The Portland daily press., 1895-05-11

GAIL SieAsA W oely llO ulu.
''Then why this general inspection
now?"
Il do not know any more than I
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 in the name Of
all the saints, what has this to do with
these two officers?"
"Simply, Colonel Baird, that I 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
befor3 him.
Colonel Baird exclaimed, "What?"
and Colonel Watkins repeated his sus-
picions and gave his reasons for them.
i 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-
velope containing Colonel Anton's or
ders." These were examined again, and
both officers declared that the papers
were, on the face of them, correct.
eff 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 guard is put over Them
"Then,'' said Colonel Baird, IT 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 a 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 a
room to themselves. The landlord, who
was known to be 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 a room, that had
been reserved for his own family. They
kept the lamp burning, pulled off their
coats and boots, drew down the shade
and lay on the bed, but evidently not to
sleep, for sick man in the adjoining
room heard their smothered converse
tion till it was broken in on in way I
shall presently describe.
Colonel Baird wrote out message,
and, handing it to the signal officer in
charge of the station, said, "Send that
at once to General Gordon Granger at
Triune." The message read:
What do you know of an Inspector General
Anton and a Major Dunlap, who reached here
this evening. saying that they came direct
from your post? BAIRD.
The signal officer read the message by
the light of lantern hung from his
arm. He then advanced to where a tall
young man stood with lantern of a
different fashion in his hand, while
near by two soldiers were seated, one
with a notebook in his lap and the other
with telescope mounted on tripod
before him, while the field of the glass
was directed toward Triune.
Three words at a time the signal Off
Ger read off the message to the tall SOL
dier, and instantly the light began to
swing up and down, to the right and
left, and straight in front, as do the sig
nal flags when "wigwagging" is done
by daylight
Liz u6sSdSO 10 Ou, SdlQ blo SlSudl
officer at length.
A wait Of ten minutes, during which
the unaided eye could see nothing be-
yond the circle of misty light on that
elevated station. The man at the tele-
scope pushed back his cap till the visor
rose straight up from his head and
peered intently into the blackness. At
length. with quick gesture, he threw
out his right hand, and the man with
the book and pencil prepared to write,
The words from Triune came slowly,
with pause of seconds between each:
do not understand. Will send Wharton of
my staff to YOU at once. GRANGER.
Gentlemen, said the signal officer
after the message was written out and
delivered, although it was already
known, unless it should clear up, and
I don't think it will do so tonight, it
will be impossible to communicate by
signal with Triune before daylight. 3"
''Then shall telegraph to headquar.
surs aJ once, SAID colonel Baird. On
the way to the telegraph office, which
u II