Middletown transcript., 1911-11-18

found. He stated to me later that his
despatch was verbal"
Had it been deliYered?"
II so understood him"
well, how did he account to you
for being where he was found?"
Brennan hesttated, and glanced un-
easily toward me. Like flash the
thought came that the man was striv.
ing to keep her name entirely out Of
sight; he did not wish her presence
mentioned.
There was no explanation at.
tempted" he said finally. "He seemed
simply to be hiding there.
"Alone?"
Again / caught his eyes, and It al
most seemed that l read entreaty In
them.
Excepting the wife of the noun.
taineer," he answered hoarsely.
rs this true?" asked Sheridan, his
stern face fronting me.
made my decision instantly. There
might be some reason, possibly her
own request, whereby her being alone
with me that night should remain un.
told. Very well, it would never be
borne to other ears through any fail
ure OF my lips to guard the secret,
She had voluntarily pledged herself to
90 to Sheridan in my defense; until
she did SO, her secret, If secret in
deed it was, should remain safe with
me. / could do no less in honor.
'Tt is not altogether true 1 said
firmly, "and no one knows this better
than Major Brennan. was there, aa
/ told him, wholly because Of an ac'
cident upon the road, but as to its par.
ticulars l must most respectfully de-
cline to answer"
you realize what such a refusal
may mean to your"
Il understand fully the construction
which may unjustly be placed upon
1t by those who desire to condemn
me, but at present car make no more
definite reply. ] have reason to be.
lieVe the full facts will be presented
10 you by one in whose word you will
have confidence"
Sheridan Strengthened in his chair,
and looked across the table at me
almost angrily.
Very well, sir" he said graVely.
"Your fate is in your own hands,
and will depend very largely upon
your replies to my questions. You
claim to have been the bearer Of
dispatches, and hence no spy, yet you
possess nothing to substantiate your
claim. As your regiment is with Lee.
I presume you were seeking Long
street. Were your dispatches deliV
ered?"
Il have reason to belive So"
by yourself?"
by the sergeant who accompanied
me, and who continued the journey
after / was detained"
'Is Lee contemplating an immediate
movement"
General Sheridan" I exclaimed in
dignantly, "you must surely forget
that I am an officer of the Confeder
ate Army. You certainly have no
reason to expect that I will SO far
disregard my obvious duty as to an
swsr such question"
Your refusal to explain why you
were hiding within our lines Is ample
reason for my insistencA" he said
tartiy, "and l am not accustomed to
treating spies with any great consid-
Grafton, even when they claim Rebel
commissions. You are not the first
to seek escape in that way. Was
your despatch the cause Of the hurried
departure Of Longstreet's troops east
ward?"
This last question was hurled di-
rectly at me, and / noticed that every
eye in the room was eagerly scanning
my face. ! had the quick, fiery tenn
per Of boy then, and my cheeks
flushed.
7 positively decline to answer one
word relative to the dispatches in
trusted to me-" I said deliberately,
and my voice shook with sudden rush
OF anger. "And no officer who did
not dishonor the uniform he wore
would insult me with the question"
A bombshell exploding in the room
could not have astonished them as did
my answer. realized to the full
the probable result, but my spirit was
high, and ! felt the utter uselessness
Of prolonging the interview. Sooner
or later the same end must come.
sheridan's face naturally flushed, In
stantly grew crimson, and a dangerous
light famed into his fierce eyes. For
. moment he seemed unable to speak;
then he thundered forth;
You young fooll I can ten you
that You viii speak before another
twenty-four hours, or III hang you
for q spy II It cost me my command.
Major Brennan, take this young popin-
iay 70 the Mansion House under
guard
Brennan stepped torwaEd. smiling