New-York tribune., 1907-06-23

I.lL
had recognized Winchester from his likeness
t. his mother, and had cared for HIM because
Of the great unspoken love which he cherished
IN his heart for her, love which ~prang from
the one kind act his lonely life had known
We both stood m the roadway watching the
carriage is 1t lost itself IN the dusk Wa the
first 10 turn and as | did so | started back IN
alarm. In the room We had lett the room
IN which the dispatches We're sa" the
wavcrInp flame OF a match. some one was
making - -tcalthV visit t. 1t, and the safety
of our own regiment and OF another lay un-
guarded there
Good God 80 whispered, scizing Company
bv the arm Look
pointing and IN an instant saw and under
stood Like a flash the tired stoop Tell from
his gauut frame and the soft light died IN his
ewes. Once more he Wa the great soldier thtt
the world knew and loved erect calm steel
* spv." he said. quietly Take some
men and 60 around through the hall. III
guard the window
Without another word he started toward H.
Calling on some men To follow me, entered
the house passed through the hall, and opened
the door Of the room. Company was standing
we were mistaken" he said to me. There
was no one here
But when lit a candle. and by its light saw
his face. it was all that | could do to suppress
the cry that rose TO my lips. 1t was drawn as
with mortal suffering The light revealed
something even more startling The despatch
which carried our lives IN its keeping was gone
Without a word | pointed to the table
where he had dropped 1t. As he saw that 1t
was missing, an exclamation escaped ms hpS'
and think he was about To speak. Before he
could do So however, two shots were fired
lust outside the window, and We heard the
sound OF a sharp struggle. While we Stlll
stood tense listening. q soldier burst into the
room.
we have Just caught a man TRYING to
steal through our lines. sir" he cried out
breathlcssly,-"a strange man wearing our
uniform"
| was almost certain that as Company heard
| the words he Swayed aS one who has received
| a heavy blow; but in this ! may have been
mistaken, for when he spoke his Voice was
calm and even.
Bring him hercl" was his order.
| The man Saluted and retired n moment
| later he recntcrcd the room, followed by two
| more of our men. Between them they dragged
| a man in a ragged blue uniform, a man who.
| despite the beard and dirt upon his face
recognized as Winchester. Then knew why
| Company had been gray faced and alone when
| had burst through the doorway. Even IN
the dark he had known the boy and had let
him escape. But now as the eyes of the two
men met there was no sign of recognition.
| Search himi" ordered Company abruptly.
The men did his bidding. After a moment
one of them turned and handed over the miss
ing despatch Company examined IT carefully.
Hump he commented At length spy.
ch? Shoot hIm at sunrise, and take care that
he does not escape before thenF'
Then he turned his head and did not again
look upon the prisoner. Even when they had
taken him from the ROOM he still stood with
avertcd face. | knew what he must be suffer
ing, and longed to say something to comfort
him; but there was that about the stopped
back and bent shoulders which seemed to say
that words were useless and that he had best
he left to himself. So presently | stole out of
the room, leaving him alone with his grief.
| But though | did not see him again that
night, the thought of his sorrow haunted me
and drove sleep from my pillow. Try as |
would, | could not close my eyes At last in
despair rose and went out into the air. There
was a light still burning in Company'S room,
and | resolved to go and speak to him. But
while | was still i'll the shadow of the veranda
saw a man ahead of me cross ii quickly and
leap through the window of the room. Fear
II ing | knew not what | crept along in the
shadows and peered stealthily in the window
They were together there, Winchester and
Company. The former speaking.
II know" he was saying. that You con-
trived it so those men who were guarding me
would unwittingly give me a chance to escape
but | can't take that ChanCe,-Companv