Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-11-16

Sire to have freedom long enough TO
cross swords with this major of yours.
The quarrel between us has become
bitterly personal, and / hunger for a
chance to have it out. Do you know,
is he man who would fight?"
The young fellow stiffened slightly.
I'VE are serving upon the same
staff" he said more abruptly, land
while we have never been close
friends, yet cannot honorably take
sides against him. He has been out
twice within the last three years to
my knowledge, and is not devoid
either of courage or skill Possibly.
however, the arrival Of his wife may
make him less q fire-eater."
Ellis wife,"
stopped so suddenly that he in
voluntarily frightened his grip upon my
arm as though suspicious of an at
tempt to escape.
do you," l asked, gaining some
slight control over myself, refer to
the lady who came in with his party
last EVENING""
Most certainly; she was presented
to all of us as Mrs. Brennan, she has
been assigned rooms at his quarters,
and she wears a wedding-ring. Far
too fine woman In my judgment for
such master, but then that Is not so
uncommon mistake in marriage
Why, come to think about it, you must
have met her yourself. Have you
reason to suspect this Is not their
relationship"
Not In the least" I fastened to
answer. fearful lest my thoughtless
exclamation might become the basis
for camp gossip. Indeed / was
scarcely in the lady's presence at all
coming in, as was left in charge Of
the sergeant"
Perhaps he felt that he had already
said too much, for we tramped on in
silence until we drew near large,
square white building standing direct
~ beside the road
"This is the old Culverton tavern,
known as the Mansion House." he
said. 1T is tremendous big build
ing for this country, with as fine a
ballroom in it as have seen since
leaving New York. We utilize it for
almost every military purpose, and
among others some of the strong
rooms in the basement are found val
liable for the safe-keeping of i'm
portant prisoners"
We mounted the front steps as he
was speaking, passing through a cor
don of guards, and in the wide hall
way was turned tower to the officer
in charge.
Goodnight, Captain" said Cation,
kindly extending his hand. you may
rest assured that shall say all 1 can
In your favor, but it is to be regretted
that Brennan has great influence just
now at headquarters, and Sheridan is
not man to lightly overlook those
hasty words you spoke to him.
could only thank him most warm
ly for his interest, realizing fully
from his grave manner my desperate
situation, and follow my silent con-
ductor down some narrow and steep
stairs until we stood upon the cement
ed floor Of the basement. Here a
heavy door in the stone division wall
was opened; l was pushed forward
into the dense darkness within, and
the lock clicked DULY behind me.
So thick was the wall l could not
even distinguish the retreating steps
of the jailer.
Tired as I was from the intense
strain of the past thirty-six hours,
even my anxious thoughts were insult
ficient to keep me awake. Feeling
my way cautiously along the wall, /
came at last to wide wooden bench,
and stretching my form at full length
upon 1t, pillowed my head on one
arm, and almost instantly was sound
asleep.
When awoke. sore from my hard
bed and stiffened by the uncom-
Portable position in which l lay, it
was broad daylight. That the morn
ing was, indeed. we'll advanced !
knew from the single ray of sunlight
which streamed in through grated
window high up in the wall opposite
me and fell like bar of gold across
the rough stone floor. was alone
Even in the dark of the previous night
| l had discovered the sole pretence to
furniture in the place. The room itself
proved to be a large and almost
square apartment, probably during the
ordinary occupancy of the house a re-
| ceptacle for wood or garden produce
! but now peculiarly we'll adapted to
the safeguarding Of prisoners.
The solid stone walls were of suf
| ficient height to afford no chance OF
reaching the great oak Orders that
| supported the floor above, even had
the doing so offered a favorable open
ing for escape. There were, apparent
ly, but three openings Of any kind
the outside window through which
the sunlight streamed, protected by
thick bars Of iron; second opening
quite narrow, and likewise protected
by heavy metal grating; and the