The Washington times., 1911-05-27

Oul Tie OlH6T large
n falling on his shoulder, checked
him.
letter" said Bledsoe, leaning for
ward and fixing upon his assistant a
look so darkly intent that the latter
startled, stepped backward-"Jetter,
nave found hitherto, when using you
TO make arrests. that you can set a
lock- upon your tongue.
letter merely looked astonished al
the unwonted confidence
What l shall tell you now, let mol
knife at your throat draw from
youp for there are dangers to the cauSd
of freedom that you never dreamed"
oh" muttered letter uneasily, 'I'Il
hold my tongue, Il swear by HeavenI'
Swear not by Heaven, for 1t is God s
throne! exclaimed Bledsoe, with an
outburst of his religious temper. Swear
not at ALL"
All right, then: 1 don't swear" said
letter, still more asronished. What is
This Captain Grigg is sent to Rich
mond not as common spy, but to
organize great plot, on which the
workers of iniquity now base their
hopes since they were laid low at Chan
cellorsville. What that plot is ! have
yet to learn, but he is to be backed
by all the resources of the Yankee
Government"
"A plot" vaguely murmured letter.
''Grigg is to be met by a Richmond
accomplice tonight at 10 O'Clock, at the
Cold Harbor Tavern"
That Richmond son of a snake!-do
you know who he is?"
Just So Bledsoe replied in his driest
manner 1T is the wealthy Jewish
city
letter broke out profanely. and as
crlbed to SLIDER a canine origin; but
hand checked him.
BE silent, your! said Bledsoe. THE
face of the Lord is against them that
do evil" And. as the abashed lieuten-
ant became silent, he continued: These
two. Grigg and SLIDER, are to identify
one another by sign and passwords.
From scrap of paper picked from
stanton s waste basket and sent to me,
ing SLIDER, is to ask if he lost a ring
That's why you wanted to know
Just so. And, by the same token,
1 expect to Identify Grigg."
And I'm to surround the house with
my men after dark. bottle the whole
darn houseful, and catch two spies.
papers and all! Ha, ha!' letters
broad face lost its stoliidity, and, flush
ing with excitement, he stamped his
dusty boots till the spurs jingled.
Nothing Of the Sort" c0ldly replied
Bledsoe. Nothing of the sort. Would
you give tnem time 10 Destroy thelr
papers and content yourself with a
couple of insignificant spies that would
soon be replaced? A job for Winder
and his Baltimore thugs, not for me-"
But what, then2" grumbled the lieu
tenant
las for SLIDER, 1 could have sent him
to the firing squad year ago. But II
] lop off one head a dozen more spring
up. The plot would still live"
Il don't see what you're up to-
letter grOwled.
1T is the plot would arrive at to-
night This conference in yonder little
tavern, could l overhear it, would tell
me all. 1t is the core of this danger
] would have-I must have-I mustr'
AS fire, long smoothered, breaking its
barrier at last, leaps up suddenly in q
high flame, there blazed across the taci-
turn mans dark features wild, fash
ing look that revealed the fierce pas
sion and energy at work under his i'm
passive exterior. He seemed all at once
quite beside himself. I'm pluck the
heart out of this mystery" he cried
in a checked voice, shifting his great
hands together II have long sought
the Lord in this matter, and with His
aid ri learn tonight the secret peril
that threatens the cause Of freedom!
Fools! Do they not see the face of the
Lord against them! Destruction will
come upon them unawares. The pit
that they have digged, into it they
themselves will fall!'
"Ah," murmured letter, dumfounded,
then you won't have me take emf"
'Yes-but not till l shall have learned
look you, letter" and Bledsoe fixed
his deep, stern eyes on the lieutenant's
face, Il have placed my brains against
their brains. They will delve low, but 1
will countermine below them. They
have sought to bring down the last
bulwark OF freedom, but Ives, even
alone-an humble instrument in Gods
hands-shall find strength to prop-it-
upI'
Astride in the dusty road, he stiff
ened his lean frame as he spoke,
and, raising upward his grotesque
arms, seemed to the man of lower
intellect to grow to a gigantic height. |
He did indeed appear to be holding up
some vast Invisible weight; and his
harsh features, redeemed from sheer
Tgiiness only bv the powerful mond
within, were transformed in the sunset
and strangely slorifed.
1t was only for a moment, however,
that Bledsoe's exaltation lasted. The |
other was still gazing at him in open |
mouthed wonder when re abruptly re-
Sumed his cold and impressive manner.
Post YOUR rien as l told you," said {
he curtly. After dark, on my signal, !
meet me in the yard"
what signal. sir?"
I'll stard az the edge\of the porch |
and spread nv handkerchief thus be-
tween nv hands"
Swinging into the saddle. letter waited |
a moment for further orders. BledsCe |
scanned the fields around, his palm
shading his eyes.
"Is that all. sir?' letter finally asked.
@ new Difference in his voice.
Just so"
The lieutenant clattered down the |
road toward Parsley's mill. Jealous to
perform his duty. But after riding 20L |
wards or 50, he twisted about in his
saddle and stared behind him.
The dust drifted away; and there was
astraddle of the bonv mare. just pass
ing over low sand hill. His immense
shadow darkened the narrow track be
hind him. for he rode straight into the
flaming sunset. Gradually he sank out
of sight bthinG the hill. till only the
broad-brimmed hat was visible, and the
head, set rigidIv to the front.
"Gawdr" muttered letter, striking
spurs to his horse. Who'd ever have
thought 1t of that pious old iceberg!
CHAPTER II.
H.I5