The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-03

hne and leglDle as copperplate minute
directions for Lieutenant Oakman him
self, directions which if followed would
carry him into the Union lines before
Sherman reached Savannah.
$50 the old man is going to Savan-
nahl' muttered the delighted officer.
"He wouldn't let US know, and we
guessed all sorts Of places. l take some
pride to myself that I stuck to Savan-
nah
As softly as the moving figure over
the screen the door leading from the
hall was showed inward and two men
in the ragged uniform of Confederate
cavalrymen stepped into the room.
Each held revolver, and the foremost,
with defines born Of long practice,
leveled his weapon at the astounded
Union officer.
Cup with your hands, Yank! We
hain't time for any fooling!"
Never was the lieutenant caught SO
completely at fault These horsemen,
turning back on their own trail, had
followed him to the house, tied their
animals and entered the building with
out attracting notice. By what possible
means could they have gained their in
formation?
Oakman did daredevil thing. Dear
er to him than his life was the safety
Of that document in his hand, for its
capture meant death to others besides
himself.
He would have flung it into the
flames had he not known that his cap
tors would snatch it forth before it was
more than scorched. He attempted a
piece Of strategy whose audacity could
not have been surpassed
II surrender under protest. he said.
rising from his chair, but instead Of
elevating his hands he coolly folded the
paper and showed it into his inner
pocket.
"What are you doing?" Numbered
the man with leveled weapon.
"Merely putting away a letter. That
being done, up 60 my hands!"
With which he laughed and reached
toward the ceiling.
"What is in that letter?''
"Would you like to see it p
'"Trot it out. =
The lieutenant showed his hand under
his shoulder and brought forth the let
ter written by Captain Wager Tren-
holm
"At your service. 1t will interest
you
Had the other document been the
only one in his possession, thus robbing
him of this trick, he would have whip
ped out his revolver and fought the bat
tie then and there to the end.
The cavalryman. gingerly unfolded
the letter.
"IIere, Bill, " he said gruffly to his
compani Il, II never could read writ
ing. Out with it while l keep the Yank
covered
Oakman wondered that they did not
disarm him, but when three more griz-
zled troopers tramped through the hall
and entered the apartment he saw the
little need of doing go.
The one who held the letter leaned
sideways to the candle for a minute or
two and then picked up tho light the
better to read the writing. His compan-
ions looked on attentively while wait
ing for him to speak. Finally he emit
ted an oath after glancing at the sigma
ture.
I'm bowed" he exclaimed. "Do
You know who wrote that, boys7'
How should we know" was the
appropriate question that followed.
"Why, Captain Wage Trenholm.
Read it out. -
The man complied, while the others
stood gaping and wondering. The let
ter, it will be recalled was declara-
tion that Lieutenant Ledyard Oakman
was Union officer for whom Captain
Trenholm had been exchanged and that
he was entitled to courteous treatment
and a safe conduct to the Union lines
When the group had somewhat re-
CDFeleu llOul llltll SIlOCh, IliS Ollc WIZ
still held the document in his hand
looked at it again.
II wonder if the captain did write
that. Miss Hartman, You know his
writing"
Every well indeed. "
Lo, directly behind Lieutenant Oak
man stood Miss Marian Hartman,
whose detestation of the Union officer a
fortnight before brought so scathing
rebuke from Mrs. Eldridge and her
daughter.
"Heavens. you here!" he exclaimed,
facing her
"Yes,' she said, with a sneering
smile, II am here, and l rather suspect
you wish you were somewhere else. y
Talways do when in your presence.
She had on her hat and held riding
whip in her hand, as if she had just
ridden up with the party. Could it be
that it was she who had conducted
them TO this house that she might be-
tray him to his death?
She ignored the slur and, taking the