The Princeton union., 1899-11-16

f>AAS ~~-Nt
but succeeded in mastering my fear,
and said, initiating his own cool tone:
Thank you, would like the break
fast first and the pepper afterwards. If
an invitation to morning repast were
sent me, it must have gone astray."
He regarded me curiously. "You are
good pluck, anyway" He lowered his
revolver, and evidently made up his
mind to try another plan. "I'n order
something for you to eat presently.
Perhaps you won't mind telling me the
name of the general you serve?"
Certainly. Gen. Alan Heath"
The devil!'
"Quite a different person, l assure
YOU
"Singular," he said, musingly, what
meetings this war brings about.
Young man, your general and were
classmates at West Point"
"Indeed?"
And served at the same posts"
What luck!" said to myself. "Tn
be treated splendidly; perhaps ex-
changed at once"
at Morgantown's CROSSROADS, be-
ieve?"
1 made no reply.
"At the Beach plantation?"
I was surprised at the accuracy of
his information.
Making love to Margaret Beach?"
Inwardly I started; outwardly 1
maintained my composure. HE is
treating her as an enemy" I said,
coldly.
II have occasion to remember Alan
Heath" he went on, with one of his
wicked looks. "Would you mind TAX
ing a message to him? That is, if you
ever see him again, which won't be
very soon.'
II will, with pleasure"
Tell him that have carefully pre-
served the letter he wrote the mayor of
- in March, 81, accepting his offer to
turn over the United States troops at
the post under his command for con-
sidera tion."
What did this mean? had had much
to stagger my faith in the general, and
now it began to look as if where there
was so much smoke there must be some
fire. However, I maintained my pres
ence of mind before his accuser.
THAT would mean dishonor. Gen.
Heath is the soul of honor"
He smiled knowingly. Would you
like to see the letter."
NO"
Il wish you to see it; 1 wish, if you
ever see Gen. Heath again, that you
may be able to convince him that Cadet
Berante, Lieut.. Berante, of the til
United States artillery, Maj. Berante,
Of the confederate army, holds royal
flush over his four aces"
He got up and went out. In a few
minutes he returned with long leather
pocketbook fat with papers. Looking
through it, he selected one and held the
superscription up for me to read. It
was the generals peculiar bold hand.
do you know that writing?"
Never saw anything like it before"
What splendid liar! On Gen.
Heath's staff and don't know his hand
writing!"
He opened the letter and held it be-
fore my eyes. If it was not what Mai.
Berante claimed-the acceptance of
proposition to turn over command for
ga1n-I could not read Alright. Never
IN my life have I had occasion to use
so much effort in masking my feelings.
Are you convinced?" asked Mai.
Berante.
NO.
He exposed his white pointed teeth
in derisive smile.
lake him away" he said to the
guard.
Any orders about him?'
mo; he'll 60 south with the others
tomorrow"
AS was leaving, asked: will you
kindly inform me, major, the cause of
your Interest in this matter of Gen.
Heath's?"
Gen. Heath will tell you. Ask him
II he remembers the casemate at Fort
-?''
1coveted the letter he had shown
me. Innocent or guilty, was inter.
ested deeply in my general, and with
that letter in my possession at least
one point of evidence against him
would be Cancelled. I caught At q
straw, or rather my intuitions served
me. Berante was plainly of Spanish
extraction, and there never was Span
lard who was not gambler. He had
used smile that told me he was famil-
lar with the game of poker. Perhaps,
being natural gambler myself, knew
another by instinct.
MAJOR" said, II have trinket that
would like to play against that finger
ring of yours
You impudent boy, what do you
mean?"
Il mean that l want that ring, and
am willing to risk an equal value
against it, =,
You have nothing to risk. Did you
not get receipt for your effects when
captured?'
II did, but I Kept one article"
/ was accustomed to earry with me
ingeniously concealed for use ii ease