The Washington times., 1911-05-29
CHAPTER III.
THE War Must End"


~ sweet potatoes and corn bread,
"A Colonel Bledsoe had the dining
room to himself, the others
having departed about the time he be-
gan. He ate in a cleaning relieved only
by a solitary candle, for the blockade
and the deprecated currency had raised
the commonest necessities to enormous
prices and the landlord prudently ex-
tineuished all unnecessary lights.
Several persons were getting into their
wagons or mounting their horses 10 go
their ways. But Aaron SLIDER sat on the
porch smoking a cigar, and near MIN,
though not conversing with him, STOOD
Freneau.
BIedsoe ate placidly, for he could Cd
serve through the window whatever
might occur. It was o'clock when at
length he wiped his lips on MS napkin,
combed his fingers through ms gray
whiskers, and drew his plug OF TOBACCO
the porch. A few embers Of departed
day still burned sullenly above the
Slack belt of pines. Dusk had gathered
thick A round, yellow moon peeted
over the hill, and a distant owl Qua
Vered.
other a half-Srown mulatto boy who
waited at table. had brought a guitar
play and sing for the entertainments Of
The guests. Their quaint music drew
about them nearly everybody who Was
on the porch; and in the circle OF lis
himself a liberal and enthusiastic pa
ton. frequently calling for favorite
tune. Only the Jew had Withdrawn
apart to the end of the porch. whence,
through the darkness, the red spark of
his cigar glowed like an angry star as
he smoked with nervous rapldlty. bled-
soc INDUCED in a grim smile. on per-
There came a brief interruption. Some
one rode up out of the darkness on
horse and inquired whether Colonel
Bledsoe were there.
I'm here" answered BledsOe, stalk
ing forward. who wants me?"
Leaping to the ground the rider came,
hat in hand. to the edge Of the porch,
showing himself TO be short, black
negro rather well-dressed.
"Cornelius?" said the white man, in
low tone.
Yes, suh."
Bledsoe conducted the negro into the
hallway, where no one could overhear.
Your master sent you?"
Yes, sub; wild dis note.
The message was in a Cramped hand,
written on strip Of yellow paper. with
out date:
Word came that c. passed through
HanVer G. H. yesterday at p. m. in
Conf. uniform. l send you this by
Cornelius. Use him if necessary. He is
as sharp-witted as devoted. ]. D."
Just So" said Bledsoe. That accords
with my own observations"
You want me. subj" Cornelius Gag
NO. Ride back and tell your master
to be at ease. By Gods grace, l have
oar man trapped. Wait" He scribbled
pocketbook The tavern is BY this
time surrounded. If you are halted,
show this pass"
BIedsoe followed the messenger to the
porch at once. for he did not wish to
lose sight Of the conspirators. Freneau
was there yet, leaning against a pillar,
and laughing at the antics of the mu-
latto boy. whom he had coaxed to do
double shuttle. But the Jew was no
longer visible.
The terrible old man saunterei leisure
ly back and forth to ascertain whittier
SLIDER had betaken himself IN the brief
interval. He was undsturbed by the
circumstance, for he believed the con-
spirators would not attempt a confer
ence till they met in the Jews bedroom.
But a new element had entered into
the Staution upon which even BledSoe
had not reckoned, namely, panic.
Under this mask of bland smiles Aaron
SLIDER had long concealed a quaking
heart. Whatever had drawn the
wealthy speculator into active treason
against the established government at
Richmond he was now heartily sorry
for it.
An ominous and inexplicable break
had occurred in the plan as arranged at
Washington. The understa ndIng had
been that If the Federal emiSsary sue
ceeded in penetrating the lines he should
seek out SLIDER at the Old Cold Harbor
tavern and make himself known by the
token of a ring. Thereupon SLIDER was
TO introduce into the ensuing converse
ton password If Grigg replied in the
same manner by a Countersign, an eX
change Of their secret service numbers
would complete the mutual identifica-
ton
mistake had slipped in. When the
young officer who called himself FIRE.
neau rode up to the tavern and pre-
sented the token in so unTuarded
password. Freneau ignored Il. Instead
Of giving the cOuntersign, ne briefly
narrated how he had come by the ring,
and then went to supper.
From that moment SLIDER was in an
agony Of suspense. The only explana-
ton he could imagine was that the So
called Freneau, out OF abundant eau
ton, declined to reveal himself until
later. In this lingering hope the Jew
waited. After supper he seized his OPP
portunity to speak again with Freneau
on.he porch. and again offered the pass
"CouId you tell me, sir asked he. in
his suayest tones, IF there is news to-
day from poor ViCksburg?'
mo news, believe, sir"
"Surely our noble Johnson win relieve
the town, and, with another such vic
tory as at Charlottesville, the war
must end, eh?"
I'VE all hope So" replied Freneau,
turning away. Here comes a niger
with guitar. Let's have some music
That, however, was not the counter
Sign, and the last vestige of the Jews
hope and courage fed.
Believing himself somehow mystic
riously betrayed, about to De caught
like a rat in a trap, he considered wild
" what to do. Everything had gone
wrong where the least misslep meant
an ignominious death. He knew he was
very pale; that his teeth were chatter
ing; and he sought to avoid notice.
Luckily for him, everybody was listen
ing to the singers. He skunk away
quickly to the end Of the porch.
While Colonel Bledsoe was in the hall
way with the messenger, SLIDER stepped
down into the yard and went toward
the stable Cold perspiration beaded his
fat cheeks; he sucked involuntarily but
furiously at his cigar. which had be-
come eXtinguished. His one idea was
TO abandon everything, to find his horse
while nobody was watching, and to flee
away from the snare.
Stumbling and half running across
the dim yard, he cursed softly a
path as If to trip him. The stable door
stood wide open dn the moon
light. He paused an instant to listen,