The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-08-17
From the Atlantic Monthly for July.
THE CHICAGO CONSPIRACY.

or What passed between the young ma
al and the young woman during that hou
: | do not know, for | am not writing rc
nance but history. However, withou
lifting the veil on things sacred, I ca
IS say that her last words were, "Do you
duty. Blot out your record of treason.
God bless her for saying them and lie
Amen be said by every American woman
On his return to camp the Texan mere
ly said, 81 will do it, and the details o
t the plan were talked over He was t.
escape from the prison, ferret out and en-
4 trap the Rebel leaders. How to manag,
the first part of the programme was tn,
: query of the Texan. The Commandant'
brain is fertile. An adopted citizen, il
the scavenger line, makes periodical Wis
its to the camp in the way of his business
and him the Commandant sends for.
"Arrah, yer Honor" the Irishman says
81 ha'nt traitor. Bless yer beautiful
soul l love the kintry and besides, il
might damage me good name and me pur-
ty profession"
lie is assured that his name will be all
the better for dieting a few weeks in a
dungeon, and-did not the same thing
make Harvey Birch immortal?
Half an hour before sunset the sea-
venger comes into camp with his wag-
on. He fills it with dry bones, bro
ken bottles, decayed food, aud the rub
bish of the prison; and down below, un-
der blanket; he slows away the Texan
4 hundred comrades gathered round to
shut off the gaze of the guard but out
side is the real danger He has to pass
two gates, and run the gauntlet of half
dozen sentincls. His wagon is fuller than
usual and the late hour-it is now after
sunset-will Of itself excite suspicion
1t might test the pluck of brave man !;
/ for the scntries' bayonets are fixed, and
their guns at the half trigger; but he
reaches the out gate in safety. Now st.
Patrick help him for he needs all the
impudence of au Irshman. The gate
rolls back the Commandant stands ner-
vously b, but sentry cries out
"Iou can't pass it's agin orders, No
wagins can 60 out arter drum beat"
"Arrah, don't be fool Don't be af.
ter abstructin' honest mans business"
answers the Irishman, pushing on into
the gateway.
The soldier is vigilant, for his officers
eye is on him.
"Halt :" he cries again, "or I'll fire !'
"Fire! Waste yer powder on yer
friends, like the bloody-minded spalpeen
ye are !" says the scavenger, cracking his
whip, and moving forward.
1t is we'll he does not look back, if he
should, he might be melted to his own
soap grease. The sentry's musket is lev
eled !! He is about to fire, but the Com
mandant roars out
Don't shoot :" and the old man and
the old horse trot of in the twilight
Not an hour later, two men, in big
boots, slouched hats, and brownish but
ternuts, come out Of the Comwandant's
quarters. With mufled faces and hasty
strides, they made their way over the
dimly lighted road into the city. Pass
ing, after a while, before large mansion,
they crouched down among the shadows.
1t is the house Of the grand Treasurer Of
the Order of American Knights, and in
to it very soon the Texan enter. The
good man knows him well. and there is
great rejoicing. lie orders up the fatted
calf, and soon it is on the table, steaming
hot and done brown IN the roascing.-
When the meal is over they discuss bet
tie of champane and the situation. The
Texan cannot remain in Chicago, for
there he will surely be detected. He
must be off to Cincinnati by the first train;
and he will arrive in the nick Of time for
warm work is daily expected. Has he
any money about him. No, he has left
it behind, with his Sunday clothes, in
the prison. He must have funds but
the worthy gentleman can lend him none,
for he is q loyal man of course he is !!
was he not the peoples candidate" for
Governor 2? But no one ever heard of a
woman being hanged for treason. With
this he mods to his wife, who opens her
purse. aud tosses the Texan roll of green
backs. They are honest notes, for an
honest face is on them. At the end of
an hour good night is said, and the Tex
an goes to find hole to hide in. Down
the street he hurries, the long dark shad-
ows following him.
He enters the private door of public
house, speaks magic word, and is shown
to room in the upper story Three low,
prolonged raps on the wall ,-and-he is a
mong them. They are seated about
small table, on which is plan of the
prison. One is about forty-fve-a tall,
thin man, with wiry frame, jovial face,
and eyes which have the wild, rowing
look Of the Arabs. He is dressed after
the fashion of English sportsmen, and his
dog-a fine gray blood hounds stretch
ed on the hearth-rug near him. he looks
a reckless, desperate character, aud has
an adventurous history. In battle he is
said to be thunderbolt-lightning har
messed and inspired with the will OF de
vii. He is just the character to lead tht
dark, desperate expedition on which they
are entered. 1t is St. Leger Grenfeil.