The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-04-08
A MAD EXPLOIT.
By ALFRED R, CALHOUN
copyright, 1885, by the Author.l
Continued.
tcopyrtght, 1895, by the Author

"Then why this general inspection
now?'
Il do not know any more than l
know the reason for many orders that
we obey from day to day, said Colonel
Baird
But you do know that our only dan
ger here at this time is from an attack
by Forrest, who is prowling in the
neighborhood?'
Eyes, and if he comes he'll find us |
ready to give him warm reception. In
deed, Watkins, you are, to my own
knowledge, aching to turn your troopers
loose on Forrest But, i'll the name of .
all the saints, what has this to do with
these two officers?"
Simply, Colonel Baird, that l believe
they are spies from Forests COM
mand," said Colonel Watkins, and he
emphasized his declaration by bring
ing down his clinched hand as If he
were going to smash the table, but in
stead he opened out his long brown fin
gers and laid them tightly on the paper
before him.
Colonel Baird exclaimed, "What?"
and Colonel Watkins repeated his sus-
picions and gave his reasons for them.
Il will confront the fellows at once, p"
said Colonel Baird, and as he rose to
his feet his eyes fell on the official en-
velupe containing Colonel Anton's or
ders." These were examined again, and
both officers declared that the papers
were, on the face of them, correct.
IF you call on these men tonight,
they will of course persist in their
story, and their suspicious will be ex-
cited, SO that, if they are what | believe
them to be, they will attempt escape,
even if a guard is put over them. y
Then, said Colonel Baird, Il will
communicate with General Granger at
Triune at once.
After enjoining the adjutant, who re-
manned back, to secrecy, Colonel Baird
and Colonel Watkins started out
1t was now 10 O'Clock. The night
was cloudy and misty, and the only
means of communicating with Triune
was by signal lights. Many time since
that night | have thought of the quiet
dramatic effects that were being worked
up that night to such tragic intensity
in the post at Franklin, and the name
Of the place, though destined to be asso-
ciated with one of the most brilliant as
it may be said to have been the last de-
cisive battle of the war, always suggests
to me what happened after the hand
some, foolhardy strangers had retired
| to rest
The hotel at which they stopped was
crowded, yet they insisted on having q
room to themselves The landlord, who
was known to be q southern sympa-
thizer, protested. They took him to one
side. What followed between them is
not known, but it is known that the
landlord gave them room that had
been reserved for his own family. They
kept the lamp burning, pulled off theiI
coats and boots, drew down the shade
and lay on the bed, but evidently not tc
sleep, for sick man in the adjoining
room heard their smothered converse
ton till it was broken in on in way
shall presently describe
Colonel Baird wrote out message,
and, handing it to the signal officer IL
charge of tho station, said, Send thai
|
Triune. The message read
What do you know of an Inspector Genera
Anton and n Major Dunlap, who reached her
this evening, saying that they came direc
from your post2 BAIRD.
The signal officer read the message b.
the light Of lantern hung from hi
arm. He then advanced to where a tai
young man stood with lantern of
, different fashion in his hand, whil
near by two soldiers were seated, on
/ with notebook in his lap and the othe
, with telescope mounted on TRIPOD
before him, while the field of the glas
was directed toward Triune.
2 Three words at time the signal Off
Ger read off the message to the tall sol
} der, and instantly the light began t.
swing up and down, to the right ant
! left and straight in front, as do the sig
nal flags when "wigwagging' is dom
@ by daylight
The message is of, said the sigma
q officer at length.
A wait of ten minutes, during whicl
the unaided eye could see nothing be
You'd the circle of misty light on tina
elevated station. The man at the tele
scope pushed back his cap till the viso
= rose straight up from his head an
peered intently into the blackness. A
length, with quick gesture, he threN
out his right hand, and the man wit
the book and pencil prepared to write
The words from Triune came slowly
: with pause of seconds between each:
xT.1t VI
: my staff to you at once. GRANGER
Gentlemen, said the signal office
y after the message was written out an
, delivered, although it was alread
4 known, unless it should clear up, ali
. / don't think it will do so tonight,
70 will be impossible to communicate b
A.. signal with Triune before daylight, "
q "Then | shall telegraph TO headquol
ters at once, said Co ZIG! Baird g
= the way to the Telegraph Office, whic
was near by, he told Colonel Watkin
to keep a watch OH the hotel that tn
suspected men might not get away.
The operator, weary with his persis
emit work, was asleep, with his fac
against the keyboard, when Colon,
Baird awoke him and handed him TIL
message, with orders to flash it throug
to Murtreesboro at once:
FRANKLIN June s, 1868.
To Brigadier General Garfield, Chief of STAFF
Is there any such inspector general as Lay
fence Anton, colonel United States army, al
y Assistant Major DunlapH II 80, please desert
4 their personal appearance and answer INN
L diately. J. P. BAIRD,
Colonel Commanding Post.
After the message was off the colon
paced the room impatiently, while Il
now wide awake operator bent over h
instrument awaiting the signal. !
length it came, and as his pencil dasht