Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-09-29

Come Johnny" He Said Tersely,
"oet up-You're Wanted"
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"
We'll. how did he account to you
| for being where he was found?'
Brennan hesitated, and glanced UNI
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 1t al
most seemed that read entreaty In
them.
Excepting the wife of the noun
taineer," he answered hoarsely.
rs this true?" asked Sheridan, his
stern face fronting me.
l 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
go to Sheridan in my defense; until
she did SO, her secret, If secret in
deed 1t was, should remain safe with
me. l could do no less in honor.
1T is not altogether true" I said
| firmly, "and no one knows this better
| than Major Brennan. l was there, as
told him, wholly because OF an ac-
| cident upon the road, but as to its par
| ticulars / 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
IL ny lIoSt WuO utbAG W SohQCmA
me, but at present can make no more
definite reply. I have reason to be-
lieve the full facts will be presented
to 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.
l 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"
rs Lee contemplating an immediate
moveme0t?"
General Sheridan" I exclaimed in.
dignantly, you must surely forget
that / am an officer of the Confeder-
ate Army. You certainly have no
reason to expect that ! will so far
disregard my obvious duty as to an
swer such a question"
Your refusal to explain why you
were hiding within our lines is ample
reason for my insistence,' he said
tartly, land | am not accustomed to
treating spies with any great consid-
Grafton, even when they claim Rebel
commissions. You are not the firsi
to seek escape in that way. Was
your despatch the cause of the hurried
departure of Longstreets 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.
Il 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 dishoner the uniform he wore
would insult me with the question"
A bombsheH 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 l felt the utter uselessness
of .--clan..rg tha iRtaryieY. Sooner
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