The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17
Private SafrObe Volunteered
TO Carry the Division Com
mander's Dispatch.

Would he not give them at once or tell
her where she could find them2
he gave back the note but closed his
eyes and turned away, In the presence Of
Armstrong day after day. and in the rec
objection OF LatrObes dying face and the
last parting touch Of his stricken hand.
Gray, s eyes were opening % his own de-
plorable weakness. She plainly saw her
power was going, Il not gone. lie had
wrapped SILK handkerchief about the
packet and stiu kept it, with his watch
and purse. beneath his pillow He would
not tell her where II lay. She smiled arch
~ for the benefit u the attendant. but her
eyes again eagerly claimed look from
his, her lips framed the word "to-mor-
row"
But neither on that morrow nor Yet the
next day came her opportunity. The gal
liant fellow who had lain there tor days,
dumb and patient. but q barrier 10 her
plans. had taken turn for the worse,
and she was again denied admission. Then
came the udlngs that the barrier was
removed. the long fight was over. and the
heaTtess woman actually relOiced. Now
al last she could talk 10 VIII Gray; and
when midnight came she knew that now
az last she must. for Frank Garrison,
worn and weary. returning late from the
front briefly announced that General
Draytont purpOsed visiting the hospital
the following afternoon. and long before
nOon-lOng before visiting hours. in fact,
she was there with flowers as winsome as
her smile, and some jelly as dainty as her
own fair hands. She was there. and the
instant the hour sounded was ushered in,
and Billy Gray. prOpped on his pillows,
was writing TO his father, and alone No
time was 10 be last. ANY moment the at
tendant might return She threw herself
on her knees beside the homely. narrow
cot. seized his hand IN hers and looked
him in the face. Where are they WHIP"
she pleaded. Quick, ] must have them
nowf' But well she realized that the
SMELL was broken-that the old fascination
had died its death. Then IL was useless
10 hint at love. and in a torrent of i'm
FASHIONED words she babe him think OF all
ne owed her. appealed 10 his sense OF
gratitude and honor. and there too
failed for. admitting all she claimed he
clumsily. haltingly, yet honestly told her
he saw now that Il was all for an object.
an done in the hope that he might be-
come her instrument for the recovery OF
those compromising letters: and now that
fate had delivered them into his hands he
was bound by honor and hts Promise
Unhea-d unspoken perhaps, but ali the
same his promise-to the dead TO give
them 10 General Drayton.
Then rising in fury and denuncfation
she played her last trump; Trembling
from head 10 foot. pale with bafied pur-
nose and with growing dread. she bent
over him. both hands clenched.
You mad foolr' she cried "Do Won
know what / can do-wlli do-unless Won
give them to me here and now2 AS God
hears me. VIII Gray. I will give that
other packet 10 General Drayton myself
and swear that Colonel Canker was right
that YOU were the thief he thought You,
aud that I got those letters from you"
For a moment she stood there. menao-
ing at hts bedside looking down In al
most malignant triumph on his amazed
and incredulous face; and then, with an
awful fear checking the beat OF her heart
and turning her veins to ice, she grasped