Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
CHAPTER XIV.
I Become a Colonel of Artillery.

critical, too full of peril and uncertainty,
to afford opportunity for moralzing over
Bungay's chances of escape. Only one
| possibility lay before me--there remained no
choice. no necessity for planning 1t is
pure luck which prizes open most doors of
life and it was upon luck alone | must rely
now. / have often wondered since how L
ever succeeded in squeezing my body
| through that narrow opening into the
empty fireplace without at least knocking
over something during the difficult pas
sage. But l did manage. working my way
down slowly. creeping inch by inch like
snake, carefully testing each object 1
| touched in the darkness for fear OF ITS PROV
| ing loose, until l finally lay stretched at
full length upon what was evidently, from
| its feeling. a carpet of unusually fine text
ure
The room proved to be an inner one and
| unlighted, bed chamber, as | soon deter
| mined. for my outstretched hands encoun-
/ tered the posts of a bed Then slight gus,
| of air partially swept aside a hanging cur
| tain which rustled like silk, and caught
| brief glimpse of the adjacent parior III
was likewise unillumined, but the door
! leading into the front hall stood ajar,
and through that opening there poured
| a stream of radiance. together with the in
| cessant hum of many voices in animated con-
versation, the deep blare of the band, with
| the ceaseless movement of dancing rect.
Satisfying myself by sense of touch that
| the bed was unoccupied for / was far too
experienced a soldier to leave an enemy IN
my rear, l crept cautiously forward TO the
intercepting curtain, and drawing 1t ASIDE
took careful survey of the outer apartment.
1t was a large and handsomely furnished
ROOM a polished mahogany writing table
Uttered with papers occupying prominent
position against the farther wall. A swivel
chair stood beside 1t, and across It's back
hung what appeared to be suit OF cloth
ing. l saw no other signs of human oceu-
pancy.
rinO n
of egress, crossed the room on uptoe ana
peered cautiously out into the hall. 1t was
not a pleasing prospect to one In my pre-
dicament The lower portion. judging from
the incessant hum of voices, was fllled with
people, who were either unable to find place
within the crowded ball room. or else pre-
ferred greater retirement for CONVERSATION
Even the wide stairway had been partially
pre-empted young lieutenant, as judged
from his shoulder straps, sitting just be-
meath the landing, whispering eagerly INTO
the attentive ear of a pronounced plonde
who shared the broad carpeted step with
him. -'- ~
l drew back noiselessly, to figure out the
situation and determine what was best for
me to attempt. 1t would be sheer madness
to venture upon passage to the front
door, clad as l was in trayel-Worn gray
uniform; to rush through that jam was
impossible. If were to wait until the
dance was concluded the later hours of the
night might indeed yield me somewhat
clearer passage, yet it was hardly probable
that the house, used as I knew 1t to be for
a military prison, would be left unguarded.
Besides, such delay must absolutely pre-
vent my getting beyond the federal picket
lines before daybreak, and would hence
render valueless the news l sought to bear
to Lee.
I moved to the only window and glanced
out; 1t opened upon the back of the house
and presented sheer drop to the ground.
At the slight noise of the moving sash
sentry standing at the corner glanced up
suspiciously. Evidently each side of the
great building was abundantly protected
by patrols.
Something had to be attempted, and at
once. The room I was In bore unuuestion-
able evidence of recent occupancy. and at
any moment might be re-entered. My
searching eyes fell upon the articles of
clothing carelessly folded over the chair
back 1 picked up the garments one by
one and shook them out; they composed
the new uniform OF a colonel of artillery.
and were Respondent with bright red fac
ings and a profusion of gold braid. With
all my soul l loathed the thought of dis
guise, and especially the hated uniform Of
the enemy. 1t was repugnant to every in
stinct of my being, and would certainly
mean added degradation and danger in the
event of capture
Yet saw no other way. Sheridan. Bren-
nan, Cation, the three who would certainly
recognize me on sight, I was assured were
absent, although they might return at any
moment. The greater reason for haste, the
less excuse for delay. But if / should
chance to run foul of the rightful owner of
the garments amid that crush below. and
he should recognize them, what then? /
stood close beside the writing table l re-
volved these considerations rapidly in mind,
and my eye CHANGED to fall upon an open
paper. 1t was an official order, bearing
date at 2. m. that same day, commanding
Col. Culbertson to move his battery at once
down the Kendallville pike, and report to
Brigadier General Knowls for assignment
to his brigade. Evidently the new dress
uniform had been carefully brushed and
laid out to be worn at the ball that even
ing: the sudden receipt Of this order had
caused the owner to depart hastily in his
service dress, vigorously expressing his
feelings no doubt while his servant. now
enjoying liberty below stairs. had neglected
to pack up his masters things.
This knowledge was the straw which de-
cided me: would chance 1t. Hastily
drew on the rich blue and red over my old
gray, adding the dress sword had discov
cred in a closet. and then, wondering curl
onsly what sort Of figure l might cut in
all these fine habiliments. sought glance
at myself within a mirror hanging upon
the bed room wall Faith! but It was Gods
mercy that I did!
Such face as grinned at me from that
glass, peering over the high-cut, decorated
collar would surely have created a genuine
sensation in those rooms below. Serious
as my situation was, laughed at the
thought of 1t until tears ran down my
cheeks, leaving white Streaks the full length
OF them; for no chimney-sweep in the full
tide OF his glorious career was ever worse
soeted and begrimed. 1 thought of the
elegantly dressed lieutenant and the blonde
young lady upon the stairs-surely they
would have supposed the very devil him
self was coming down.
1t took me nearly a quarter OF an hour
to get myself tolerably clean, and I could
not have done that had / not used some
grease that was upon the stand At the
end. however. L stepped back from the
glass confident that with good luck should
run the gantlet safely.
Just as 1 prepared to step forth new
thought occurred to me-who was L? If
I questioned, as was highly probable, how
could I account for my presence2 Who
should pretend to be? I turned over the
mass of papers lying before me on the ia
BILE. They were mostly accounts and de-
tailed orders about which 1 cared nothing.
but finally my search was rewarded by the
discovery of recent army list. / ran my
eyes hastily down the artillery assignments
Barry, Sommers. Fitzmorris, Sloan, Reil-
ly. All. there at last was exactly what
wanted-"Patrick L. Curran. colonel 9th
Ohio Light Artillery, McRoberts' Division
Thomas Corps. assigned special service,
staff Major General Halleck. Washington.
d. C..
''Curran, 9th Ohio''-good; and the other?
I glanced again at the open order. "Cul-
bertson. 14th Pennsylvania" I would re-