The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-06-26

Thus through most of the day the
battle hung. Often the firing lulled
or dwindled to silence, and sometimes
1t burst out for a few minutes more
tercely than before. 80.
During all this time, while the
storm he had loosed was raging,
Grigg maintained stolid silence, al
] most as though he did not hear or
I did not comprehend. But a strange
| thing had happened In the night.
When he was captured, his hair was
| that of young man, glossy, and OF a
light, reddish brown hue; now it was
| th1ckly Sown with white threads. He
had grown years older in a single
( night, and with his bloodshot eyes,
his ashen, haggard face, and discol-
| ored clothing, he presented. as he lay
bound upon the floor, a shocking
| spectacle.
| At noon they lifted him and seated
| him, bound as he was, in q chair at
I the table, and placed some food be-
fore him. letter would not permit his
arms to be released, but tied his
wrist in front of his body instead of
! behind, in order that he might carry
| food to his mouth.
He ate nothing. however. although
ne drank greedily from a canteen.
The food was taken away, and he was
left to sit at the table. Irresistibly
| attracted by the mans terrible repu-
| tation, the soldiers came often to the
doorway and gaZed curiously in at
him. They understood, of course, that
| he was to be shot or hung as soon
| as a few formalities had been gone
through with, and they felt that NOR
bid interest which clings to one who
Is condemned to death. His face
stolid, his eyellds half closed, his
chin upon his breast, he made no at
tempt to talk with any one.
Toward evening the firing abruptly
ceased, and word quickly spread over
town that the enemy had been re-
pulsed and was retreating. A general
jubilation ensued, which communi-
Gated itself to the soldiers in the old
engtnehouse. Lieutenant letter, who
| had gone up the street to get the
| news, came back in high good humor.
But as darkness came on, there was
| sudden and formidable renewal of
the firing, This time more to the west,
and rapidly advancing TO the edge of
| the city. For a time something very
like panic prevailed on the streets
letter took one OF the lanterns of
the guard, went into the little room,
set the lantern on the table, and min
| utely examined his prisoner. He found
him sitting in the came apathetic at
titude. his shackles undisturbed. New
ertheless, the lieutenant took a dou-
| BILE knot in one of them.
There" grunted he, II allow your
perservering friends won't do you no
good. I've got the old mans orders
to let daylight through you in case
Of an attempt at rescue"
Grtgg nodded, but made no reply.
Anything you want?" letter in
CURED
For a moment the prisoner seemed
to puzzle over the question, and then
stammered in a low voice:
Why were the-rockets sent up7"
Rockets? What rockets?" replied
letter before he thought. But the
er's brooding eyes told him he had
been indiscreet, and he swore round
" at himself for having answered at
all. "Whatd you ask me that for?
Hey?"
But instead of replying. Grigg
vacant and foolish manner, and
mumbled something incoherent The
sentinel In the room, catching letters
puzzled eye significantly tapped his
Been cuttin' up queer some time,
lieutenant"
Now don't you get fooled. Smith. -
said letter aloud. Maybe he amt all
over that knock yet, but more like, If
he acts queer. he's got a reason be-
hind it thatH hist you plum through
that roof when it hits you. know this
man. He'll do more scheming, dead,
than you ever done awake. You watch
him. I'll leave this lantern here on the
table. Corporal, fetch him his rations.'
The firing ceased abruptly, and soon
several church bells rang out tidings
Of victory. 1t was then quite dark, al
though only little after o'clock.
letter once more left the guard in
| charge of his sergeant and walked up
the street to learn how the fighting had
been. Meantime the corporal Of the
relief which was on duty had brought
the prisoner a few beans and a small
piece of corn bread placed on a tin
platter.
If G1gg's mind was not really I'M
balanced by the blow which he had
received on the head, he played the
part exceedingly well. Despite letters
warning, both the corporal and SEN
tineI, after watching the prisoners &C.
centric conduct for a while, nodded to
each other their conviction that he was
not shamming. Nevertheless, this be-
lief did not cause them to relax their
vigilance one jot.
him, Grigg seemed not to notice It, but
appeared to find a childish satisfaction
in toying with the lantern. He studied
1t with rapt and grave regard, turning
up the wick till it shone it's brightest,
and wiping the dust from the glass
chimney. The lantern, a comparatively
new one, threw an excellent light after
his manipulations, and this seemed to
please him much, for he looked around,
smiling and nodding. Then, in the same
grave, foolish manner, he began to
push the lantern here and there about
the table, trying it first at one spot,
then at another, as If to get 1t where
1t would not shine directly into his eyes.
His eyes ache yet. 1 reckon, from
that knock Hank handed him." the cor
poral remarked aside to the sentinel.
lord. did you see that gun come
down? It would have dropped steer"
Grigg began to eat, but not as IL he
were very hungry. He broke of crumbs
of the corn bread. which was old and
hard, and slowly chewed them. AS he
chewed, he rested his elbows on tine
table and his forehead on his bound
hands, shading his eyes. Presently he
exhibited signs of mental distress, tap
ping his forehead with his fists in
peculiarly restless, irregular, and
troubled way.
The sentinel called the corporars at
tention to this.
"AIl right" the corporal pronounced
Judgment, after watching the prisoners
conduct a few minutes. 81 reckon his
head hurts him. Stands to reason It
must"
Continuation Of This Story VIII Re
Found In Tomorrow Issue
of The Times.)