The Labor enquirer., 1882-12-16

touC heho COulleOIlClGCu my lleuO3 ! uOFOi
wrote line of this ); l have never seen
this letter before" ',> IN / @-''
."Oh, you unspeakable liar! Here,
what do you say to this ?'-and l snatch
"a the sympathetic-ink letter from my
pocket and thrust it before his eyes. \
His face turned white4-as white as a
dead persons. He wavered slightly in
his tracks, and put his hand against the
wall to steady himself After moment
he asked, in so faint voice that 1T was
hardly audible !;
Have you-read it ?"
Our faces must have answered the
truth before my lips could get out the.
false yes" for l distinctly saw the rour-.
age come back into that boys eyes, I
waited for him to say something, but he
kept silent. So at La st I said:
"Well, what have you to say as to the
revelations in this lei ter ?"
He answered, with perfect composure:
"Nothing, exceptthat they are entirely
harmless and innocent; they can hurt
nobody"
was in something of acorner now, as
| couldn't disprove his assertion. did
not know exactly how to proceed. How
ever, an idea came to my relief, and I
said
You are sure you know nothing Of the
Master and the Holy Alliance, and did
not write the letter which you say is a
| forgery ,"
Yes, sir-Sure"
slowly drew out the knotted twine
string and held it up without speaking.
He gazed at it indifferently, then looked
at me inquiringly. My patience was
sorely taxed. However, kept my tenn
per down, and said in my usual voice;
Wicklow, do you see this ."
eyes, sir"
"What is it ."
1T seems to be piece of string"
Seems? 1t is piece Of string. Do
you recognize it?'
"No, sir" he replied as calmly as the
words could be uttered.
His GOODNESS was perfectly wonderful.
| paused now for several seconds, in order
that the silence might add impressive
ness to what was about to say; then
rose and laid my hand on his shoulder
and said, gravely:
ut will do you no good, poor boy,
none in the world. This sign to the
Master this knotted string, found in one
of the guns on the water 'front.'"
''Found in the gun! Oh, no, no, no
do not say in the gun, but in a crack in
the tompion!-i must have been in the
crack ~ and down he went on his knees
and clasped his hands and lifted up a
face that was pitiful to see, so ashy it was,
and 50 wild with terror.
$50, it was in the gun"
"Oh, something has gone wrong My
God, | am lost" and he sprung up and
darted this way and that, lodging the
hands that were put out to catch him,
and doing his best to escape from the
place. But Of course escape was impos-
sible. Then he flung himself on his
knees again, CRYING with all his might,
and claSping me around the legs and so
he chung to me and begged and pleaded,
saying, "Oh, have pity on me! Oh, be
mercifuI to me Do not betray me :;
they would not spare my life a moment !!
Protect me, save me. | will confess
everythingH
I 1t took us some time to quiet him
and modify his fright, and get him into
something like rational frame of mind.
Then | began to question him, he, an
swering humbly, with downcast eyes, and
from time to time swabbing away his
constantly flowing tears.
$50 you are at heart rebel ?"
"Yes, sir"
And spy"
''Yes, sir"
And have been acting under distinct
orders from the outsde?"
"Yes, sir"
"Willingly?'
"Yes, sir"
"Gladly, perhaps?"
"Yes, sir; it would do no good to
deny it. The south is my country ; my
heart is southern, and it is all in her
cause"
Then the tale you told me of your