Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-24
CHAPTER XVI.
The Face in the freight.

Not until the following morning was In
graham summoned from the comforts of
straw and blanket bed in a farmers barn
near Fairfax. He had surprised himself by
sleeping soundly and well-a thing he
thought impossible when his gray-jacketed
guardian bade him make himself "at home
in the hay Their captors gave him and
his fellows a good breakfast, then sent
them on their way, trudging afoot now be-
tween f1anking, black-plumed, gray-clad
troopers. They were destined for Center
vile and a cross-questioning the like of
which one at least of their number had
never before encountered.
Wearied with unaccustomed marching,
and depressed by this new freak Of i'll for
tune 1ngraham was In no mood to be
either courteous or complaisant when, just
after candle light that evening, he was
brought before two officers in new and
natty gray uniforms-one of them evident
ly a soldier of rank and distinction. Rex
knew he was in the presence of one of the
old army the moment he set his tired eyes
upon him. The trim, double-breasted frock
coat he wore was adorned with the insig-
MIA of colonel of cavalry. He was tall.
erect, martial loOkfng-cavalier, too,
though much of his handsome face was
concealed by the full flowing beard and
mustache. He was a gentleman, thor
oughbred, moreover The very tone. the
courtesy of manner, with which he adj
dressed the prisoner private soldier spoke
infallibly to that.
You have had long march and must
be tired. Take a seat, sir said he And
Ingraham as quietly obeyed. The southern
colonel looked at him curiously, his blue
eyes half yelled by their heavily fringed
lids.
and / reckon you are in the ranks of the
regulars rather an experiments step
ping stone to a commission probably. Who
commands your trOop?'
q
prompt, positive, yet perfectly calm as to
tone and manner.
That seems-unusual. 1 happen to have
served some years in the federal cavalry,
said his interrogation, while the junior off,
Ger sat tapping his teeth with the butt of
his pencil, waiting for something worth
recording.
tion l should say the first sergeant, pro-
ceeded Ingraham wfereat the colonel per-
mitted himself to smile whimsically In ap-
probation; Since the first month | have
seen nothing of my troop. / have been
patient In hospital or a prisoner under
guard BY this time 1 probably should
have known what officer commanded the
troop II any, but for the enterprise OF your
people" The colonel half bowed at the
implied compliment He was enjoying the
situation. Rex was not
Then you expected to find your troop
said the colonel. 'It must have moved
there within two days"
Rex bit his lip. His attempted pleasantly
had revealed Just what he should have
kept to himself. But, after all. what diff
ference did 1t make? This superior officer
of confederate cavalry seemed thoroughly
we'll informed Of the movements OF the
Union forces-at least OF those on the Vir-
ginia side of the Potomac. Yet the colonel
had more to ask.
ibid you happen to see Major Wallis
again before you left Greble barracks?
Ingraham fairly started. Verify. In
he m Qed n W.
history or war romance he had encountered
nothing Hike this. The colonel saw his be-
wilderment and quietly smiled again.
1.-THE major and were much together at
one time on the frontier" said he, land
was mis- guest few days last winter In
New York. am sorry Wallis did not know
you ware coming this way. think he might
have sent me a message. Now. will you tell
me whether you have met Mai. Chalmers
since the night you went with DR.. Dallasr'
For = moment there wo4 silence. 1ngra-