Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-18
DAILY SHORT STORY
His ExcelIency, the
Secretary of War.
rOrigfnal1

to be taking pains to conceal(his fea-
| lures behind newspaper. Several
! persons in the car whispered Sthat he
was the Confederate secretarylof war,
Judah L. Benjamin.
When the train reached Petersburg,
the Jewish gentleman took n carriage
and, having driven several miles out
of the city, alighted at the entrance TO
one of the principal forts. A sentry
endeavored to stop him, but he paid
no attention to the man. who threaten
ed to shoot him If he did not halt.
Call the corporal" said the gentle
man, turning impatiently.
Corporal of the guard No. Ar cried
the sentry.
The corporal came, and the gentle
man ordered him in authoritative
| tones TO conduct him to the officer
commanding the fort. When they
reached headquarters, they found the
colonel commanding engaged with
party of officers at game of draw
poker.
"a gentleman wishes to see you,
SIR" said the corporal, saluting.
The Jewish gentleman pushed by
the corporal and stood glaring at the
poker party.
Colonel" he said, "I came out
here expecting to find the place bris-
Ting with bayonets. Instead 1 find
the commanding officer engaged at
cards with his subordinates and most
Of his men asleep. If the enemy sur
prises you and captures this fort. our
source of supply will be cut and our
cause lost forever. While the presi-
nd onh 10 mn
the people of the Confederate States
are straining every nerve, you. de-
Tending a point which the enemy is de-
termined to break through, are un-
watchful Do you know, sir, that In
that line of works out there are men
ready to take advantage of the slight
est neglect?"
MAY 1 know who you are. sir?"
asked the officer, scrutinizing the
speaker.
you may not, sir. If President Da-
Wis were TO come here to inspect your
works. doubtless the guard would be
turned out, salute fired in his honor
and everything in order. Mr.. Davis
knows that as well as you"
1.-THE colonel does not recognize you,
Mr.. Benjamin." said one of the Off
GERS.
"Who said L was Mr.. Benjamin."
| growled the Jew. mind your own
business. sir. Colonel. 1 desire to in
spect the fort"
Certainly, SIR" said the colonel OBJ
sequiously.
| Passing into the eartlwork, the Jew
examined everything with the critical
eye of n trained soldier. Nothing es-
capped him. What do you mean by
such a slight protection for your am
munition?' he asked holly. THAT gun
is of no use there. Move it over here.
The parapet is too low. You haven't
sufficient depth for your guns"
The speaker was about to step up
into an exposed position when the
colonel endeavored to stop him.
"a sharpshooter will pick you of In
a second
"Do you think, sir" cried the other,
''that we can win our independence
by keeping out of the way of Federal
bullets? Must 1, citizen. show YOU.
a soldier, Your duty?"
Mounting the parapet, he stood in
full view of the enemy's picket line,
but few hundred yards distant. The
| officers in his company expected to see
him pitch forward down the embank
ment. Indeed 1T is possible they may
have wished that he would do so,
though the mans bravery astounded
them. But when he took out his white
handkerchief and waved it I'm defiance
they were appalled,. n dozen bullets
sang by his head, but none of them
hit him, and he cOOlly descended from
his exposed position.
Colonel" he said at departing,
though more gently than before, I'VE
are in a desperate situation. Watch
day and night. Never Sleep"
With this he went to his carriage
and rode away.
! The next morning n facetious story
appeared in Richmond paper describ-
ing how a member of the cabinet had
given a lesson of watchfulness to a
Confederate officer.
Meanwhile the Jewish gentleman,
while driving through wood north of
the city, alighted from his carriage and
dismissed the driver. AS soon as he
was alone he took off n wig, piece of
his nose, rubbed some paint off his
face, and, divesting himself of his frock
coat, loose sack appeared beneath.
Tossing a silk hat aside, he took a cap
from his pocket and put it on. Then
he started on foot in the direction of
the enemy's works.
| The next day while General Grant
was sitting In his headquarters at City
Point one of his principal secret serv-
ice men was announced.
"Glad to see you back, said the gen.
eral
1.-THE bullets that sang by me assured
me the signal was SEEN"
eyes, and your exact position was
noted with a theodolite."
1.-THE magazine is ten PAGES to the
south Of where 1 stood, the center OF