The Washington times., 1911-06-06
CHAPTER VIII (Continued).
The Prisoner in the Armory.

tremor from her interview
She walked rapidly uptown, so unmind
Sul of the neat that she forgot to rails
her parasol.
On the walls and fences she passed
posters had recently been pasted up
Qne, joint proclamation by Presi
pent Davis and Governor Letcher, called
fhe citizens to arms. Another. by thu
mayor, warned them to avoid the fate
OF New Orleans, for the enemy was ad
rancing upon the city. The third, al
Independent effusion by one E. B. Rob
tnson, summoned all natives Of Mary
land and the District of Columbia tc
rally around him and he would lead
them against the enemy "and redeem
them from the imputation of skulktnG
and disloyalty cast upon poor refugees
by the Shylocks of Richmond"
Fresh as the proclamations were Della
passed them almost without attention
Her mind upon her brothers trouble
she was busily planning how to find
Potts.
The man was probably somewhere in
Richmond. But the war and the trans
fer Of the Confederate government
thither had suddenly swollen the quiet
town into a huge disorderly mart OF
trade, speculation. and government sy-
cophancy, a mass of dives and board
ing houses, and Winder's crude police
SS stem was as nutOriousiy defective IS
tyrannical In that fluctuating swarm
OF life, so obscure a character as a
crippled private soldier would be like
the proverbial needle.
But as the girl neared Main street
ehs grew aware of an unwonted stir.
The sidewalks were more thronged than
usual; everybody was trying to talk.
She began to wonder II the raid, which
had drawn out the local troops. had
proved formidable, and II the city was
in serious danger. Newsboys came run
ming from the newspaper Offices shrill-
ing some unintelligible cry at the top
OF their voices, and people poured from
shops and dwellings and gambling hells
and snatched eagerly for the dingy little
a group of men on the corner Of the
street. Hats went up. What were they
shouting? She strained her ears to
catch the words, and walked on more
rapidly.
A newsboy came running out of a
saloon in full cry, waving his papers.
Lees whole army in Pennsylva-
anya! Harrisburg captured!
At the glorious news a shudder Of
-exultation shook the girl. Having no
money with her to buy a newspaper, she
hoped at least to be the first to carry
the glad tidings to her Uncle Philip,
and quickened her pace. Jubilant men
and women were out on the sidewalks
shaking hands, so that sometimes she
was pushed and jostled.
AS she was about to Cross Main
street, where the sidewalks were most
crowded and uproarious. there came
against her a sudden rush of men and
boys that swept her back. Evidently
the street was being cleared for some
procession. Upon the ear fell the sui
len rub-a-dub-dub of a solitary drum.
confusion reigned, and Della could only
guess what was coming. for she was not
tall enough to see over the heads of
those around her.
More Yankee prisoners from Win
chester" a man shouted. running up
the street bareheaded and perspiring,
his coat on his arm.
Everybody crowded to the curb to
watch the prisoners pass. Della found
herself wedged In among a couple of
old women with baskets and three or
four children, and happened to get a
tolerable view of the street
Louder and louder sounded the dull
tapping of the drum. Then, rounding
the corner, coming down from Broad
street appeared mounted ofhcer,
boy drummer, and a platoon of local
troops.
Behind them trudged a dense column
OF prisoners from Winchester. Mlroy's
men. There must have been a thous-
and Of them, solid stream Of Federal
blue that made staring contrast to the
grays and blacks and browns of the
crowd. Disheveled. begrimed from their
long ride in box-cars, some limping,
some bandaged about the head, some
with an arm in sling, some pale, some
flushed, some holding their heads high,
DN ln6 QlSIIldl prospect D6-
fore them. some dropping from wean-
ness and detection, some defantly
jaunty, others sullen, they tramped
steadily down toward the river, four
abreast. hanked on each side by guards
at long intervals. Some shouting and
cheering was indulged in by onlookers,
and much comment, good-natured for
the most part. Hoodlums and vulgar
women. Of whom there were not a few
n evidence, flung jeers and curses: but
these were always promptly repaid IN
kind from the ranks.
Can you direct me to the Hotel Belle
Isle?" called out a loud voice from
among the prisoners
shut up" grunted the nearest guard.
Keep right on. Yanki' several spec
tators shouted back. You can't miss
1t! Boards cheap there"
But the great majority Of the people
maintained silence. Not all their races
wore scowls Of hate. No vindicuveness
and petty malice and taunts Were con-
fined to the noncombatants. II was
noticeable how the Confederate sold1ers
from military hospitals. Of whom there
were many sprinkled through the croWo'
had even a word now and then Of rough
comradship for the captives. Bravery
is never spiteful.
At the corner Of Fourteenth street.
where the column. wheeling southward
toward Mayo's Bridge and Belle Isle,
came closest TO the sidewalk, crippled
confederate SOlQleT was ledhlllS Oh hiS
crutch among the foremost spectators.
He was so near the prisoners that ne
might have reached out his hand ana
those upon that flank:
This man, II was observed, had
look Of grave and rather cynical regard
and scrutinized the stream Of faces be-
fore him steadily. He was young. fairly
tall and with the bronzed and harden |
ed expression Of a veteran. His tattered
butternut clothes mutely evidenced long
service. The guards on that flank, as
they successfully neared the crossing
cautioned him to step back, and some |
times thrust him away. But either be-
cause of the pushing Of the spectators
behind him or because Of his own IN
terest in the sight. he invariably re-
sumed his advanced position.
He was asssiled from the column by
various rough badinage.
'"'Tonkin' for the man that done IT, |
Johnny" Johnny. here's your chance
to 90 for a substituotn Halloo, pard, |
Won't YOU join us?'' You're II, Johnny,
we tagged you frst!
Sonetfnes he merely grinned at tner
remarks, sometimes retorted; but never
once did his keen blue eyes waver from
their faces.