The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-05-30

set nOtnln aEre. lou III nave TO squat
on the floor. I'm right sorry 1 can't be
more accommodatin'. Do you think it'll
do?'
"Bang up" said the soldier cheerfully.
Hope to see you in Congress- He
slowly prepared to remove the torn gar
ment
Before finally departing, the landlord
thrust his head into the closet again.
MY good lady's troubled with slight
i g16rainyy Of ,, temper" he hesitated,
shelves and then down at the soldier,
who sat on the floor threading the
needle. and I'd consider it great per-
sonal favor, sub, If she don't find nothin'
uis s iII, e1. IN mere, cause she'll just nat
All right, dad said the soldier. TAX
ing stitch. And after another father
~ admonition about the candle, Burnet
went away.
But his receding footballs had scarce
ly been heard on the stair, when the
supposed cripple, who had knelt with
one ear to the crevice at the bottom Of
Ine closet door, sprang up with no in
dication Of lameness. readjusted his gar
ments, thrust the spool of thread into
his pocket, and blew out the candle.
so1tly, pushing open the door, ne
emerged on uptoe, the crutch tucked
| under his arm. Although the full south
ern moon shone brightly outside, only
the faintest gloomIrg reflection penetra-
ted the hall, and for at least a minute
Grtgg waited to get his bearings. Final
ly he selected door. stopped, and look
ed through the keyhoIe The room was
dark: A slow and sibilant putting, in
| term!ngled with shores. gave evidence
that the occupant was asleep.
He lifted the old-fashioned iron latch.
The door was not even locked With a
faint creak II fell open before him. Alert
upon his toes, quiet as. the lifting of
an eyelid, he PASSED into the room. drew
near the bed, and bent down to examine
the sleeper
Sprawled on the bed In profound slum-
Der lay the preacher, Harris, a tasseled
cotton nightcap cooked rakishly over
one eyebrow, his mouth wide open, and
mcSquito-bar spread across his face.
His coat was hung over the back of a
chair beside the bed, HIS trousers folded
neatly on the chair-seat, his white cot
ION socks laid each on its respective
shoe, and various other garments, need
less TO enumerate, assigned to proper
positions for the night.
The Rev. Mr.. Harris had folded his
hands across his stomach, and was
sleeping the loud sleep of Righteousness.
We'll for him he did not wake as that
menactng shadow stopped low over him,
peered into his peaceful face and raised
cur ped revolver, ready to strike. He
Snored on, as only those can whose sins
nave been forgiven them.
His window had been left open be-
cause of the warmth of the June night |
A broad band of moonlight streamei
across the sill. so that one standing at
the window would have been observed
by the Gordon of sentinels that had now |
been drawn close about the tavern.
, GrlgS crept to the window on his |
hands and knees like a cat, and, keep |
ing his head all the while below the |
level of the sill, rapidly unwound the |
spool of thread until he had measured |
off about nine feet
Then. tying a loop about the spool to
hold 1t at that length. he slowly lowered !
1t out of the window. In doing this he
was careful not to protrude more than
his fingers, for he knew that by this
time there were troopers lying even in
the bushes beneath the Jews window.
AS the spool descended he assured him
self of its whereabouts by imparting To
II slight swaying motion that caused II
to rub against the wall of the house
This rubbing sent Up the thread a vi
bratOry thrill.
When the thrill ceased and the spool
suddenly swung free, he knew 1t had
-eached the top OF the window below
He drew II up, let out about three feet
more on calculation, and lowered 1t
again.
This time, when the unirnpeded swing
announced that the spool had reached
he window, he dropped 1t down a good
our feet, to clear the upper sash, and
hen began trying to swing 1t out and in.
Several minutes passed before he could
give II much of a swing, because he
could use only his fingers, not daring to
1ut out his whole hand, so bright was
he moonlight against that side of the
louse, and so close were the soldiers ly-
ng in the bushes. Finally, however, he
worked up a certain momentum. The
pool struck against a pane of glass. In
itantlv he let out another armlength of
bread. This time the spool swung clear.
Steadily and patiently he Strengthened
md crooked his fingers, imparting a
onger and longer swing. He knew at
asst that 1t must be swinging we'll into
he room below. Was SLIDER following
Instructions and standing near the win {
low? Would he never perceive It?
Suddenly. at the terminus Of, an in
yard sweep, the spool stopped. and
here came witch on the thread. l
An interval of intense anxiety follow ,
d. during which Grigg WAS aware of a
erVous fumbling at the other end of the ,
me. But the hush of the summer night ,
emained nnbroken, save by the fretful !
umming of mosquitoes and the cry Of !
he owl. Drifting freflies showed their =
my lanterns against the black curtain
f the woods, and over all the fields the
aim moonlight was sleeping Behind !
be stable horse whinnied
Grigg's fingers felt upon the taut :
bread two quick, slight jerks, followed =
niger pull. and final jerk. Even at :
UGH crisis he had to smile at this in |
enious adaptation of the Morse tele- s
raphic code to signify that all was Z
eady. 1t was his first intimation that q
is accomplice understood telegraphy- Ii
1e craft which had enabled Grigg him
slf to struggle up from the Ignorance
nd poverty of the east Tennessee
fountains There came a time. long
when this Incidental BIT Of v
ederal officers memory, stood him in t.
ood stead
of This Story VIII BE