The Washington times., 1911-06-22
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Lion Trapped at Last.

had in view. Cap in hand
showing some little embarrassment
as a private soldier naturally would
at meeting the chief
Of all the armies of the Confederacy,
he advanced slowly from the door
He found the President, looking un-
usually haggard and weary, seated in
an armchair between the table, on
which many books, pamphlets. and
papers were piled, and the CRATE,
where pleasant woodfire cracked.
Jefferson Davis was absently bend.
ing between his long, thin fingers the
card that announced Della Coombs
name and message. AS his blind side
happened to be toward the door, he
had reached the middle of the room
Then, however, he arose and bowed
with careful courtesy.
You, come" he remarked, and
glanced down at the card In his hand
upon singular. errand. 1 understand
sir, you have at this late day some new
evidence to offer on behalf of Capt
Floyd Coombs, who has ben sentenced
strength of our forces to the enemy
prior to the battle of Charlottesville.
Is that trueT'
Yes, SIR
And you believe it will materially
1T should save his life and restore
him to his rank"
Permit me to warn you. you will
find it no slight task to alter my con-
the most painstaldng attention" He
touched a bundle Of papers on the
table. Tonight I have perused again
all the evidence and proceedings of the
court t-martial, for it is terrible thing
life, and especially one so bright and
promising as this young mans. But
| the evidence seems absolutely conclu-
siye. The original list was Of such
brief existence, 1t was so entirely in
the charge of Captain Coombs while It
existed, that none but he could have
made the copy"
He did make a copy-not the one
| captured, Of course, at Ely's Ford, but
one which reached the Yankees"
Yet you declare him innocentr'
JEFFERSON Davis, whose dignifed
| countenance took on an expression OF
incredunty, elevated his eyebrows.
1T is reported in the Northern news
papers," said he in a grimly jesting
tone, that Mr.. Lincoln and family
spirituaiism and slate-writIng. but
we've not much faith In such phe-
nomena here"
There will be no such explanation,
Mr.. President"
| please proceed, then"
Sinking back into the armchair. Davis
indicated by a gesture that he wished
his visitor to be seated, but Grigg close
to remain standing. Your name, please
Before s1 0SeG answering 40 tHat. kat 0si siP' said
Grigg. "rd like to have your promise
that what I'm about to say will be con-
sidered confidential"
Frowning. Jefferson Davis was
| thoughtfully silent a moment; then,
with a sudden upward glance at tie
bold, keen face OF him who made the
request, he replied:
"One in my high office Is only the
the best interests of the commonwealth.
Your testimony may contain something
which 1t would be my duty as Chief
Executive to make known and act
what I'm about to tell you, sir. will
put me in a position where powerful
enemies will want to do me harm"
You do not look like a man who
feared enemies"
Perhaps not. I'm not looking,
though, for any crowns of martyrdom:?
You mean your statments may put
you in any danger Of deathr'
Exactly that But when Miss
her brother was not guilty, I felt I
must not consider the danger"
AS usual, Grigg had analyzed ac-
at"ly The character and impulses Of
the person with whom he dealt. The
sympathies were SO excitable that even
in the reading Of novel he had been
known to leap to his feet to ,tnveigh
aloud against the fictitious villain. JEFF
The only course for a gentleman to
pursuer' he warmly exclaimed.
But my telling the truth about that
CAPTURED list is bound to stir up pow
a mile away from yourself right now,
sir. who will want to put me out Of
the way"
off1cial?'' unused the President, biting
his thumb and frowning fxedly at the
speaker, whose manner was frank and
prepossessing.
You'll soon see I don't exaggerate
statement"
'If I were assured that you yourself
had been guilty of no reasonable act"
You Will find, sir. that I have dore
nothing but my duty as a soldier who
is serving his country"
Then, on those terms" quickly de-
clared Jefferson Davis, 'I promise you
immunity for any statement you make
to me. I shall see to 1t that you are
not molested by any enemies whom
your words here may stir UP against
you
'"Thanks." Grigg could not forbear
smiling a little at the pledge. 'I may
have to remind you Of your promise
You Will find I do not forget my
promises. Proceed"
Thereupon, without further prelude,
GriRg began his statement. all the while
closely observing the change of ex-
preston upon the Presidents face.
"In April of last year General Lees
headquarters, you will remember, were
at a point on the road between Fred
ericksburg and Hamilton's Crossing.
Notwithstanding there was q good
house vacant nearby, he lived in hts
tents. They consisted Of three or four
wall-tents and several smaller ones,
and were pitched at the edge of an old
pine near a grove of trees Personally
he was waited on by his own colored
servants, but his adiutant's tent, in
which the list which has caused all
this trouble was prepared, was a sort
! Of general office for all the stan, and
was somewhat indiscriminateIy attend
ed to and kept in order by ali the ser
wants Of the staff. About o'clock on
the seventh OF the month General Lee
came in from riding along his lines, and
as none of the staff happened to be
| present except Captain Coombs, Gen.
era Lee directed the young man to SIT
down at the-Aeld-desk to write out what
he would dictate to him from various