

“No, no!” whispered Sid.  “Let me see your papers, friend!”

“Let me see your papers, friend!”

The farmer reads his pass.

“Is dat all?”

“All.”

“Knock off his hat,” whispered Sid.

“What’s de matter wid your hat?” and as Juggie shouted this, he fetched the governor’s hat a merciless rap, one that would have been serious had not the governors head luckily been in the first story of the hat.  As the hat dropped, Juggie seized a paper that fell out, and exclaimed, “A spy, a spy!  A note to de British commander!”

“Seize him!  That is the next thing,” suggested Sid, in smothered tones.  But the British spy was too much for Juggie, and the defender of the continental name was obliged to resort to severe measures.  Presenting the broom-handle, he shouted, “Aim!  Fire!  Bang!” but the spy was not considerate enough to fall.

“Drop! drop, why don’t you?” whispered Juggie.  “You’ve been shot.”

The spy, alias the governor, showed his usual firmness, and continued to stand.

“Drop!” besought Sid, in a suppressed voice.  “Shoot him again, Juggie!”

But the spy did not care to be riddled again and he prudently fell.

“Drag him out, Juggie!” was the prompting of an unknown voice.  Juggie seized one of the spy’s fat legs, but pulled in vain.  It was an impossible feet.  Sid and Charlie now appeared as continentals, supposed to be armed with guns, and were helping Juggie, when the cry was raised, “The British army is coming!” At the head of the stairs appeared Wort Wentworth, his head decorated with a red paper helmet, and carrying on his body various insignia of war.  He now made a fierce charge across the floor.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Knights of the White Shield from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.