Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-11-24

wing Of this house that o~verlooks the
slope near the confederate lines. There
was q signal placed in it--not by me-
but / knew 1t meant that az long as IL
was there the plot, whatever it was,
was not ripe, n that no attack would
be made on you as long as It was vis-
IDLE. That much I knew, that much
the spy had to ten me, for We both had
to guard that room In turns. ! wanted
to keep this dreadful thing off until
until" her voice trembled-"untii;"
she added hurriedly. seeing his calm
eyes We're reading her very soul. "un-
TIL 1 went away, and for that purpose
l withheld some OF the letters that
were given me. But this morning.
while l was away from the house, I
looked back and saw that the signal
was no longer there. Some one had
changed 1t: l ran back, but / was too
late, COD help me, as you see!"
The truth flashed upon Brant. 1t
wa his own hand that had precipi-
tated the attack But a larger truth
came to him NOW. like a dazzling i'm
spiration; II he had thus precipitated
the attack before 1t was ripe, there was
a chance that II was Imperfect, and
there was still hope. But there was no
trace of this visible in his face, as he
fixed his eyes calmly on hers, although
his pulses were hating In expectancy
Then the spy suspected you and
changed IT,"
20, no." she said. gently, for the
spy was with me and was frightened.
too. We both ran back together-you
remember-she was stopped by the pa
troll She checked herself suddenly,
but too late. Her cheeks blazed. her
head sank-with the foolish disclosure
into which her eagerness had betrayed
her.
But Brant appeared not 10 notice II.
He was, In fact, puzzling his brain to
conceive what information the stupid
mulatto woman could have obtained
here. His strength. his position was in
scent to the ~enemy-there was nothing
to gain from aim. She must have been.
ike the trembling, eager woman before
him., a mere tool of others.
Did this woman live here?' ne said.
NO she said. "She lived with the
Manlys, but had friends whom she Wis.,
tied at you generals Headquarters"
With difficulty Brant suppressed a
start. 1t was clear to him now. The
information had been obtained at the
division headquarters and passed
through his camp as being nearest the
confederate ines. But WHIT was the
Information, and what movement had
ne preclpltated! 1t was clear that
this m did not know. He looked
at her keenly. a sudden explosion
shook the house. a drift OF smoke
passed the window-a shell had burst
In the garden.
She had been gazing at him despair
ingly, wistfully, but she did not blanch
or start.
An idea took possession OF him. He
approached her and took her cold hand.
A half smile parted her lips.
You have courage-you have devo-
tion,' he said, gravely. It believe you
regret he step you have taken. IL you
could undo what you have done, even
at peril TO yourself, dare you do it?"
Yes she said, breathlessly.
You are known to the enemy. If I
am surrounded you could pass through
the confederate lines unquestioned."
Yes" she said, eagerly.
"A note from me would pass Won
again through the pickets Of our head
quarters. But you would bear a note
to the general that no eyes but his
must see. 1t would lmplicate you or
yours-it would be only a word OF
warming"
And you.' she said quickly, would
be saved! They would come to your
assistance! You would not then be
taken?"
Continued next Seek