Dodge City times., 1891-01-09

"Who wants me?" asked, and felt
q chill that was not produced by the
cold wind.
"All 1 know, sir. is that Adjut.nt La
tcuche told me to find you." rslaied
Ross, and he trotted ahead, I keeping
close behind.
At the foot of the stairs found Adju.
tant Latouche, stout, middle-aged
man, with An air Of good living abou,
him that was in striking contrast with
the faces of my friends upstairs.
''This way, Captain Watts, this way.
SIR" called out Latouche, as soon as
came in sight.
| followed him into the prison Office,
where found Major Turner, cold and
severe looking, General Winder, old,
| bearded and bluff, and handsome man
| in citizens dress, who learned was the
private secretary of the Confederate
President.
General Winder motioned mo to seat
in front OF the trio, then said:
1--WE send a flag of trrcc down the
| river tomorrow, and with it goes de-
mand for the release Of Captain Frank
Brent. Now, an old acquaintance of
yours, who is on q visit to the Presi-
dent, assures me that you will tell the
truth about Brent's case, and wish to
! hear it."
''Who is the man who knows me so
| well?" / asked.
General John c. breckenridge" re-
piled General Winder.
vV;thovt @o11 NV rpv
ncction with Frank Brent's case, from
the time 1 received his sisters letter
till the hour of my capture. Nor did
conceal from those present the great
secret of my interest
Il believe your story" said General
Winder, when / had concluded; ''but,
under the circumstances, you are the
very best man to be held as hostage
for Brent, and Commissioner Ould, with
whom talked about it this morning
agrees with me. For the present you
can remain with the other prisoners, but
the news of Captain Brcnt's execution
will be followed by your immediate re-
moval. That is ALL"
General Winder bowed, and Little
Ross led me back up the prison stairs.
CHAPTER XIII.
told Howard Scott of my interview
with General Winder, and by way of in
ducing me to believe that l had nothing
to fear he introduced nc to Captain.
Flynn, Of Indiana, and Captain Sawyer,
of New Jersey, two officers who had
20 br<. of
two Confederatcs executed as spies by
General Burnside in kentucky. I said
nothing to these gentlemen about my
own case, but the fact that they bore
themselves with a quiet confidence that
their own Government was able to pro-
tect them gave me much comfort.
For some wcdks l had noticed that
soon after the lights were out every al
ternate night Howard Scott would
creep from under our blanket and would
not return till after midnight, and often
not till near daylight. / also saw earth
marks on his clothes, and this set me to
wondering. / questioned him at first,
but he avoided the subject pointedly,
and did not refer to it again.
This went on for weeks, Howard get
ting thinner, dirtier and more ragged
every day. 1t was not curiosity so much
as an intense desire to do something to
break up the horrible monotony of my
life that decided me to find out my
friends secret for myself. One night,
just as the guards were calling out:
''Ten o'clock and all's well," and the
men in the Upper Potomac room were
shouting and singing as usual, Howard
got up quietly, fixed the blanket about
my shoulders, then with his boots in
his hands crept down the narrow lane
between the ranks of prostrate men.
Before he had gone fifty feet l was up
and after him. leaving my old boots be-
hind. Down the steps to the Lower
Chicamauga, down the steps to the cook
room, he went. The lights from the
lamps on Carey street made it compare
lively bright here. / saw the crouch
ing figure of {. man at the fireplace, be-
hind one of the stoves, and as Howard
approached heard faint whispering.
l went nOiselcssly across the room.
and like q revelation the situation
burst on me and ! saw through my
friends secret. There was figure be-
side the hearth, but HOward's had van
ished. There were lot Of loose bricks
beside the figure, and black hole bacl;
of the hearth told the place they had
been taken from.
SIS tha. you, Johnston" whispered
the man.
"Yes," replied. ''Is all right?"
.'All right. Scott's just gone down.
BE careful" said the guard.
slipped into tho hole feet frs, and
with the aid of ropo dropped into the
cellar under the hospital.
1t was intensely dark. but as soon as
I reached the bottom felt q hand on
my shoulder, and a mouth at my ear
asked:
.'Who is this?"
Captain Watts"
"Watts!' This in surprise. Then
Howard Scott whispered: "As you've
discovered the secret for yourself, l am
not to blame. But you must explain
the matter to Colonel Ross; and now
that you are here, you must go to work. :"
Ireadily agreed to this; and after a
few words, in which he told of the tun-
mel they were building out of Libby, he
led me across the floor. the stones Of
which appeared to be covered with a
substance like loose fodder. After leav-
ing me standing against the wall for
some minutes Howard came back and
said:
'Tho boys are q bit surprised, but
they'll be glad to have you join in.
Now, ask no questions, but do as you
are told"
He led me up along the wall to
where felt soft earth under my feet
12.1l;!,aI|,|E: