The Portland daily press., 1895-05-11
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
Lieutanant Wharton of General Cor
don Oranges staff was u handsome, SOL
dierly young fellow. He had galloped
from Triune to learn in person the rea-
son for Colonel Baird's mysterious dis
patch. The colonel shook hands with
him, drew him to one side and asked:
''Were you at Triune today mean
yesterday, for it is now June g."
I was,'' replied Wharton.
At headquarters?
eyes. every hour of the day"
"Did two men, Colonel Anton and
Major Dunlap, inspect the post at
Triune yesterday?'
Certainly not.
"You would know it if they did?''
81 should, but why do you ask?"
Colonel Baird then explained the sit
uation to Lieutenant Wharton and asked
him to go back and look at the suspect
ed men. Wharton complied, returned
and said:
II never saw those men before, and I
certainly would not have forgotten them
had they been at Triune yesterday, for I
have been and still am, believe, in the
full possession of my senses.
Colonel Baird then showed Wharton
the orders purporting to have come
from Adjutant General Townsend and
General Rosecrans and asked him what
he thought of them. Wharton, who was
entirely familiar with all the forms
coming from headquarters as we'll as
with the signatures of the officers in
question, hurriedly glanced over the pa
pers, then said, with emphasis:
''They are forgeriesl Where did you
get them?"
Colonel Baird told him.
'"Then, colonel" said Wharton,
s'these fellows are spiesg'
1t would be an error to suppose that
Colonel Baird was not man of force
and decision. The responsibility of his
present command showed the esteem III
which he was held at headquarters, but
like all gallant men he was at heart gen.
tie and humane, and he shuddered as he
considered the necessities forced on him
by the situation.
1t was by this time after 1 o'clock.
The clouds had vanished and the stars
shone out. A wind from the west dissi-
pated the mists resting over the low
lands, and the signal lights at Triune
and at other stations within the field of
vision flashed SO brightly that they could
be seen by the unaided eye.
Communication with General Gran
ger was renewed, for now that the char
acter of the prisoners was beyond CUES
ton it was believed that Forrest might
make an attack on the outlying posts at
once and was only awaiting the return
of his ems;saries.
Weary with waiting in the head
quarters at Murfreesboro, General Gar
field had followed the example of his
chief and gone to bed, leaving the office
In charge OF Major Frank S. Bond, with
orders to be called if any unusual mes
sage came from Baird at Franklin or
Granger at Triune. Baird and Watkins
consulted. It was decided to call a
drumhead court martial to try the pris-
oners Immediately. A list of officers
was written out, and an orderly was dis
patched to summon the necessary men.
1t tests the nerves to hear the long
roll IN the dead of dark wintry night,
when the troopers boots are frozen as
hard as sheet iron and the saddle blan-
ket is SO stiff that it threatens to break
like glass in bending it over the bumped
back of the poor trembling horse, but ]
doubt if even this sets the heart flutter
like the midnight summon breaking in
on heavy sleep: '"The colonel orders,
sir, that you assemble at once at head
quarters for drumhead court Spiesp'
Only five hours since Anton and Dun
lap had ridden SO confidently into
Franklin, where they were received as
befitted their assumed rank and dignity.
yet they were doomed as certainly as if
thew stood on the scaffold, unless .
miracle, and there are no miracles in
modern warfare, should interpose r.
save them.
When the court was assembled the
prisoners were brought in. Dnnlar
trembled visibly and looked entiroIr
HELPLESS. Anton GOODNESS had vanished
His lips were drawn. there were darl,
rings about his eyes, and his hands ,yero
clinched, as if he were making dos