The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-10-01

swered, ''afther LAWN this note for the
masther."
''Was that not hep"
cat tn dhoor? Shure it was wan av
thin b~lue-coats, bad luck to 'eml He
fetched this: Wild dispatch from hid
quarthers,' he sid. I'd like to crack his
hid-quarthers, be tn same token!"
With an angry toss of her head, she
laid the note on the table. 1t was an
official envelope, printed in the corner,
Headquarters Department. of Mary
land, adjutant generals office. Official
business" and directed to Carroll Mere
dith, Esq, in prim, clerical hand.
Mckee stared hard at the missive,
taking it up more than once, as though
his curiosity would force him to open it.
Could it be an arrest? he wondered.
His friend made frequent trips to 1.-THE
Ferry" but his ordinary huntsinan's
life left them presumably without sus-
picion. Besides, were it an arrest, it
would come in very different manner.
A warning, perhaps? Yet Meredith had
no friends among the ~federals-had
avoided the officers, and even lectured
Mckee roundly for his courtesies to Maj.
Bond for sake of passes. Anyway, no
warning could come from that Office.
What could it mean? Again he took up
the envelope, handling it as though it
burned him, then holding it close to the
rudy blaze, only to find it densely
opaque.
''Who brought it, Mary?' he asked of
the servant, still lingering by the table.
can orderly?"
"Virry, sor! A dacint-shpoken lad
emo, barrin' tn blue,'' she answered, in
an accent that long residence nor long
been potent to conquer. "He sid it was
immayjit; and / sid I'd hand ut to tn
masther in three winks av a pigs eyel
/ wudn't be afther littin' tn likes o.
thin know whittier he wor in or no."
"You are fight, Mary. Prudence can
do no harm these days. OF course Car
roll only goes hunting, but"
SIS it that? Shure it's tn bad shot
he's grown, thin, fur whin he takes tn
longest thrip tn bag comes in tn impti-
est. But where he goes, an whin, is
his own bisiness, an INT av tn blue
divil's matther." The woman spoke
hotly and honestly, though there was
keen twinkle in her eye as she finished.
Every well, Mary" the man an
swered, looking keSnly at her. "Ill
give him the letter as soon as he re-
turns" And, as the servant closed the
door, Mckee resumed his restless walk,
with many q glance at the suspicious
missive.
1t was a full hour after nightfan when
Carroll Meredith clattered up, dis
mounted and entered his own COW
apartment.
"Hello, Willie! U-ugh! but it is bit
ter cold!' WKs his greeting, as he threw
off coat and gloves and stood with his
back to the fire.
81 should have thought you would
ride faster" was the reply. Here's q
letter for you"
"Fasterl Selim and I did the thirty
milesi in IN hour less than usual" Mere
dith answered, taking the letter care
lessly. ut was broad day before old
Pete padded into the creek; said the
river was full of transports passing up.
Wonder If they can be massing for q
a move this weather."
"Were the creeks freezing?" the other
asked, anxiously. Carroll, If the river
freezes, how ian we ever get her
across?"
Upper route-Harper's-and cross
on the ice" Meredith returned, prompt
ly.
Mot il they're massing above WASH
ington. Besides, hang it, she's obstinate
as a burro about that cursed anonymous
x.ollIo. D,,A 60, Ill., TIA L.. IL L.
across that night"
His information was strictly cor
rect" his friend replied.
'sRead your letter." Mckee retorted,
abruptly; and the host read, slowly:
"'Maj. Bond begs to hand Mr.. Car
roll Meredith the inclosed, just received
from Wheeling, with request for imme-
date delivery Uml polite enough;
but Pm getting into good company fast!
Notes from-headquarters!"
"Read the inclosed, Carroll; it may
be important"
Beyond doubt" the other chaffed
back, as he slowly slipped the Enclosure
from it's unsealed envelope. 1t bore
only his name and number, covering a
large, stiff sheet of plain paper scrawled
over in careless writing, wide-lined and
ragged. Doubtless, Willie, Gen. Bald
win presents his compliments to Mr..
Carroll Meredith, and requests his views
upon prison discipline. You know he
is off on an inspection. Damned II this
isn't a puzzler. 1t might be written in
Chinese. Here, see if you can translate
it. ! don't remember the writing, even"
Meredith tossed the sheet to his friend,
reaching for his slippers and drawing
off one boot, al Mckee read aloud:
"tCalled off suddenly. Don't delay
the hunt for me. Creeks may freeze and
ducks fly too high; SO go ahead-alone
Regrets to the ladies, especially Miss G,
Let her read this, but be careful the
heat tfrom her angry eyes) does moi
burn it up before she reads my griet
between the lines. Ask her to pray TO
my soul. Thine, HARRY.
''Who in thunder is Harry I ha,
no engagement to hunt with any fellow
far less any woman" MEREDITH
growled, pulling on one slipper.
.sWho is Miss CO Do you recogniz
herr" Mckee queried in turn.
"Divvil a shpat av mel! as Mary says,
the other returned. miss Carroll
Crenshaw-Colston? But I've no en-
gagement. 1t is some stupid jokel If
catch the fellow, I'll make him pray TO
his own SOUL
"That's It'll He is the mani" McKe
started to his feet.
Damned if you don't read Chimes
after ALL" Meredith replied. staring
'tWell, his name?"
81 have no idea; but there's far mo
than any joke in this. Carroll, il
writer is the same who sent the war;
ing"
SPY GeorgeI' the other cried, spring
ing to feet shod in one slipper and on
riding-boot. Arc you sureP Why
man, he would have written to y0u. N
one knows hat l ever saw Caroly
Clay"
''There may be good reason" McKe
persisted. ''See: Don't delay the hunt
Go ahead alone Why, Carroll, it
plain warning to cut and run. An
that Pray for my soul is his signature.
1T does look that way" Meredith a.
sented. scanning the letter CLOSELY ana
denly adding: .'How in thunder could
have come from Yankee headquarters
win, it's a trap or a joke"
, .It is no joke" was the confident r
ply. "The words are toe exact for c.
Incidence. She must see it, anyway.
will fix her determination to go; al
we get her to the river before Il
freeze. Wait till ] come back"
Hastily pocketing the letter, McK'
seized hat and o%vercoat, sailed into Il
street, and raced for the Gray mansion
, Bessie opened the door for him, her e'
more acute from, long and wonderiI