Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-25

whlle graphing with the cavalry Of
hcer who brought them"
'1?" cried Benton. GOOD heavens,'
And then stood dumb. for all on q
sudden ii flashed over him. Rosalie,
Rosalie, who had so inexplicablv
donned Ladue's uniform, ventured
down through the darkness to the
pike, seeting some one at the stone
house. Rosalie. who had refused To
tell what influence prompted that ap-
parently reckless eseapadei Papers?
information concerning our move
ments? Why. what sense was there in
her taking all that risk when at that
very moment our pickets were falling
back before Stuart's triumphant adj
vance-when all but a few of the
guard had already disappeared from
the Henry place-when by midnight
or at the latest at dawn she was almost
sure to be again in touch with her own
friends and kindred? All this and
more flashed through his mind as he
stood there in the dark little Office,
! with his interrogation impatiently fac
Ing him, and two other officials look
Ing up at him from a paper-littered
table, much impressed evidently. by
. the significance of his silence and en-
barrassment
Yes sharply repeated the first
speaker, papers and, doubtless. valu-
| able information. You saw them pass
to jennings, as he calls himself did
you not?"
Il saw nothing of the kindi" an
! swered Benton, inexpre3sibly relieved
that as yet, at least, he had had no oc-
casion TO speak of her. Indeed" he
went on, eagerly, 81 was too busy try
/ ing to get out of the scrape to think of
Jennings at all. l made a Jump for
| my horse and was in a hand-to-hand
| fight in two seconds. l never knew
| what become of jennings
| You remember Sergt. Miller. do you
| not?"
L remember sergeant-an Indiana
| sergeant, and very keen one who was
there, but l feared he and his party
were killed or captured"
Some of them were said the ex-
aiming officer, grimly, "bul Miller
dived into the bushes, made his way
through the darkness and escaped. He
declares he saw the young rebel officer
toss the packet to Jennings and heard
] him cry, For Gen. Armi5ted-to-night
1 -suren And now here is jennings
begging to be allowed to see two pris-
oners-Maj. Lounsberry and the young
Virginian, Pelham. who was wounded
protecting him the day you were res
| cued. He brings note from the pres
ident. Look herei" and taking a scrap
| of paper from his desk the staff officer
held it forth for Benton's inspection.
1t was brief and to the point:
'The bearer, Mr.. Jennings. has been
of service and asks to see two friends
prisoners-Maj. Lounsberry and Troop
er Pelham. | shall be ilad if oppor-
tunity can DE given ni,sn
'(Signed) A. LINCOLN"
Benton read and looked up inquir-
ingly. II, too, should like to see then,
-Lounsberry, at least" said he. with
! eyss that kindled and lips that set
but not as prisoner. | have a score
to settle with that gentleman. When
does Mr.. Jennings go?'
Cant say. The secretary said nc
emphatically-not until matters were
explained. 1t was thought you might
settle ii one way or another before
we questioned him." And the officer
was manifestly disappointed, and still
he persisted. You heard nothing
about him?-Dr. Chiffon never spoke
of him while you were at Charlottes.
ville?"
mn 4 10
except casually. But Judge Armistead
not the general. was there at Gaines
vile. My belief is that Gen Armisteac
was not near Manassas when ! was
taken. Miller must have misundei
stood"
We'll" said the officer, finally, I'm
sorry we had to trouble you, but III,
| secretary thought you would know
more of this suspected stranger. Gen
Mcdowell trusted him, we fear, toe
much, and as you are 10 see the presi
dent We thought sou might open hi
| eyes if the fellow we.s playing
double game. l dare say you know
people sometimes impose on the presi
dent" and here the captain smiled
whimsically, "and that's why when h,
! could issue these things as an order
/ he won't, He thinks it wiser to lie
the secretary handle matters of tn
kind. Now, your general, Mr.. Benton
is being accused of having southern
| leanings because he has been protect
| ing southern properly there abou
\, l Fredericksburg"
Some defenseless women, left al
, alone, asked for guards and got them,
| answered Benton, stoutly. Il shouldn'
| wonder if their lords and masters ar
secesh, but we're not warning on WON
1 en-, l take it"
LAS yet-no," was the thoughtfu
| reply, and may God forbid our havin
to come to it. BIT. my young friend
\ il you knew half what we Enow-an
1 we don't begin to know half that thos
l brainy, darin", scheming, smilin
4 southern women are doing all arc1n
1 us-yOu might think the time close a