The Washington times., 1911-05-26
CHAPTER /.
Setting the Snare.

ward the heel of the afternoon,
an event of great public i'm
portance occurred at Old Cold
Harbor, Va. A tall man of sour mein
came riding at a foot-pace from the
West on wretched piebald mare, dis
mounted in the shade, hitched his mare
TO the palings, and stalked into the
tavern.
OF the half dozen or more bystanders
not more than one suspected that the
tall mans quiet arrival had any connec-
ton with affairs of state. Yet they all
looked at him curiously until he disap.
peared inside.
Old Cold Harbor was a plain little
place of entertainment for man and
beast, at the junction of FIVE dusty
roads, twelve miles east of Richmond.
Travel up and down the peninsula just
then had to be by wagon or horseback,
as Federal raids from Fortress Monroe
had caused the abandonment of the
York River railway, and thus the old
tavern contained a good number of
guests most of whom had stopped only
for supper.
1t was a nondescript company loung-
ing about the porch that sultry after
noon. Shabbiness prevailed everywhere
in the blockaded South, and among the
wayfarers only one was well dressed
portly Jew in broadcloth, with shin
ing silk hat and gold spectacles.
A desultory argument had sprung up
over the. Confederate governments pol
icy of forbidding cotton exports. The
Jew, conspicuous for his enthusiastic
support of the government, talked volu-
bly,, with slight foreign accent, often
removing his gold spectacles to wipe
them on a spotless handkerchief A
threadbare country preacher Joined is
sue with him; their voices grew ami
mated. and others were Ginning in.
Suddenly the tall man stalked out again
from the tavern door, and thereupon the
discussion somehow dwindled and died.
There was a popularity about the tall
man that drew the eye like a candle in
dark place. 1t was not so much his
physique as the iron composure, the
stern and forbidding coldness of his air
He halted at the edge of the porch, cut
large quid from a slab of tobacco,
thrust the quid into his mouth and the
sab into his hip pocket, and. working
his lank jaws, scanned musingly the
white road toward Tunstall's Station.
1t was then about two hours before
sunset, and, as the tall man stood thus
against the broad glare of the sky, ev-
cry line Of his figure became manifest.
He was at least sixty years of age, ex-
tremely spare and angular, and button
ed up in a black frock coat which had
been worn shiny at the elbows. A black
slouch hat drawn down left of his fore
mead only pair of bushy, gray eye
brows visible; his lower features con-
tained many harsh lines, deepening
around the rigid mouth; on his chin was
stiff tuft of gray beard, and as he
chewed the tuft moved in and out like
shaving brush.
de f-
cts. When he lifted them slowly along
the road there was a faint CLEAN in
them like moonlight on an iceberg.
Above, the dark pines a slight haze
gathered, so far off that only the keen
est sight could have detected it. The
tall man snapped shut the blade of his
clasp knife and descended the steps.
"Burnet," said he in a harsh, boom
ing voice that was audible to every
: tend to some Business.
The landlord, a genial old person, had
just then come around the side of the
house in his shirt sleeves, plying a
palm-Ieaf fan.
We'll, cohneL" he responded. do
you allow to tuhminlte your business in
time to favor us all with your company
to supper"
Just So"
lie me see. Evenings you never par
take of anything eXceptin' baked sweet
potatoes and cohn bread and milk
Just So"
Nothing further tonight, suh?'
Nothing"
The tall man united the piebald mare
from the palings, threw his leg over the
saddle, and rode slowly eastward in 4
yellow veil of Illuminated dust. He dis
appeared around the bend.
On the tavern porch, as though. a
weight had been lifted, conversation
was resumed.
What a chilling personality conf
mented the threadbare preacher, whose
voice and mannerisms suggested the pull
pit. When his eye fell on me shiver-
ed gentlemen, l shivered!"
do any of you all know who that
might be?' an old farmer asked.
Probably an office-seeker," replied
the preacher. Il noticed him the other
day in Richmond among the noxious
swarm of parasites that infests Presi-
dent Davis office. l CHANGED to be
arm in arm with the Hon. Mr. Foote.
Just prior to his latest forensic effort
in the house" Flattered by the general
attention this statement evoked, he
truly remarkable flight of elouuence
gentlemen, in denunciation of Winder
brutal martial rule"
The smooth voice Of the Jew halted
the landlord as the latter came up on
the porch.
= "Burnet, somewhere before | have
seen that tall gentleman"
Reckon you have Mr.. Silber," ge-
u,
the inside band OF his straw hat You
probably encountered him on one of the
numerous occasions you honoh my roof
sub. That gentleman was Cohnei BIed.
soc, sub, formerly of Baton Rouge, now
q, of Richmond. My land. amt it hot!
Rain tonight, sure"
=. The gentleman puts up here often.
yes2"
financial relations with Cohnel Slaugh-
ter, up the road a piece, whose exten-
sive prope'ties have unfortunately got
constable embarrassed of late. He rides
out from the city and puts up 'heah be.
fore calling on Cohnel Slaughter"
"So?" elevating his black eyebrows ir
token of polite interest, Silber readjust.
ed the gold speCtaCles. He is not in
the army? Perhaps in one of the bu'
reaus2"
81 can safely respond in the negative
sub. Though Cohnel Bledsoe is tol'abit
resarved, he's given me to understand
he's actively engaged in commercial
pursuits"
- "Ah, he's close-mouthed. then? Well
q buyer should not go to market with
q drum"
ayes, sub Surprisin'. Mr.. Silber, that
p YOU amt ever encountered Cohnel Bled-
soc in your own numerous financial ac-
tivtties."
Very surprising"
"Yes, suh."
But in these speculative times, new
like bubbles in pot. They spring Ut
today-tomorrow-pu The Jew made
an airy gesture of bursting a bubble
his white teeth in n