The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

rapidly towards the house which Elsie
had left so short time before; for the
fact was that Seth wilkins, in the extremi-
ty of his rage and disappointment. had
turned informer and that the captain was
on his way to arrest Mackenzie, with
strict orders to carry out the sentence
of the court-martial without a moments
unnecessary delay. And Elsie. still I'M
conscious of the dreadful truth was rid
ing gaily 10 the generals quarters. glow
ing with joy to think that her brother
would soon be proved innocent, and conf
dent that he was now safe from all dan
ger
Presently the captain halted. and waited
for the appearance Of Seth, who had gone
on before to watch the house and discover
whether Mackenzie had arrived.
Corporal Malone sided up to the lieu
tenant who was standing a little apart
from the rest.
rs it true that the mans a spy, sir?"
he asked, in a low voice.
Yes. no doubt of II. He was caught
some weeks ago, tried by court-martiaI.
and condemned to death, but he managed
to escape few minutes before he was 10
be executed.
"Ah. well, there's some Of the boys
wouldn't be sorry Il he was to do it again,
sir
'How's that?"
We'll you see that Seth wilkins that
informed against him was after tellin' the
boys that the poor man was coming 10
see the childer, to put things in their lit
tie stockings, it being Christmas eve. and
sure they thought twas n dirty trick TO
take advantage Of him comm on such an
errand, sir
We've nothing to do with that" an
swered the lieutenant. cOldly; we've SIM
ply got to obey orders. Hush! Who's
that?'
A dark figure was coming swiftly and
noiselessly along the road from the d.
rection Of the house. peering cautiously 10
right and left as he advanced.
aTg hal no
tain. softly.
Has he come YETI
81 reckon not I've been prowling
around here since nightfall, but l haven't
seen any sign of him YET
rs there anyone I'm the house?'
Nobody but the children, and l guess
they're asleep. His sister sent everyone
else right away when she heard he was
coming. and while back she rode off he'll
ter-skelter herself. I'm just a bit afraid
that she may have found out where he
was likely TO be, and have gone to warn
him"
Rode a black horse-eh?" asked the
captain .E1ss.
"Then It's all right. We met her on the
road. She was going to see the general,
probably to ask him TO pardon her brother.
She might as well ask him to give her the
moon; but it's good job she's out Of
the way, poor girl. We should have had
J no end Oh trouble WIN htt II siic u btel
here"
Then he turned to the lieutenant and
ordered him to post the men round the
house so that 1t would be impossible for
Mackenzie to pass without being chal-
longed The young officer silently obeyed.
He was thinking with infinite pity Of the
lonely little figure gallOping towards the
generals quarters, no doubt imagining,
woman-like, that tears and prayers would
] induce the grim old soldier to pardon
! convicted spy. lie had previously had lit
! tie relish for the business in hand, but
| now it had become odious to him. Sun,
! he mechanically obeyed his orders, and
returned to report that he had done so.
As the minutes dragged slowly by, and
| there was still no sign of Mackenzie, the
I captain grew more and more impatient.
Look here, Jackson he said, at last.
/ TO the lieutenant. 81 think you'd better
! 90 and investigate. I'm afraid the fellow
/ must have managed to slip past ms in the
1 dark. Can't spare you any men. There
! are too few to watch the place as 1t is,
! but ! guess you can take care Of your
/ self II YOU see anything suspicious you
! can come back and let US know, and II
, YOU want any help just blaze away with
! your revolver, and well close IN at once.
| VERY well, SIR" answered the lieuten-
! ant and advanced cautiously toward the
/ house. =. II was quite dark except for
/ light burning in an upper room. AFTER
moving softly round the house and meet
/ ing with no suspicious sight or sound ne
/ opened the front door and stepped inside
He paused "A moment, but the intense
| silence was unbroken. and he closed the
| door softly behind him and stole upstairs
! AS he reached the landing he observed a
faint light shining beneath a door oppo-
| site Creeping stealthiiy toward It, he
| turned the hs udle quickly and slipped in
| a finger on the trigger OF his revolver
| ready TO fire or leap at the throat of the
Spy If he found him within. But glance