The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-05
THE IRON BRIGADE
A STORY OF THE ARMY OF the POTOMAC

of them and. claiming TO be doctor, was
taken to Ladue's sanctuary in the hayloft.
and was there captured 90 with him.
When searched Ladue was found TO nave
no discriminating papers about him-a dis
appointment to his captors and obvious
ly puzzle to Jennings-for Ladue heard
him whispering with the officer in COM
mand. The last Paul had seen of Chill
ton was that December night, but later
he learned that he had been compelled 10
remain in hiding many weeks in Charles
county before the vigilance of the federals
was again relaxed and he could finally
effect his escape. Ladue never dreamed
they were again within hailing distance OF
each other just before the last sunrise OF
his own dreamy, gentle, sorrow-laden life.
Then there was a letter. unfinished. for
Elinor, which Fred had sealed and sent
TO her, and il was through her, four weeks
later, that he learned that Paul well knew
that he had not long to live, and had really
hoped TO meet soldiers death in front
OF the charging line. One longing he had,
he owned, that would probably never be
gratifed-that of branding Mckinnon as
liar and thief. for young Larry O'Tooie,
he that used to sweep out and sprinkle the
store and had enlisted as a drummer In
the Montgomerys after Pauis Punishment,
had strayed in search of forbidden lux
urles just before Charlottesville, his pock-
cts filled with poker winnings, and Stuarts
men had nabbed him and run him of TO
Richmond where Ladue was sent to tell
the story of his experiences. and here was
favored with O'Tooles account of McKin-
mons bribing him to purloin those st. Louis
letters. With this confirmation OF his
theories burning within him, Paul had gone
TO Charlottesville, spending one day with
the Chiltons and hearing from the doctor
strange story of McKinnons generosity
to them and kindness to the imperiled son.
Resale had listened in silent acquescence
until Paul burst in with vehement denun-
citation OF the whole story-told them of
Mchinnon's treachery to him and his
hatred or the BentOnS-tOld them of FredS
devoted friendship, and then came a strange
part OF the letter. Elinor copied 1t ver-
batim
Miss Chiffon grew more and more ex-
cited as / talked, and finally whirled on
me with How can you speak of devoted
I nannad on the part OF man WHO
baked by-by Jacks going back for your
old notebook Then she rushed out of the
room, and l had to go right on to Gordons-
Vile and could only write to her that that
too was probably one of McKinnons SLAM
derS and there wasn't a word of truth in it
that no one was more amazed than Fred
when they brought me I'm. I've not yet
heard from her, but 1 shall, and Jack shall
know the moment can find him."
was 1t not strange that that same old
| send TO me that night Fred caught her at
the stone house. should later have been the.
means of saving Jack? She found it in the
| breast pocket of my uniform coat at
Henrys. and glancing through the pages
| saw the sketches and memoranda 1 had
even then been making; supposed 1t was of
vast Notwithstanding that we ought
enemy's hands, bethought her of Jennings
| and Judge Armistead; slipped into my uni
form, and Fred has probably told you the
So there it was at last-the story of her
| daring and devOtion-unnecessary perhaps,
| and Benton, had he but opened his heart
to Paul In the few days they were together
at the Chiltons. might have known it all!
/ There then was that mystery solved, and
McKinnon, furthermore, had been un-
masked, and was even more of black
| guard than they had deemed him. Now. at
| least, must Rosalie know how utterly in
| her wrath she had wronged the man whose
| devotion to her she surely could not fail
| to realize, yet not line from her had
| found its way to Elinor. There was some
| comfort in the belief that now she knew,
| but-how he longed to get at McKinnon
for further comfort! That, however was
out of the question. Major McKinnon had
| gone with the Twelfth Corps to Chatta-
nooga; had indeed left the Army of the
Potomac with dispatches. it was said, and
certainly with dispatch, within two hours
of Ladue's dying accusation. 1t was no
place for him about Meade's headquarters
| after that.
| And now that queer customer Jennings,
was also under the ban, was he? And they
| needed Benton's evidence-Benton whose
brevet hung fire for reasons he could not
| understand-Benton who didn't love the
War Office and who well knew he had
| found no favor in the GRIM deep-set eyes
| behind those comprehensive spectacles.
| There was little he could really tell of Jen-
| nings, though he had never forgotten that
| story about the Indiana sergeant seeing
Rosale toss the packet to him in the rush
| and excitement at the stone house. If that
story were true she must have thought
him faithful at the time at least That
| Hateful notebook, filled with Pauls clever
| typographical sketches and his daily memo
| randa-what had not Rosalie dared in her
| effort to send it to safe hands, What sac
| rtfce had not Chiffon made in recrossing
the Potomac that wintry night in hopes of
| recovering 1t! Yet had not that very cross
| ing prevented not procured his recapture ?
| That notebook as Ladue had written, had
| really been 1.-The means of saving Jack -
| Where was 1T now? thought Benton as
once again he caught sight of the unfn-
ished dome of the great white Capitol A
very valuable bit of property the little vol
ume might be to Southern chieftain again
invading Maryland with an army at his
back, and very dangerous one for South
ern officer to be caught with-if alone.