The Portland daily press., 1892-06-07


and as they neared the guardhouse they
heard two men singing Rock OF Ages"
One was the post chaplain, gentleman
named Allen, who was attached to an
Ohio regiment, and the other was the
prisoner.
Captain Forbes had often heard the
fine tenor voice of his old playmate in
the past, and while he had always adj
mired it, he was never before so much
struck with its clearness and perfect
control. He always remembered this
fact, for at the time his own voice trem
Dled as he spoke to his companion as If
he had an ague.
The guards had instructions to admit
these visitors without question at any
hour before that set for the execution,
which was eight o'clock the next morn
ing. Edward Campbell kissed Jennie and
shook hands with the captain, and then,
with a self possession that was remark
able, he followed the chaplain's example
and knelt down close to his sister. This
behavior on the part of the condemned
man was so remarkable that the cap
tain could not keep his eyes off him.
And it was while watching him that he
saw the sister suddenly reaching out her
hand with something in it that had the
cold CLINT of steel in the light of the dim
lamp, and inserting it inside the breast
of the prisoners coat, and on the in
slant the knife incident flashed through
his mind; but he decided to say nothing
about it.
Leaving the brother and sister to-
gether, the captain started back again to
the telegraph Office. On his entering,
General Boyle seized his hand and ex-
claimed:
i'Thank Godl the messages are in
Washington and we are waiting"
The captain looked at his watch; it
was then ten o'clock, and he felt that at
that hour the situation was well nigh
hopeless.
Have you heard from Speed or Holt?"
he asked.
eyes, from both," replied the general.
"What do they say?"
"The president is engaged, but they
will see him before he goes to bed,
and"--
'That's the Washington callr' shouted
the operator, as he bent over the sounder.
He listened for few seconds with the
tip of his pencil between his teeth. Then
he began to write in that long. sweeping
hand peculiar to the most skilled of the
craft, while the two officers bent over
to catch the words as they dropped from
| his pencil;
WASHINGTON, D. c., 4
II p. M. Nov. 10, 1858.
To General Boyle. Camp Dick Robinson, Ken
lucky:
We have seen the president and laid before
him the dispatches of yourself and Captain
Forbes in re of Edward Campbell, now under
sentence of death at your post. Mr.. Lincoln
will at once instruct the war department to
order you to postpone
Here the clicking stopped and the ex-
cited operator worked his switches with
out evozing a sound; then he looked up
and gasped
my God, gentlemen, the line is down
between here and Cincinnati!"
"And how long before it can be re-
pairedp" asked the general, as he picked
up the partly written dispatch and read
| it over.
SAT the soonest not before tomorrow
noon"
"And the execution is set down for
tomorrow morning at eight" said the
captain.
''See here, Forbes, read that dispatch
aloud so that ! can hear how it sounds;
| then tell me what you think of it." And
General Boyle handed the paper to the
| captain, and throwing himself into a
chair, pressed his hands to his eyes.
The captain did as he was ordered
then said:
eff were in your place should place
the most favorable construction on those
| few words"
"But they are unsigned, they really
| convey no authority"
eff you err it will be on the right side;
the word postpone implies a reprieve,
and | should SO interpret it. What do
| you say, general?"
81 say you are right, and will do so
| if | am court martialed for it and lose
my commission" said the general in the
forceful way SO characteristic of him.
Without waiting to hear more, Cap
tain Forbes dashed out of the office and
ran with all haste to the guardhouse.
He leaped past the sentry without heed
ing his challenge, and reaching out
his hands to the brother and sister he
| shouted:
congratulations! There will be no
execution tomorrow
CHAPTER II.