Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-28

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-".--,;.c |
"come Johnny" He Said TerseIy,
"ost Up-You're Waated."
ing aside again., was this officer
searched by your party?"
"He was. sir. but no papers were
found. He stated to me later that his
despatch was verbal"
Had It been delivered?'
Il SO understood him."
"Well, how did he account to you
for being where he was found?"
Brennan hesitated, and glanced un-
easily toward me. Like . flash tho
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 I caught his eyes, and it al
most seemed that read entreaty In
them.
Excepting the wife Of the noun
taineer," Ne answered hoarsely.
"Is this true?" asked Sheridan. his
stern face fronting me.
Imade my decision instantly. There
might be aome reason. possibly her
own request, whereby her being alone
with me that night should remain uq-
told. Very well, It would never be
borne to other ears through any fall
ure OF my lips to guard the secret.
She had voluntarily pledged herself to
60 to Sheridan In my defense; until
she did SO, hsf secret II secret in
deed 1t was, should remain safe with
me. could do no less in honor.
at 10 not altogether true" said
| firmly, "and no ono knows this better
than Major Brennan. was there, as
told him, wholly because Of sn &C
cident upon the road, but as to its par
ticulars must most respectfully de-
cline to answer"
"You realize what such refusal
may mean to .yQu?"
Il understand fully the construction
which may unjustly be placed upon
it by those who desire to condemn
me, but at present can make no more
definite reply. have reason to be-
lieve the full facts will be presented
to you by one in whose word you will
| hara confjdoncA"
Sheridan Strengthened in his chair.
| and looked across the table at me
almost ansrily.
every we'll, 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.
presume you were seeking Long
street. We're your dispatches deliv-
| ered?"
81 have reason to belive So"
"By yourself?"
"By the sergeant who accompanied
me, and who continued the Journey
after I was detained"
as Lee contemplating an immediate
movement"
| General Sheridan" exclaimed in.
dignantly, you must surely forget
| that I am an officer Of the Confcder-
! ate Army You certainly have no
reason to expect that will so far
| disregard my obvious duty as to an
swer such 4 question"
''Your refusal TO explain why you
were hiding within our lines is ample
reason for my insistence," he said
tartly, and 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 Ct the hurried
departure Of Longstreet's troops east
ward?"
This last Question was hurled di.
rsctly at me. and noticed that every
eye in the room was eagerly scanning
my face. had the quick, fiery tenn.
per Of . boy then, ana my cheeks
flushed.
Il positively decline 70 answer one
word relative to the dispatches In.
trusted to me-" said deliberately,
and my voice shook With sudden rush
OF anger. And - eef1osr who did
not dishonoP the uniform he wore
would insult No with IN question
A bombshel sxplodinS n the room