The Washington times., 1911-06-23

You are wrong" said Grigg,
earnestly. "I mediate no act
against you tonight. My only pur-
pose here is to save gallant
boy who otherwise would lose his
life tomorrow for what he is not
guilty Of" He took out his watch and
glanced at It as he spoke. You see l
have placed in your hands the original
carbon, which is indisputabIe proof of
what I told you. Now l have only to
withdraw" He retired quietly toward
the door as though there was nothing
further to be said.
DO you expect me, sir. cried Jeffer-
son Davis, leaping to the corner and
snatching up the sword-cane. do you
expect me to permit so dangerous an
enemy to enter and leave my house with
impunity? There's breath in my lungs
TO sound an alarm
You will sound no alarm" .Grigg re-
Piled. turning around upon him.
The President. whose delicate, nervous
system had been wrought up to furious
excitement by the interview, jerked the
sword from the cane.
"Ah! You think to silence me first!
Come on! q! do not fear you, desperate
as you are"
Yes, can silence you"
Come on! Try it,
II shall silence you by your promise"
My promise? 1t was on condition
you had done naught against the Con-
1ederacy."
mo. 1t was on condition I had served
only my country in that affair. Know,
then, that although born and reared in
the mountains of east Tennessee, 1 was
a citizen of Michigan for five years be-
fore the war
You obtained that promise by decep-
tion-by q bubble
bubble or not. my words were the
literal truth. But even without the
promise. you would not detain me-"
Because know your character we'll.
You would scorn to be less generous
than q foe"
The sword,point fell. Almost child
ishly sensitive to praise or blame, JEFF
ferson Davis flushed with qualification
at such a compliment He hesitated,
biting his lip. Finally he made an i'm
peTious gesture of dismissal
''Well-so be it! 1 shall not be the one
to arrest you for this act. Co.
And just at this moment Della Coombs
burst open the door. a mad apparition,
her eyes blazing with rage and terror,
and rushed straight upon Grigg.
You treacherous monster cried the
poor, dCluded girl. Die now! Die!
She thrust his own revolver against
his breast and tugged futilely at the
trigger, which he had set at the safety
notch. and he stood there, staring at
her wild face.
What does II mean" he muttered.
Have you played fair?'
Before ne could recover from his con-
fusion and while the girl still tugged at
the trigger, there poured into the room
a tide Of men in gray with cleaning
guns and bayonets, and at their head,
clad yet in the blue uniform he had
worn at the Libby, STROBE Colonel Bled-
soc, tall dark, and exultant.
Caught at last" said Colonel Bled-
soc
Sold" murmured Grigg as one IN
dream, staring at the girl.
Blessed be the Lord Of our Saliva
tion!" Bledsoe exclaimed on perceiving
that the President was unharned. He
turned 10 the soldiers behind him and
pointed to Grlgg. Take tnat man,
alive If you can, dead if need be-"
Considering what was taking place, an
extraordinary quiet reigned in the room
all this while. The soldiers with Bled-
soc, in order the better to surprise
Grigg. had removed their shoes before
entering the house; their footballs made
little more than a rumbling patter on
however, there was rapid clicking as
they brought their pieces to the full
cock and pressed forward.
More and more men kept crowding up
the stairs and into the room They
GRIT the solitary man about as in days
OF old spearsmen encircled wild boar.
Ere they could lay hands upon him,
Grigg had backed away from them and
dragged the heavy table across the cor |
ner of the room as a sort of barricade. |
But although his movements were quick |
they were mechanical; he seemed stupi- |
fed by dismay, and kept thrusting his
hand useIessly into the empty pocket I
where his revolver had been.
Surrender called Bledsoe, "or 1
shall give the word to fire.
Grigg only replied by fierce look and
ground his teeth.
"Overpower him." harshly command |
ed Rledsoe. He has no weapons"
The soldiers moved forward, their
guns striking sharply against each
other in the crowded space; some men
sced Grigg's face and breast with their
ieveied bayonets, while others began 10
drag the table away.
But Jefferson Davis voice checked
them.
Haiti said he. Stand back there"
Take care, Mr.. President" cried
Colonel Bledsoe, over whose gaunt fea-
lures passed a spasm of alarm at the
interruption. while that man lives,
your own life is threatened.
THE more need to be careful lest 1
consult my own safety at the expense
of my honor. Wait. Let me think.
do you know who that man is? 1t
is Captain Grigg."
But l have made him promise. Let
me think. He came here tonight to es-
Ger condemned TO death. It was a mag
unanimous act, and l gave my word"
What was your promise?'
Not to arrest him for what he told
me-"
You do not arrest him." Numbered
Bledsoe II know naught of his revela-
lions to you. God gave this man into
nv hands tonight in direct response to,l
PRAYER and as a browning mercy to
distracted nation"
True my promise hardly extended
so far" continued Jefferson Davis, |
cIasping and inclasping his hands in
painful reflection. 1T was not who
summoned you to arrest him, nor have
HIS disclosures brought you against
him. Yet it would be the part OF mag
nanimity-"
take care" cried Bledsoe again.
you would be nobly generous at your
countrys expense! Remember your
oath Of office. Do you know what this
mans power Us tonight"
We'll. l know he is the head Of a
dangerous conspiracy" irritably replied
the President.
THE commander of an army Of eight
cen thousand veteran troops who wait
for him inside this town"
Good Heavens! But you mean the