The Washington times., 1911-06-01

T eight o'clock next morning
~ Lymus brought Miss Della
~ Coombs' old carriage around
to the front of the tavern just
as though nothing unusual had oc-
Cured in the night, and the young lady
prepared to go on TO Richmond. She
had some secret doubts that she would
be allowed to depart. for the troopers
were still there, their horses tied In
long line to the palings, and a brawny
sentinel posted in the lower hall. A few
questions were indeed put TO her. but
only by Lieutenant letter. His superior
was occupied elsewhere at the time.
Uneasy at the possible miscOnstruction
which might be put on her conduct in
hiding a man in her room. Della volun-
teered no information. letter. on the
other hand, embarrassed by her bright
eyes. thought more Of concealing a hole
in his boot from which his big toe pro-
truded, than of extracting Information
from her. His questions were perfume
tory. man Of letters disposition.
however rough and summary he might
be with other men, was never intended
by Providence to be the inQuisitor of
beautiful woman; and the examination
closed without producing results.
While stepping into her carriage. Della
learned from the landlord that both
spies had been captured, and were being
put through a strict examination by
Colonel Bledsoe in one of the lower
rooms.
"Both?" the girl exclaimed. How
fortunate. One, l heard, was that red
by at everybody yesterday. But, who is
the other?"
'eel arpearin' young 0ffi:ar with the
1Sb nos he a snvo Such @ nice-IooL
"A vilIainous, black-hearted. cowardly
Yankee, ma'am! And to me. confound
my eyesight, he looked -white.-yes,
white and clean as Robert Lee himself!
He had all the marks of a high-toned
and conservative gentleman, and the
finest saddle critter that ever stepped
on a, pike! Why; l actually shook him
I'm so thankful they We're discovered
in time" said Della. WAS IL he they
were pursuing when they came to my
door,"
fair ali round. That sneakin' scoundreI
crept out of his apartment somehow.
and got UP stairs and done something
traitorous out Of window-1 don't
triot, Colonel Bledsoe. detected him,
ma am, in the contemplate act. But
while they-all were up there huntin'
high and low for him. ne sneaked
downstairs again and run out and
jumped on a mount and pretty nigh
got away"
And they weren't looking at all for
that poor lame soldier with the crutch?'
Suddenly aghast, the genial old land |
lord Snapped his forehead.
Goodness. ma'am! 1 declare I clean |
forgot him! What become of him? He |
amt UP in that closet yet? Mrs. Bur-
net'n just naturally lift
Leaving the sentence unfinished, Bur- |
pXHffadlXra into the house and /
Della Coombs resumed her journey, the |
last lingering suspicion Of Potts dissi- |
pated by this conversation. More than
curing the fTelyemiis drive
having made friend of one who de-
clared himself able to help her brother |
Shortly before noon they reached the
S1tskiTts Of the capital tS city Of the
tions on the New Bridge road. Lymus
took the carriage across to Main street |
and drove slowly westward through the |
crowded business section, where a Woe
full travesty on commerce was being en-
acted.
The curse of war and blockade had
fallen heavily upon the stair old pro-
vincial town. 1t had been overrun by
who had been drawn |
thither by the feverish afflatus of the |
times. At nearly all the houses which
had not been given up to dram shops
ana BdLnolHS mems VI pIotnelS haunted l
he auctioneer's red flag; negroes footed
tin horns to attract buyers; and the
show windows displayed miscellaneous
goods-old boots. sacks of /
iour. straw bonnets, umbrellas, bacon,
which were being rapidly knocked down
% the throngs of shabby buyers, only
70 be put I'D for sale again.
1t was a mad carnival of petty specu-
alton. And among these scramblers,
busiest and noisest among them, were
observable a number of sharp New Eng II
and faces; often the auctioneer extolled
lis wares in the familiar Connecticut
wang.
Continuation of This Story VIII BE II
Uou-a a. Tou,orroxxss Tssua