The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-11-29
SPY OF THE REBELLION.
Continued from frs. pase1


Continued from first paEeJ
| to me that, before attempting any nctiv,
measures for the day, l owed 1t to myself
| to procure the services of q barber for
much-needed shave. l had been travelling
for number Of days, and my face haC
| been stranger to razor for a long time
and L concluded l would be more present
able il consulted tonsorial artist.
This was an unfortunate idea, and
soon had occasion to regret having enter
tanned it for moment. 1 would have beer
| far more contented il / had bestowed nc
| thoughts upon my grizzled beard, and al
| lowed nature to take its course with my
| hirsute appendage.
Entirely unconscious, however, of what
was iii store for me, | entered the well.
| htted saloon of the hotel, and patiently
waited my turn to submit myself to the
deft fingers of the knight of the razor
In response to the universal and we'll
understood call of 'nextr' l took my seat
in the luxuriously upholstered chair, and
In few minutes my face was covered
with the foamy lather applied by the dap
per little German into whose hands | had
fallen.
noticed when I sat down that the man
wore a puzzled and speculative look, as
though he were struggling with some yex-
ing lapse of memory, and as he drew the
Keen edge of the razor across my face his
eyes were fixed intensely upon my fea-
lures. His manner annoyed me consider
ably, and L was at loss to account for
his strange demeanor Whatever ideas
may have entertained with regard to this
singular action were, however. soon set at
rest, only to give place to a feeling of I'M
reStful anger.
he had just cleared one side of my face
OF Its stubby growth of hair, when n smile
irradiated his face, and with a look of self
satlshed recognition and pride, he ad-
dressed me:
Wy, how do you do, Mr.. Bingerdon?"
Had a thunderbolt fallen at my feet I
could not have been more perfectly
amazed, and for moment | could scarcely
tell whether | was afOot or on horseback.
defoutly wished that | was anywhere
than with this Dutch barber, whose mem
DRY was so uncomfortably retentive.
L had been too accustomed to sudden
surprises, however, to lose my self-con-
troll, and 1 replied to him. with an ur-
moved face and as stern n voice as | could
command:
Il am not Mr.. Bingcrdon, and | don't
know the man
oh. yes, Your name is Bingerdon, and
you leev i'll Geecago."
The face of the German was so good
natured, and he appeared quite delighted
lceling very uncomfortable indeed. | did
not Know the man, nor what he knew of
me. l knew, however, that he was per-
iectiy right about my identity, and | knew
also that it would be very dangerous for
his knowledge 10 become general.
Il tel! you | don't know the man you
are sFcakins Of said | sternIy.
10y, Mr.. Bingerdon." he replied. in
grleyed tone, i know you well Don't
you mind me shaving you in the Sherman
House IN Geecago! You was customer
of mine
The reTtinacity of the man was simply
exaSpcIatiDg, and fearing that his MEM
DRY would be likely To get me into trouble.
as several people were listening to our con
Yersation, ! resolved to end the difficulty
at once. Jerking the towel from around
my neck and wiPing the lather from the
unShayed portion of my face, leaped from
the chair, exclaiming angrily:
i tell you | know nothing of you. Mr..
Bingerdon, or any other id Yankee
Aboitionist. and if you say another word
to me upon this subject, I'll whip you on
the spot
The barber presented most ridiculous
appearance; he was utterly frightened ut
my manner, and yet so convinced was he
that | was the man he took me for, that he
more amazed at my denial than
at my threats of violence
MeanWHlic The occupants of the saloon
began to crowd around us, and several
came III from he adjoining rooms Turn
ing to them with well-simulated anger, |
told them the story had invented: lived
near Augusta, Ca; never was in Chicago |
did not know Mr.. Pinkerton or any of his |
gang. Then ! denounced the discounted
barber IN round terms, and finished by in |
vltng the entire crowd to take IA drink |
with me.
This they all did with alacrity, and by |
he time they had drained their glasses. all |
Df the party We're strong adherents of |
mine. We then returned to the barber |
shop, and so thoroughly was the crowd |
of my truthfulness that they
we're eager to punish the innocent occasion /
Of my anger. One impetuOus Individual |
wanted to hang him on sight, and his prop |
'sitioh was received with general favor:
nut finding had succeeded in evading de-
ection for myself, interfered in the poor
elbows behalf and he was finally let off.
After another drink all round managed
o get away from the party, and it was not
0ng DefOIe 1 was upon my horse and
aNeilnS away from the possibility of
occurrence of such an accidental discov-
ny. | procured razor and shaving ma
erials, and performed that operation for
myself, as ! I'D not care to excite curioSi-
y by exhibiting my half-Shayed face to
ny moIe InQuiSitive BARRIERS.
y few mics outside of the town | sold
ny horse, and concluding that | had OBJ
aimed iiS much information as was desiI-
bile ut that time and us | had already !
cen absent from headquarters longer than
had intended, | made my way back to
jincinnau by Il circuitOus route.
TO be continuedJ