The Lamar register., 1911-11-01

would be LETT unguarded. BESIDES,
such delay must absolutely prevent
my getting beyond the Federal picket
lines before daybreak. and would
hence render valueless the news I
sought to bear to Lee.
moved to the only window and
glanced out; 1t opened upon the back
of the house and presented a sheer
drop to the ground. At the slight
noise Of the moving sash a sentry
standing at the corner glanced up
suspiciously. Evidently each side OF
the great building was abundantly pro-
tected by patrols.
Something had to be attempted. and
at once. The room was In bore I'M
questionable evidence Of recent occu-
pancy. and at any moment might be
re-entered. My searching eyes fell
upon the articles of clothing carelessly
folded over the chair-back. picked
up the garments one by one and took
them out; they composed the new uni
form of a colonel Of artillery. and
we're resplendent with bright red fac
ings and 4 profusion Of gold braid.
With all my soul loathed the thought
Of disguise. and especially the hated
uniform of the enemy. 1t was re-
pugnant to every instin t of my being.
and would certainly mean added
degradation and danger In the event
Of capture.
Yet l saw no other way. Sheridan.
certainly recognize me on sight. was
assured were absent. although they
might return at any moment. The
greater reason for haste. the less ex-
cuse for delay. But II l should chance
to run foul Of the rightful owner OF
the garments amid that crush below,
and he should recognize them. what
thenf I stood close beside the writ
ing-tabls A. I revolved these consid-
erations rapidly In mind. and my eye
CHANGED to fall upon an open paper.
II was an official order. bearing date
.. p. m. that same day. command
battery at once down the Hendallville
pike. and report to Brigadier- General
Knowls for assignment to his brigade.
evidently the new dress uniform had
been carefully brushed and laid out
to be worn at the ball that evening;
the sudden receipt Of this order had
caused the owner to depart hastily In
his service dress. vigorously express
ing his feelings. no doubt. while his
servant. now enjoying liberty below
stairs. had neglected to pack up his
masters things.
This knowledge was the straw
which decided me: would chance It.
Hastily l drew on the rich blue and
red over my old gray. adding the dress
sword I had discovered in q closet.
and then, wondering curiously what
sort OF figure I might cut in all these
fine habiliments. sought a glance at
myself within q mirror hanging upon
the bedroom wall. FAITH but It was
Gods mercy that did
Such q face as grinned at me from
that glass. peering over the high-cut,
decorated collar. would surely have
created q genuine sensation in those
rooms below. Serious as my situation
was, I laughed at the thought OF It
until tears ran down my cheeks. leav-
ing white streaks the full length OF
them; for no chimney-sweep in the
full tide of his glorious career was
ever worse sooted and begrimed.
thought Of the elegantly dressed
lieutenant and the blonde young lady
upon the stairs-surely they would
have supposed the very devil himself
was coming down.
It took me nearly q quarter Of an
hour to get myself tolerably clean.
and ! could not have done that had
I not used some grease that was upon
the stand At the end. however. I
stepped back from the glass confident
that with good luck I should run the
gantlet safely.
Just as ] prepared to step forth
new thought occurred to me-who was
I? II questioned. as was highly prob
able. how could I account for nv pres
encef Who should pretend to BET
I turned over the mass of papers lying
before me on the table. They were
mostly accounts and detailed orders
about which I cared nothing, but
finally my search was rewarded BY
the discovery Of . recent army list.
I ran my eyes hastily down the artil-
lery assignments-Barry. Sommers.
Fitzmorris. Sloan. Reilly. All. there