Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-02-15


Copyright. 1893. by J. P. uppincost Col
XX.-CoNTINUED.
followed him to the house, which I
found filled with men. They were scat
tered i'll every apartment, in the halls,
in the cellar, on the roof. It was plain
that the general had caught the secret
Of HaralI's Beach's long-maintained
doug1ng. My heart sank within me. At
last the boy must be trapped. Margaret
would be indicated, but her brothers.
arrest and the speedy punishment that
would surely follow would be a terrible
blow to her. The general walked rapid
~ through all the rooms of the lower
stories, but it was only when he reached
the top floor that he began to hunt in
earnest. Every room except the one in
which Margaret had been placed was
examined in every nook and corner.
When we came to Georgia's room, I was
surprised that she was not there.
Mounting to the roof, the general or
dered man to thrust saber tied to a
guidon staff down the chimney. No one
was found, and the searching party de-
scended to the floor below. A sentry
was standing at Margarct's door. The
general stopped before it, hesitated,
started to go downstairs, but, changing
his mind, went back and knocked.
The door was thrown open by Marga-
ret, and the general, followed by his
attendants, stepped over the threshold.
By the window stood figure that I
recognized as the object of our search
Harold Beach. Margaret's face was
calm; indeed, it struck me with Won
der that, now the blow had fallen, she
bore it so TRANQUILITY. Harold turned,
and, encountering the gaze of the
searching party, shrank away, rather
as if ashamed of his work than sensible
Of the doom that awaited him. Thegen-
eral stood looking at the youthful sol
der with mingled surprise and con-
tempt.
''Are you the creature who has been
eluding us so long?" he said.
The boys face broke into a merry
smile. The general stood puzzled,
stepped forward, put his hand on Il
coil of hair that there had been no at
tempt to conceal, and a jet black mass
fell nearly to the floor. In twinkling
I perceived. Georgia.
Wild with delight she began to jump
up and down, clapping her hands, her
eyes dancing.
General" I said, II think can
throw some light on this matter. The
brother of this girl last night asked me
for permission to go for doctor. Sup
posing him to be his sister, I passed him
out"
''What was he doing here?"
''He was the real spy, intending to
carry the plan of Burnside's works to
Gen. Bragg"
The general stood looking first at
Georgia, then at me, then at Margaret.
But one thought seemed to possess him,
awonder that we should have the hardi-
hood to concoct such an absurd story.
Turning, he ordered those attending
him to leave the room.
II confess" he said, when they were
gone, shat sympathize with this last
desperate deception, this forlorn hope
to save life"
There was moment of silence, then
Margaret stepped forward. The hunted
expression she had worn ever since she
had come to the plantation had disap-
peared.
my innocence may now be proved"
she said. ..t
''How SOP"
''The officer who made the plans
found on me is near here and may be
summoned as witness"
''Indeed? Who is the officer"
'Maj. Bernal Berante."
The general started.
Margaret" cried, my loyalty to the
general returning in spite of our recent
differences, "this Berante holds paper
discriminating the general. We must
find him some other way"
Margaret looked at him in surprise.
"Shall I tell you whether I am inno-
cent or guilty?'' he asked.
"No.'
The general knit his brow inquir-
ingly: -
"You are innocent"
The stood looking at each other in
tently, Margaret with an expression
of implicit trust, the general with min
gled doubt and wonder. Thor M:rga-
ret stepped towards him as if to give
some expression of comfort, but he
drew his arm before his eyes as if to
shut her from his view, or to ward away
stroke, and without word left the
room.