Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-26

in front. staring curously at the entrance,
where stood officer with two armed SOL
diers. The bayonets of half dozen more
cleaned above the heads of the little
throng Street urchins came running from
east and west, and Norman's heart sank
within him. What could it mean but that
they We're there In search of the desertrr,
that the reckless. witless boy had dared 20
make MS way to the old home, had oeen
tracked and followed?
The door was opened from within. The
officer and his immediate companions dis
appeared before Norman could reach them.
The soldiers at the foot of the steps de-
tanned him. but he spoke authoritatively
and announced himself an officer and an
old friend Of the family. They let him
pass, and, bounding up the steps, he en-
tered the open doorway, stepped quickly
across the hall to the parlor, where voices
were heard. and there came upon a scene
that haunted him long years after.
Sinking back upon the sofa livid with
dread and dismay, Mrs. Lane was staring
with distended eyes into the troubled face
of an elderly officer who must have pre-
ceded the little party into the house. Be
hind him were the lieutenant and the two
members of the guard. Clinging to her
mothers hand. trying to soothe and COM
fort stood Daisy. lovely in her pallor, in
her distress and devotion, unmndful of
anybody but the stricken woman she SO
dearly loved.
1T can't be true. mother dear It will
all be explained Don't be so frightened"
1t seemed as though the mother had be-
come the child-the child the mother.
Our orders are imperative. Mrs. Lane"
said the elder officer. Il regret 1t infinite
ly. But your son was recognized In spite
of his disguise. He was followed when he
entered here an hour ago. We must search
every nook and corner unless he gives him.
self up. Those men who went at once to
the upper story are detectives"
And then came the sound Of scurry and
! rush above stairs, then a furious outbreak
of useless words. A cry burst from the
mothers lips. With half-stifed sob of
Father! Oh. don't let him hear" Daisy
sprang to the doorway, and there. pale 81
lent sorrowing, stood Norman Holt For
an instant the terror. the agony in her
lovely face gave way to swift and sudden
joy. Norman" he heard her gasp, and
with outstretched hands he sprang to her.
but suddenly the CLEAN Of gladness fled
from her eyes. AS suddenly she recoiled
for down the stairway came two silent
men in civilian dress-they Of the secret
service = and between them storming.
furious, foolish boy. railing at them, at the
government, at the army. at the war. With
| wailing cry, MY boy! my boy! What will
they do to your" the mother rose from the
sofa and staggered toward him, when his
eyes fell full upon Norman, standing there
in helpless sympathy and sorrow.
Yes" yelled the wretched lad. IT might
have known 1t! Spit on him. Daisy! Curse
him. mother! They'd never have got me in
Gods world II that snake hadn't seen me
an blabbed."
CHAPTER XIX.
December. and the new commander in
Kentucky, already dubbed "Old Rosy"
had taken up the lines where Buell. dropped
them. for Bragg had done as Buell. pre-
dicted, and not as Halleck would have had
him. On Buelrs plans, therefore, and not
on Halleck's. the army gathered about
Nashville, while Bragg threatened from be-
low. There would be stirring times when
the opposing forces clashed. and all good
men and true were needed at their posts
Brief indeed, and far from happy was Nor
| mans stay In Cincinnati. The doors Of the
Lane homestead were closed to him. His
first written appeal to Mrs. Lane, assuring
her that he had in no wise been the in
1ormant In Iheodore's case. was returned
to the hotel by the hand of State Senator
Malloy at an hour when Norman was GER
| tain to be out, with brief, curt note to
the effect that Mrs Lane begged to be
spared 1urther communication or intrusion
! As result Of the fearful shock, Mai Lane
had suffered relapse
THE arrest Of a thoughtless, homesick
| boy acclaimed the senator in the resound-
! ing lobby of the Burnett 'as a criminal
and deSerter is a monStrous revival of
old-world despotism not to be tolerated in a
free country, and government that Is
compelled to resort to such methods can
never survive another election. If. indeed
1t doesn't bring ruin upon itself during the
winter" Evidently the state senator was
already preparing the way for "the-war-is-
a-failure" party, and taking his cue from
his friend and political file leader. VAL
landingham. The senator said more. He
wondered how free people could tolerate
In their midst q contemplate spy and in
former, a fellow who. snake-like, could
to shame and misery household wherein
he had for years received the tenderest,
kindest welcome What did the men of Gin
cinnati think Of cur who would accept