Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-04
CHAPTER xxII-Continued.

''The Secretary will see you at once"
said an officer throwing open a door, and.
bent on standing by his guns IL he died for
it. like winn. or was denied promotion to
the end Of the war, like digger. he marched
straight in to the presence of the iron Sec
rotary and was astounded at his first ques-
ton:
what do you know of Hugh Chalmers
of Fredericksburg?'
With those grim. specialized eyes study
ing him and with that sharp tongue cut
ting in with many a cross-question, Ingra-
ham told his story.
You may 60" said the Secretary at last.
Then. as Ingraham faced about. abruptly
shouted after him: Stop Do you know
anything of the present whereabouts of
that man Blunt?' Ingraham turned again.
NO SIR
You know-who he is-or what, I sup
pose" glowering.
II don't know anything about him, sir.
1 believe hin1-a blackguard.''
Hes worse than that, SIR answered
Stanton, bristlfng all over. Hes spy
a northern man in rebel employ, and If
ever you set claws on him again, sir
bang came the fist upon the table-"hang
him!"
with pleasure. Mr. Secretary" answer
official waxed in wrath. But 1 think-the
rebels will save us the trouble"
"Why?" The question came like a shot.
They say he's thief and liar. One
of the prisoners 1 brought up. captured
the Cd of May. knows all about him, Lieut..
Premier of Louisiana"
Get his full statement in writing and
bring it here tomorrow-no-neXt day.
That's all
Determining to say a word for Burton at
the next opportunity, Rex betook himself
to the Office OF the provost marshal. saw
Premier at once, carefully wrote out his
accusation Of the former factor and then.
taking hack drove out to Brookside.
THE ladies'" said the old negro servant
who welcomed him, went to town an hour
ago. Mahrs' Premier, sub, has been brought
there a prisoner and then was surprised
and disappointed that the captain had
shown to his old room. Ingraham said he
would write a note at Mrs. Langdon's desk,
and slipped the sherry brought him as he
pondered over what he had to say.
His letters to Alice Langdon had been
infrequent; hers to him had been written
almost every day and posted whenever
there seemed likelihood of their reaching
him. His letters to her had been full of
tenderness and of deep appreciation of all
they had done for him, but told rather
more of life at the front and all the We
hement longing of his soldier nature to
meet the enemy than of love for and eager
ness to be with her again. Everything
with Alice seemed centered in the thought
of his safety-hiS speedy return. Everything
with him seemed subordinate to that one
idea-the total overthrow of armed resist
ance to the United States. They were let
tiers, however, of which her mother seemed
much to approve. He was so fine-so
thorough-a soldier. said She and SO did
poor Agatha, signing in silence for the
soldier she had loved and lost-he who was
that saddest of men, born soldier robbed
by fate of the right to serve.
There had been no time for Rex to write
and tell of his coming. Indeed. he had
written that his hurts were trivial and that
he could not think of asking for leave.
Alice knew two or three young fellows
whose hurts at Charlottesville were not
more serious who had made glad the
hearts of fond maids about her by appear
ing in splints. sings or bandages as much
as week, some even trying to wear them
longer. Rex Ingraham is deep, not demon
strative" is what the poor girl tried to
teach herself to think and say. The papers
for the week after the disaster of May 2
had been filed with sad details. With eyes