The National tribune., 1901-02-14

ster's room, and here they found the
brave fellow lying, weak and helpless lii
valid, attended by Mrs. Lawton, whose at
tentions to him were unremitting. There
was also in the room Mr.. Pierce, q
warm Southern friend, whose friendship
for Webster was of long standing, and
whose visits to the sick man were of daily
occurrence.
The recognition between them was Il
most formal and undemOnstrative one, and
no one would have suspected that they
were engaged in the same vocation and
acting under the same authority. During
the short interview that ensued Webster
was fretful and i'll at ease. Knowing the
sentiments of the people as he did, and as
sociated as intimately as he was with the
most prominent of the Confederate author
tiles, he was fearful that the precipitate
and unheralded appearance of his com
panioRs might lead to their being suspect
ed, as well as to attaching suspicion to
himself
The few words of conversation, there
fore, that ensued, were marked by con-
straint which was uncomfortable to all
parties, and the visit was of short duIa-
ton. When they called again upon Web
ster, they found with him rebel officer
from the Provost MarshaPs Office, who
was a friend of Webster, and who visited
him frequently.
Webster introduced his two friends to
Capt. McCubbin, for that was the mans
name. and after few minutes that officer
inquired:
Have you gentlemen reported at Gen.
Winder'S office?"
NO. SIR replied Lewis. Eve did not
think it was necessary, having fully re-
ported to Mai. Beale, and received his per-
mission to travel"
at is necessary for you to report to the
Provost Marshal here, and | now give you
Official notice of the fact" said McCubbin,
laughingly.
VERY WE'LL" returned Lewis, I'VE will
do so as early as possible"
ANY time within day or two will an-
swer." said the officer.
Webster watched the rebel Captain
carefully while ne was speaking, and he
thought he detected beneath his careless,
laughing demeanOr an element of sus-
picion, which he did not like, and more
than ever he deplored the fact that my
men had visited hin so soon, or had ap-
peared to be acquaintances of his. How
ever, the mistake had been made, if mis-
take it was, and he resolved to give the
matter as little concern as possible, trust
ing that his anxiety was ill-fOunded, and
that all would be right in the end.
AT THE PRovosT-MARsHAL's OFFICE.
On the following morning my two opera
tives presented themselves at the Office of
IUG anu ulttlluS SdpL.
McCubbin there, they We're soon intro
duced to Gen. Winder, who occupied that
position in the rebel Capital. After they
had been formally introduced to Gen.
Winder, that officer made very minute in
guiries as to the antecedents and the busi-
ness of the two men before him, although
no word was mentioned that led either of
them to believe that they We're suspected OF
being other than they seemed. They inform
ed the Marshal that they were natives of
England and Ireland; that Scully had been
in America nearly three years, while Lewis
had arrived only Is months before; that
one of them had been connected with a
prominent dry goods house in New York
City, and the other represented London
publishing firm, whose office was located
in the same city. They also stated that
in Baltimore they had become acquainted
with W. II. Scott, who had informed them
of great opportunities for making money
by smuggling goods into the Confcderacy,
and that this visit had been made to af-
ford them the knowledge requisite to EN-
barking in such an enterprise. They had
agreed to deliver the letter, which Mr..
Scott gave them, to Mr.. Webster which
they had done, and further than this their
intimacy with either gentlemen did not ex-
tend.
This interview was conducted in very
pleasant manner by Gen. Winder, and
after they had fully answered all the
questions which had been propounded to
them, they took their leave, being politely
invited by the General to call upon him
whenever convenient.
Congratulating themselves upon the for
tunate outcome of visit which they had
looked forwarC to with more or less solici-
tude, they repaired to Webster's room to
give him an account Of what had trans
pired.
They had not been seated very long,
when detective from the Marshars Of
fee made his appearance, and after apollo
giving for his visit, inquired from what
parts OF England and Ireland the two men
had come; stating, also, that Gen. Winder
desired the information.
After this man had left, Webster turned
to his companions and in as firm voice as
he could command, said:
Get away from Richmond Immediate
lyl There is danger brewing. You are
certainly suspected, and it may go very
hard with all Of US, unless you leave the
city at once"
why do you think so?'' inquired Scully,
in skeptical tone I'VE certainly cannot
be suspected, and am confident that you
are alarming yourself unnecessarily"
A spasm of pain prevented Webster
from replying Immediately, but when the
agony had somewhat subsided, he an
swered:
Il tell you that man never would have
come here with that question unless there
was something wrong. You must, indeed,
get away, or the consequences viii be
serious
ARREST OF LEWIS AND sCULLY.
Scarcely had he uttered these words,
when there came sharp rap at the door,
which, upon being opened, revealed the
forms Of two men, one of them being
George Cluckner, a detective officer at
tached to the Provost Marshals office, and
the other TO less a parsonage than Chase
Morton, of Florida, whose mothers house
in Washington my operatives had at one
time assisted in searching
The CONSERVATION of Lewis and Scully
may well be imagined, and the latter, with
out uttering a word, walked rapidly to-
wards the open doorway and disappeared
leaving Lewis, filed with astonisbment
and apprehension, TO pass the ordeal of an
Introduction. The salutationS between
them were, as may be conjectured, not Of
very cordial character, and after the
merest form of poiiteness Lewis bade
Webster good evening and left tho room.
AT the top of the landing he found Scully
awaiting him, and they We're about to de
scend the stairs, felicitating themselves
upon having escaped threatened danger.
when the door of Webster's room was
opened and the Confederate detective
again stood before them.
Are your names Lewis and Scully?' he
inquired.
Yes, sir" answered Lewis, promptly.
resolved TO put rs bold j face upon the