The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-12-03

him that l was connected with the War
Department (another fact), / thought his
manner underwent change. He lighted
cigar, motioned me to a seat and suddenly
grew quite talkative.
"I don't know but what can recon-
mend you nice place. he remarked; a
private family of five or six, with two as
handsome daughters as you ever looked
at"
"I guess thatl dc" I replied. "All 4
want is quiet place. l am so internally
drove with business, in business hours, that
l want peace outside of hours. Times are
very exciting now, as the army is to make
big move soon" nsy.I tps
SIS that so p he calculated, his face ex-
hibiting his surprise. "What sort of
move will it be ?'
81 can't tell for three or four days yet,
but will know then, as / make it point to
keep closely posted on all military and naval
matters"
The man was perfectly delighted. was
just the pigeon he had been looking for
He regretted that a business engagement
called me away, but told me that if would
drop around at the same hour next day, he
would have everything fixed for my install
lation into the comforts of private house.
hold. went out of the saloon, feeling that
had spread net that would envelop the
entire gang, known and unknown, at the
proper time, if only played my card
skillfully
Calling upon the chief, gave him full
report and was again told to go ahead and
work up the matter as l thought best, de-
pending on me for anything you want. He
had heard nothing in regard to the char
acter of the cafe, but my story convinc-
ed him that it was a headquarter place
for gathering information. Both of us
were morally certain that the bartender was
about to secure me board in one of the sus-
pected families, that they might have a
handy source of information, and he gave
me some valuable hints about my conduct
and the report which / was to concoct in
regard to army movements.
If possible, he desired me to secure
knowledge of every disloyal family in the
city, and collect proofs enough to warrant
the arrest of all the prominent ones.
In the afternoon, about the same hour as
before, sauntered into the cafe, and re-
ceived cordial greeting from Payton, the
bartender. AS soon as he got moment
to spare, he informed me that he had made
all arrangements for a place in the family
spoken of-the one with the two handsome
daughters; / was to go around with him
right away and perfect arrangements. He
further informed me that he was a boarder
at the same house, as was also "Captain
Elliott" the spy with the mole. He did
not mention his name as Captain Elliott,
simply giving the name without the title.
Nothing could suit me better than the way
he had arranged matters, and so we walked
around to the house together. There are
new tenants there now, and the reader will
please excuse me for not being exact as to
the location.
Going into the house, which was COM
Portable brick residence, was introduced
to the mistress as m. Warner, that clerk
in the War Department whom l spoke of. +"
1t is not the rule, / believe, for landladies to
shake hands with prospective boarders, ask
after their health, and smile winsome
smiles; but my landlady was an exception.
1t is rule, believe, for landladies to set
a price for board, to point out rooms and
declare them the best in the city, and all
that; and here my landlady was another
exception. Not word was said about
money, and found my room all that could
be desired. She was widow, she said, her
"lamented" having been dead many years.
She had two daughters, Celia and Orphia,
but both were away from home just then.
Not word was said about the war, nc
questions were asked me, and in an hour
had taken full possession of my room
At supper, the widow, Payton, Elliott
and myself were the only ones present, as
was the case during several succeeding
meals.
At length, in day or two, we began tc
} get somewhat acquainted, and then began
to see signs of the net which was to enveloI
me. The man and the lady commenced
5 talking about the war, asking after news
! and seemed very desirious of learning al
that was going on. was prepared fol
D them, and when now look back and ie
member some of my statements, l can only
D wonder that they did not either believe me-
I a great liar OF fathom my intentions to tral
1 them. limited at hundreds of thousand