The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-05-28
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
THE VINTAGE
BIZ JOSEPH STARTS
Copyright, 1911. The Frank A. Munsey Company.

the key" And he held out his palm.
What! Now, hold on, Cohnel; hold
on, suh!'' objected the surprised Bur-
net If you want to put up here for
apartment upstairs"
II need Harris room"
why, cohnel, he's already put his
belongings in there, and don't see
''Hush!" interrupted Bledsoe in his
sternest and coolest manner Thine
presses. Give me the key" And as the
landlord still hesitated, though vaguely
aware now that the voice was of one
speaking with authority, Bledsoe's huge
hand dropped on his shoulder. Foolish
man, l act by order of Secretary Sed-
don and the Confederate States. I'm
| after spy
In the dismayed silence which fol-
lowed the landlords quick breathing
\ Was audible.
"A spy!' he whispered, and turned
| quite pale. You don't surely reckon
Ask no questions. II you keep a
gimlet here, let me have it,
Like one plunged in cold water and
| just arisen to the surface, Burnet stood
| blinking and gasping, while his inscrut-
| able guest walked calmly down the nall,
unlocked Harris door. deposited the
preachers gripsack, hat, and umbrella
| unceremoniously on the hall toorr to be
| taken upstairs, entered the room, and
, locked the door behind him. Burnet
| proceeded slowly to the dining room,
| fumbling his straw hat and scratching
| his head like a man who has much to
| ponder.
Colonel BIedsoe began by tapping a
| fingernail against the walls on both
sides of the small bedroom, to satisfy
| himself they were thin board partitions,
| roughly papered, but upholstered. Then
| he raised the window blind, looked out
and listened.
1t was a propitious moment for what
he ad 10 dn
the establishment were either waiting
on table or eating in shed at the rear.
| The stable and yard were wholly de-
| serted except for few chickens
scratching on a heap of manure and
lean pig granting in the weeds along the
palings. Between the tavern and stable
stood a crooked strawstack which sun
and rain had blanched to notified
gray. At this Bledsoe looked steadily
until he saw a sunburnt face peeplng
cautiously out. Then he beckoned.
They jumped UP and came at once,
three ragged troopers trotting barefoot
ed, noiseless as shadows, trailing their
carbines. From the open windows OF
the dining room sounded a constant
tinkle of plates and knives and busy
hum of voices. There was no likelihood
the men had been detected.
Climb in" said Bledsoe to the fore
most, a sinewy young corporal, taking
his carbine from him.
He caught the soldier under the arm
Pit and by an apparently slight exer-
ton, fairly lifted him in over the sill.
The other two quickly followed. They
stood inside the little room, alert with
expectation, keen for any adventure,
while Bledsoe drew down the brown
paper blind.
sound, the grim old man whispered his
brief instructions. They laid their guns
across the bed; the corporal took the
gimlet and began to bore hole in the
papered partition at a designated spot
So few of the precious moments had
thus far been consumed that Colonel
Bledsoe felt he had time to accom-
plish more. He went out, locking in
his three troopers, and tried Ere
neau's door. 1t was locked. He tried his
own key in 1t, however, and as might
be expected in a rural house, the
same key fitted both locks.
Freneaus room, like the other, was
a small apartment with rag carpet,
the Counterpart. just as its owner had
flung II on entering from his ride, lay
the carpetbag.
Bledsoe, picking it up. found it fair
ly heavy. 1t was locked, and, al,
though his capacious pockets afforded
several small keys, his efforts to open
1t were unavailing. Finally, to lose
no time. he took out his clasp knife,
deftly slit the bag at the bottom, and
inserted his fingers.
Just so!' muttered he, with a sour
grimace, as he drew out fiaxen wig.
"Theatricals! One of the denominations
of the stage. If he looks there for
strength, 1 fear him not!'
various bulkier articles too large to
draw through the slit. BY touch he
made out a rough civilian coat
pair of coarse trousers, and a felt
hat. The bag. however, contained no
papers.
Restoring the wig. which his strict
religious views led him to regard
with contempt and adherence, he
made haste to pin up the slit. For
further concealment, he moistened his
finger, rubbed a little of the backing
from his boot, and dulled the metal
heads of the pins, so that after dark
one was not liable to detect the in
cision. He quilted the room as COM
door, and proceeded along the hall.
Beyond the open doorway Of the tav
ern cleaned a flame of cloud above
the black woods. but the sun had set; |
twilight had begun to creep into the
house. There was loud calling for
candles.
AS Colonel Bledsoe advanced toward |
the dining room he beheld the man
tiga:ing hold open the door for Miss |
Della Coombs as she passed out. A
slight bow rewarded the officers at |
tention. The girl glided on up the stairs. |
IL na0 grown quite Ozark IN tne nall |
And as she mounted on light feet, with |
only faint rustling Of her black gown. |
Freneau fingered in the doorway, his |
dark and naughty features illuminated
by the candles a servant was bringing |
in. He stood, silent, grave, gazing alb |
sorbedly upward till she had reached |
the head Of the stairs. Colonel Bledsoe |
quietly touched his sleeve and init
mated a desire to enter the dining room, |
for the other was blocking the passage
way. |
Disturbed from a pleasing reverie, |
Freneau turned upon the tall old man |
with q superb arrogance and sought to |
stare the intruder down. But when |
Bledsoe's cold, caverpous eyes met his. |
he, too, must have felt the slight chill |
which all experienced who encountered |
that inf1eXible soul.
your pardon, SIR" said Freneau in a !
beIligerent voice.
"Just So" quietly answered Colonel |
Rledsoe, and passed in to his belated
supper.
Continuation of This Story VIII Be |