The Washington times., 1911-06-04

at Judge Campbell, anu
thai worthy man was patting her
on the shoulder and whispering
congratulations in her ear, there
arose a noise in the corridor outside.
Before Jefferson Davis could turn
around, Colonel Bledsoe. chief of the
secret service, his black clothes and
SLOUGH hat gray with dust, his boots be-
smudged, STROBE unannounced into the
room, somber apparition.
'Wen?" inquired Davis, glancing up
from his work.
II will wait" said Bledsoe, in his
harsh, dry manner, till you are alone"
And he remained standing, rigid and 81
lent, while the pen scratched over the
paper, though from time to time his
cold eye closely scrutinized Della.
The President signed his name. laid
down the pen, folded :he paper, arose,
and handed it to the girl
You must take this to General
given an opportunity to visit your
brother at intervals, in presence of a
guard. That is the best can do for
you
friend had bowed themselves out, he
turned quickly to Bledsoe.
What news?" demanded h.
Gods ways are past finding out. re-
pued BledSoe, IN deep ana leIN vent
tone. His face was turned from us in
the matter"
Your expedition failed?"
Just so. Grigg Is loose in Richmond.
That devil outwitted me-"
An exclamation of disappointment
burst from the Presidents lips.
This Grigg, then, slipped out OF the
trap you had laid for him? Is 1t possible
that has happened?''
Strange things have happened at Old
Cold Harbor," said Bledsoe, whose brow
darkened at the recollection.
Something strange indeed must have
occurred when Colonel Bledsoe brings
such a report! Explain your failure.
The rugged chief of the secret service
drew himself up more rigidly, for he de-
spised failures and explanations.
That, SIR" said he will be fully set
down in my written report. 1t is enough
now to state that | was misled by
foolish young engineer officer, one Ere
neau."
Yes, I remember the name Some of
the work OF entrenching Richmond was
intrusted to him
Under General Wise's instructions
this Freneau had drawn j plan of the
defenses at Drewry's Bluff, and was
bringing the plan to General Elzey here.
Expecting while in town to take part in
certain goddess amateur theatricals over
which so many of the wanton younger
people have gone mad, he carried a
change of costume, a false wig, and
beard. These fixed my suspicious upon
him. When my men surrounded the
tavern, this Freneau. mistakinS our pur-
pose slipped from his room, determined
to preserve the secrecy of the drawings.
He so stationed himself that when my
men rushed into the tavern at the rear,
they swung the door back against the
corner, conceRling him behind 1t. He
bided his time, and endeavored to es,,
cape by running out Of the house and
throwing himself on horse. He was
fired on and wounded, but Galloped to-
TIrin
pursuit I am persuaded should have
captured Grigg, who must have been IN
the house, had not this stupid mistake
occurred, We captured Freneau, after
q hard chase near Atlee's Station
"A most unfortunate and Gnaccount-
able coincidence
Just So My error was in part due to
Fleneau's having displayed tie token 1t
was Grigg's design to use.
"Ha, How do you reconcile that with
Freneau's fnnocenCe?'
Therein, sir, perceive the cunning OF
this man GriSg When I examined Ere
neau he declared he mad received the
ring from a crippled soldier on the road
near Gaines Mill. The soldier had ac-
costed him and asked If he was not go
ing by Old Cold Harbor. and then re-
Jew, Aaron SLIDER, who was stopping
there"
Rather unconvincing. This Freneau
The soldier claimed to have seen the
Jew drop the ring that morning while
riding through Gaines NIL. and, know
ing him by sight, wished to restore 1t.
verified Freneau's account later by a
farmer who saw the crippled soldier
accost him on the road
so that crippled soldier was Grigg?''
What was his object il that queer
what he accomplished by it. There
YOU see the brain with which l have
TO deal Suspecting, no doubt, that the
lew was being watched, he threY sus-
picion on the foolish young officer. his
And succeeded only too we'll This
Grigg must be reckoned with later. Bu
what has been done with his accom-
After some pretense of search and
examination, released the Jew"
Ills movements may furnish me {
clue to Grigg's whereabouts and designs
in Richmond. 1 am having siloei
watched"
= shall not fail in the end" answered
Bledsoe quietly, with an undertone O
grim insistence that lifted the remari
above bravado into a sublime self-con
fidence.
Have you something further to re
rort, that you entered SO hastily"
L have just returned from the lowe
peninsula
'Well2"
Something is already afoot. Genera
Keyes has only few battalions there
hut ratiohs for 10000 men are being un
loaded at Suffolk.
All, And just at this time Lee begins
HIS forward movement into Pennsyl
vania" jefferson Davis folded his arm.
across his breast in the singularly i'm
perious attitude hahitual to him wheS
aroused, and looked his subordinate II
the eye. Colonel Bledsoe, the Rich
mond defenses have been stripped OF
troops to replenish Lees ranks and tC
relieve Vicksburg.
''Our enemies compass us about"
It rely on you to give us sufficient
warning of what this blow is that IL
about to fall! You must circumvent oul
enemies-for with the militia, the de-
partrnent companies. and the GONZALES
cents, we number scarce 5000 men Il
man the works. Do you hear? Scarce
s.0O0r'
'sThe Lord is my strength and m.
shield" said Colonef Bledsoe simpl!