The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-12

sive proof of. well. let us say. your
! treqchery."
But did not know IL was my wife
until she was arrested" said Brant. inn
pulsively.
The president knitted his eyebrows
humorously. "Dont let us travel out of
the record, general. You're as bad as
the department. The question was one
of your personal treachery, but you
need not accept the fact that you were
justly removed because your wife was a
spy. Now, general, am an old lawyer.
and / don't mind telling you that in Illi-
nois we wouldn't hang yellow dog on
that evidence before the department.
But when i was asked TO look into the
matter by your friends / discovered
something of more Importance toyou l
had been trying to find a scrap of evil
dence that would justify the presump-
ton that you had sent information TO
the enemy. / found that il was based
upon the fact of the enemy being in
possession of facts at the first battle of
Gray Oaks which could only have been
obtained from our side, and which led
to a federal deserter, that you, however,
retrieved by your gallantry. asked the
secretary IL he was prepared TO show
that you had sent the information with
that view, or that you had been over
taken by tardy sense of repentance.
He preferred TO consider my suggestion
as humorous. But the inquiry led TO my
further discovery that the only trea-
sonable correspondence actually in evil
dence was found upon the body of n
trusted federal officer, and had been for
warded to the division commander. But
there was no written record of il in the
case"
"Why, forwarded il myself" said
Brant, eagerly.
$50 the division commander writes"
said the president, smiling, "and he for
warded il TO the department. But il
was suppressed in some way. Have
you any enemies, Gen. Brant?"
"None that know Of"
"Then you probably have. You are
young and successful. Think of the
hundred other officers who naturally
believe themselves better than you are,
aud haven't a traitorous wife. Still, the
department may have made an example
OF you for the benefit of the only man
who couldn't profit by it,"
might il not have been, sir, that this
suppression was for the good report
OF the service-as the chief offender
was dead?"
81 am glad TO hear you say 40. gen.
eral, for il is the argument / have used
successfully in behalf of your wife"
"Then you know il all. sir?" said
Brant, after gloomy pause.
"All, / think. Come, general, you
seemed, just now, TO be uncertain about
your enemies. Let me assure you you
need not be 40 in regard to your
friends"
81 dare TO hope have found one. sir"
said Brant, with almost boyish timidity.
20, not one" said the president, with
laugh of depreciation. "Some one
much more potent"
MAY l know his name. Mr.. Presi-
dent?"
ono. For it is a woman. You were
nearly ruined by one, general. I sup
pc'S ~ hui'S rs nv eii"e gou shOuib NC
saved by one. And. OF course, irregu-
larly."
"a woman!" echoed Brant.
"Yes! One who was willing TO confess
herself worse spy than your wife-a
double traitor-to save you'll Upon my
word, general, l don't know IL the de-
partment was far wrong; man with
such an alternately unsettling and
convincing effect upon woman's high
est political convictions, should be I'M
der some restraint. Luckily the depart
ment knows nothing Of IT,"
Nor would anyone ever have known
from me-" said Brant, eagerly. Il trust