Evening star., 1907-06-23


of the great unspoken love which he cherished
in his heart for her, a love which sprang from
the one kind act his lonely life had known.
We both stood in the roadway watching the
carriage as it lost itself in the dusk | was the
first to turn and as | did SO | started back in
alarm. In the room we had left, the room
in which the dispatches were, | saw the
wavering flame of a match. Some one was
making a stealthy visit to it, and the safety
of our regiment and of another lay
guarded there.
Good Cod" l whispered, seizing Company
by the arm. "Look!'
He looked in the direction in which l was
pointing, and in an instant saw and under
stood Like flash the tired stoop fell from
his gaunt frame and the soft light died in his
eyes, Once more he was the great soldier that
the world knew and loved, erect, calm, steel
eyed, brave.
"a spy" he said, quietly. "Take some
men and go around through the hall. I'll
guard the window
Without another word he started toward it.
Calling some men to follow me, l entered
the house, passed through the hall, and opened
the door of the room. Company was standing
in it alone.
I'VE were mistaken" he said to me. "There
was one here"
But when lit candle, and by its light saw
his face, it was all that l could do to suppress
the cry that rose to my lips. 1t was drawn as
with mortal suffering. The light revealed
something even more Inc QeSpaCCn
which carried our lives in its keeping was gone.
Without a word, | pointed to the table
where he had dropped it. AS he saw that it
was missing, an exclamation escaped his lips,
and think he was about to speak. Before he
could do SO, however, two shots were fired
just outside the window, and we heard the
sound of sharp struggle. While we still
stood tense, listening, soldier burst into the
room
We have just caught man trying to
steal through our lines, Sir" he cried out
breathlessly,-" strange man wearing our
uniform'
was almost certain that as Company heard
the words he swayed one who has received
heavy blow; but in this l may have been
mistaken, for when he spoke his voice was
calm and even.
Bring him here!" was his order.
The man saluted and retired A moment
later he reentered the room followed by two
more of our men. Between them they dragged
a man in ragged blue uniform, man who,
despite the beard and dirt upon his face, l
recognized as Winchester. Then l 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! ne commented at length. "A spy,
eh? Shoot him at sunrise, and take care that
he does not escape before thenr'
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
averted 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
be left to himself. So presently stole out of
the room, leaving him alone with his grief
But, though l did not see him again that
night, the thought of his sorrow haunted me
and drove sleep from my pillow. Try as I
would, | could not close my eyes, At last in
despair rose and went out into the air There
was light still burning in Company's room,
and resolved to go and speak to him But
while was still in the shadow of the veranda
| saw man ahead of me cross it quickly and
leap through the window of the room. Fear
ing | knew not what, l crept along in the
shadows and peered stealthily in the window.
They were together there, Winchester and
Company. The former was speaking.
Il 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,-Company."
why not?" asked the other, all his Won
derful affection shining in his great eyes.
why, you see," said Winchester 81 read
the despatch, and if l got away I'd have to
tell its contents to Morgan I'd be traitor
if l let him be annihilated, and I'd be worse
than traitor if l let him annihilate you. So
it looks like we were in a hole" he continued