The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-05-28
CHAPTER II Continued.

ly, Il wish Mrs Burnet MAJ
thought of that now instea'
of pesterin' her poor oil
husband to charge on them-all with
bread knife. despise EN-, you unde'
stand, Miss Coombs. ! don't rightly be
Ieve there's a one of EN- that amt
coward at heart when he reflects wha
he's provokin' no encounter with regt
ment of EN-, like Mrs. Burnet expected
me TO do, when they took the punch
bowl. Compose yourself, ma am, anc
make yourself comfa able while cal
her in
Outside, meantime, the setting sur
streamed over the pines, filnglng Iona
purple shadows eastward. Some ones
invitation had drawn nearly everybody
10 the barroom, whence through the
open window sounded the murmur OF
voices.
The Jew alone remained on the porch
He sauntered UP and down, careIeSsly
rolling between thumb and forehngeI
the heavy gold chain that gnnted on uis
ample stomach. Very snug, very pros
porous, very complacent, appeared
AaroI Silkel, and as he passed the bar
room W-nCuW he hummed a little tune
between his teeth to show himself care
frte. EuI ever and anon there snot
from bclijrG his SpeCtacleS a quick, COW
ro&ds.
On all the paths focusing at Old Cold
Harbor, there were visible in the mellow
glow of sunset only two travellers.
These two were approaching the tavern
from opposite directions One was
Colonel Bledsoe, quietly and method
tcGlly returning on his piebald mare.
The other came eastward from the di-
rection of Gaines Mills. He was a
youthful Confederate officer, trinity
dressed, riding beautiful black horse
whose sleek coat shone like satin.
Within few moments of each other
the two horsemen reached the inn and
dismounted under the catalpa tree in
front. The young officer flung himself
off first and began giving specific in
structiOns to the stable hand about the
care of his horse. Strapped behind the
saddle was bullying carpctbag about
which tie officer seemed very SolicitouS.
for he rejected a negro help, unStrap-
ped it himself, and carried it to the
porch. Colonel Bledsoe was dismount-
Ing in the meantime, and performed
that operation in a very leisurely man
ner
Arriving at the porch. the young Of
flcer took a steady look at the Jew.
Il shouldn't be surprised, sir" coolly
said he, IF you're name should happen
to be Standardization SLIDER, l be-
neve it was was told I'd find here"
Silber's ford face went white and
staring like big round dish
Did you lose a ring this morning."
The officer put the question in a dis
tinct voice at the very moment Colonel
Bledsoe stepped on the porch and
his inquirer bv the sleeve.
Yes, yes" Stammered he. Il have in
deed lost my ring. But hush! Let US
enter the barroom. The supper bell has
Just rung and everybody has gone to
supper. We will be alone
why should we, sir?' demurred the
officer Il merely asked If you'd lost
a ring because ] was commissioner by
the finder, up the road TO return 1t to
you. I'm hungry myself. Is this your
ring?"
He held out a ring to the Jew. who
took it with shaking fingers and glanced
apprehensively, at Bledsoe. In the door
way Colonel Bledsoe had paused on
pretense of fixing his boot-strap, but
noticing the Jews alarm, he passed on
into the house.
Enough had been seen and overheard,
however. to confirm Bledsoe,s sus-
picions. That black horse which the
young officer rode was the same horse
observed through the telescope going
westward on a secluded woods path.
When the traveller makes a wide detour
to approach a stopping place, the pre-
sumption is clear that he means to de-
ceive. And the few words In regard
to the ring left no room for doubt that
the officer was Captain Grlgg, secret
emissary from the North.
Nearly everyone was already seated
in the dining room or making speedy
progress thither But Colonel Bledsoe,
as IL so wash his hands, passed down
the hall, out at the rear door, and
around the side of the house.
To avoid notice he walked leisureiy,
and when he firmly arrived under the
barroom window he was disappointed
arate. The Jew had gone in to sup
per; the officer was visible in the bar
room signing the register and discussing
arrangements for the night
Bledsoe retracted his steps, entered
the house again at the rear, and found
the landlord in the barroom.
what became Of that last arrival?'
he asked. -,,s
Burnet, closing the register. That gen.
tleman, sub, has just toted his baggage
into his room and gone to- supper,
where you'd better hasten, too, cohnel,
If YOU want to eat"
What name did he give?"
Lieutenant Claude Freneau, of the
Confed' ate engineers. He's high
toned and conservative gentleman.
sub"
YOU have met him before?"
Unfortunately. no. This is the first
occasion Lieutenant Freneau has hon.
ored my roof"
"Just so: Where have you put him for
the night"
He don't stop all night. Cohnel He
wants his mount ready hitched out in
front by 10 o'clock, which I reckon is a
funny arrangement, but it amt none of
my business
HE took no room, them"
'Well, yes. Cohnel, he wanted room
said he'd lie down after supper till he
had to ride on. So I put him in that
third room down the hall there"
"Why not up-stairs?'
because the gentleman pointedly re-
ouested a downstairs room. sub"
In spite of his whole-souled disposi-
ton, Burnet began to look annoyed at
the tall guests persistent questioning.
"Who else will sleep down-stairs?''
"why, Mr. SLIDER occupies that first
apartment, a favorite of his whenever
ne stops with me. You know he's often
down our way lookin' after mortgages
and buyin' tobacco, and such"
1.-The room between?'
''Rev'end Mr.. Harris. of King and
Queen county, occupies that. sub.
heightened and conservative gentle
man"
"Just So" said Colonel Bledsoe quietG