The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-21

rats house he was altogether the most
talented visitor. The mistress of il called him
"EIer Pet, " in his absence.
During all these days the plot was ripening:
dirty fellows like Atzerott, boys like Herold,
and searching-eyed, mysterious persons like
Payne, began 70 visit the house. l felt that
in my friendship with John, never very well
founded, l was supplanted. John Surratt
began TO be a bird of passage, riding to and
fro from Montreal to Richmond. | was only
puzzled by these things, but never alarmed,
and set him down as a mere "sponger'' or
parasite upon Booth, who was never free with
me- and on whom | looked as a man of ac-
complishments and genius that liked the COM
pany of his interiors. In all this there were
interludes of drunkenness, as when three or
four of the subsequent assassins burst into my
room, saying that they were ruined men and
that all was lost. This was afterwards de-
monstrated to be Booths failure to capture
the President at the Soldiers Home.
And this brings me to the crisis of the mar
rative; the interest of the house was gone, its
peacefulness and charm. was thinking to
myself on Good Friday, as returned from my
office to Mrs. SurTatt's, released for holiday
on account Of my religious belief that perhaps
/ had better seek board otherwheres. at that
moment as if some providence had satisfied
me with these aimless companionships so long
that might observe their completely and con-
IS.
asked me to spend the afternoon in taking
her to drive. As we started out, saw Booth
in the parlor, leaning on the mantel, paler
than usual have since seemed to recolect,
his hand to his moustache, his eyes upon the
floor. We talked pleasantly on the way, and
once Mrs. Surratt stopped to ask about the
pickets in the fields, and when they were to
be removed at nightfall
She died for that ride. /, who had made
gOn'q or nd
slept under her roof so long without unkind-
ness given or received do not shrink to say
that have never been sorry that l accompa-
MED her. And when she died l felt saddened
but not selfaccusing; for if there is doubt
that she was a principal in the murder, there
is no doubt, to my mind, that she knew enough
to prevent it, to save the President, the Secre-
tary of State, Booth and the tools of Booth,
and, perhaps, her own son.
That night was weary, and read myself to
sleep. At o'clock in the morning called
from my bed by loud hands upon the door,
heard the challenge of 'Oficers of the Govern
ment. Open at once"
"What is it all for, gentlemen Y'' said.
''The President and the Secretary of State
are dead We want Booth and Surratt to sur
render, if they are here"
do not remember what l exclaimed the
officers say it was: "My God l see it ALL"
Then at daylight hastened to read the par
ticulars-"A tall man in a white coat stabbed
Mr.. Seward d''-that must be Payne!
l hurried to the police station at once.
Directly was off with the detectives on the
road to Surrattsville again. We caught a
horse. ''To whom did you hire it 2" we say
to the livery man. ''To monkey-faced
chap named Erail Think That must be
Herold Away we go to the widow Herold's
David has been away quite two days. "Let
us see your album" His picture is secured.
l knew where Surratt had photographs taken
we obtain dozen copies. Then l am carried
| before Mr.. Stanton. He looks at me savagely
for having been one of his clerks and keep
ing such company. l am ordered to Old
Capitol Hill. From the jail yard 1 see Mrs.
| SurIatt at the window. She kisses her hand.
A man comes to me with a message ON her
behalf:-"You are to say nothing of anybody
of the female gender when asked" 1t is toe
late, if l could have had such wish. The
past is too wildly illumined by this fresh
crime to be forgotten. This is the story of a
| school friendship end clearinghouse ac-
quaintanceship.
-He closed and shook my hand. ]
wondered if there were boys in other genera.
tions with the experience of this boy in ours
qpAA. T.