The Washington times., 1911-06-06
CHAPTER TX.
The Wolf At Richmond's Gates.

- ELIAS fervent zeal to clear her
brothers name seemed a flame
uselessly kindled-there was
nothing upon which to expend
its heat. June deepened into dusty
July while the devoted little woman
vainly sought clue to the mystery. 1t
remained as unsolvable as ever.
Time, nevertheless, brought one rather
| heartening syptom. The government S
was gradually relaxed. formal charges
and specifications were filed against
him. and he was permitted TO set about
preparing his defense and to receive
one visitor a week.
On F1oyd's behalf Della wrote to va
rious officers of General Lees stan for
information. But the Army OF Northern
Virginia was then upon its great for
ward movement into Pennsylvania. All
was confusion on the roads. Forays and
incursions and the cutting of telegraph
wires took place constantly.
The Federal forces from down the
peninsula sometimes raided even TO the
outer defenses of Richmond, and II was
an inauspiciOus time for the dispatch
of letters. Several of Delia's inquiries
never reached their destination, while
others. hastily answered at bivouac by
fatigued men who were under the stress
of great impending events, threw no
light on the subject. She was forced at
ldSl 10 await lTe Oh ITe Su-
preme campaign.
AS for the cripple, Potts he seemed to
have vanished into the swarming Rich
mond populace like a pebble thrown in
TO water. He had said, Della remember
ed. that he could not read; but she
hoped his attention might in some way
be attracted to an advertisement, and
inserted one in all the city newspapers
announcing that: IF James Potts, a
native of East Tennessee, disabled
soldier from the troup artillery, who
was wounded at Charlottesville, would
please call at her residence on Clay
street. he would learn something to his
advantage" For two weeks she kept
this notice running daily, in spite of the
ruinous rates charged.
1t was a revelation to her when she
saw how many persons resided in Rich
mond who answered to the name of
Potts and claimed Tennessee as their
native State; and IT was remarkable
what vilainous countenances most of
them had. By ones, twos. and threes
they called. They hung about Philip
Vaughan's doorXard and spat tobacco
juice upon his doorstep.
They were prepared to swear to any
thing in order to learn something to
their advantage; and on ascertaininS
that they could not possibly be the Potts
who was wanted. they Cheerily asked
the loan of a few dollars, or at least
a square meal, in requital OF their
trouble. Binah took a broom to one
Potts whom she discovered removing
Mr. Vaughan's shirts from the wash
line, and chased him half a block down
Clay street. The old nanny and young
Betsy both firmly maintained that the
china tureen disappeared, frem the pan
try under the coat Of a bewhiskered
POTTS whose broken dialect suggested
birthplace in Germany rather than
Tennessee.
Most Of these men were able
bodied, and probably all of
them were impostors for the
city was full of thugs and thieves. and
robberies were occurring every night:
One, at least of those who answered
the advertisement, as Della afterward
learned, was a detective sent by Winder.
But the man she so anXiousy sought
did not appear; and finally, because II
was too heavy a drain on her depleted
purse in those starvation times, she
the notice.
Nothing remained. then, but to pray
that something might occur to throw
Potts across her path again. She prayed
for it earnestly every night.
The mule, pony, and antiquated car
riaee which had brought Della and her
two sable attendants to Richmond had
been sold shortly after their arrival. II
would have been a needless expense 10
keen them. and money was too scarce:
Lyrnus had been appointed a sort OF
gardener and general factotum out of
doors at Philip Vaughan's establish
ment.
Continuation of This Story VIII Be
Found in TomorrOw's Issue