Middletown transcript., 1911-12-02

asStthA4SsH
I Saw No Other signs Of Human De-
ouPancy.
dered since how l ever succeeded In
squeezing my body through that mar.
row opening into the empty fireplace
without at least knocking over some.
thing during the dIMcult passage. But
I did manage, working my way down
slowly, creeping ineh by inch like .
snake, carefully testing each object ]
touched in the darkness for fear Of its
proving loose, until / finally lay
stretched at full length upon what
was evidently, from its feeling, q
carpet Of unusually fine texture.
The room proved to be an inner one
and unlighted, a bsdchamber, as ]
soon determined, for my outstretched
h&ads encountered the posts Of bed
Thea q slisht gust Of air partially
swept aside . hanging curtain, which
rystlSd like silk, and caught a briei
9Hmpse Of tie adjacent parfor It was
likewise uniiluainsd, but the door
leading into the front hall stood ajar,
ana through that opening there
pqprsd q stream St EaAiaAee, together
Wgta tho inceBsapt huM Of S1any voices
"a anipsted co1vsFsAtieG, the deer
blage Of the band, With the ceaselesi
ndeEemsat Of dancing feet.
Satisfying myself b sense Of touch
that the bed was unoccupied, for
was far too experienced a soldier to
leave an enemy in my rear, l crept
cautiously forward to the intercepting
curtain, and drawing 1t aside took
careful survey of the outer apartment.
It was large and handsomely fur
nished room, a polished mahogany
writing-table Uttered with papers oc-
cupying prominent position against
the farther wall. A swivel chair
stood beside it, and across its back
hung what appeared to be suit Of
clothing. l saw no other signs Of hui
man occupancy.
Convinced that &he apartment was
deserted, and discovering no different
means of egress, crossed the room on
tiptoe, and peered cautiously out into
the hall. It was not a pleasing pros
pect to one in my predicament. The
lower portion, judging from the in
eessant hum Of voices, was filled with
people, who were either unable to
find place within the crowded ball
room, or else preferred greater retire
ment for conversation. Even the wide
stairway had been partially pre-
empted, a young lieutenant, as ]
judged from his shoulder-straps, sit
ting just beneath the landing, ~his-
pered eagerly into the attentive ear
of pronounced blonde who shared
the broad carpeted step with him.
drew back noiselessly, to figure
out the situation and determine what
was best for me to attempt. II would
be sheer madness to venture upon Q
passage to the front door, clad as I
was in travel-worn gray uniform; to
rush through that jam was impossible.
II ! were to wait until the dance was
concluded the later hours Of the night
might indeed yield me somewhat
clearer passage, yet it was hardly
probable that the house, used as /
knew 1t to be for military prison,
would be left unguarded. Besides,
such delay must absolutely prevent
my getting beyond the Federal picket
lines before daybreak, and would
hence render valueless the news !
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 un-
Questionable evidence Of recent occu-
Ipancy, 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 q colonel Of artillery, and
we're resplendent with bright red fac
ings and a profusion of gold braid.
With all my soul loathed the thought
OF disguise, and especially the hated
uniform Of the enemy. It was re-
pugnant to every instinSt OF my being,
and would certainly mean added
degradation and danger in the event
Of capture.
Yet saw no other way. Sheridan.
Brennan, Cation, the three who would
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 If / should chancS
20 run foul Of the rightful owner Of
the garments amid that crush below.
and be should recognize them. what
then3 stood close beside the writ.
iRg4abIe as / revoIved these censid,
erations rapidly IA mind, and my eye
chanced to faH abon an open paper,
Tt was an official order, bearing date