The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-09-13

dent that | should have to wait until
morning before learning the truth.
Neither Peter nor the Indian seemed
to belong to the class with which the
army was recruited. Peter appeared
like a well-tralned servant, and
hlT ri ding was atrocious. And the lieu
tenant! There came back to me the
hBunting memory that he had joined
Delavan as a v~olunteer-the Dragon
Uniform sufficient proof that he was
neither of the original foraging party
Of Hessians, nor Of Grants detach-
ment of Rangers. Yet these others
wore green and white, and must, there
fore, have been In Grants command.
Flow did the four manage to escape
from our attach, evidently animated
by one purpose? Why was Grant SO
anxious to learn II | had seen the lieu
tenant, and whether we had a party
oat seeking him? Not one Of these
Questions could / answer; not n
ctuld | ever guess at with any degree
d satisfaction.
We were coming out Of the low,
swamp lands into q more thiCkIy set.
ted, and cultivated region. Rail and
s!ond fences could be seen on either
side the road, and we passed swiftly
b. a number Of farmhouses, some sim
pc log structures, although one or two
We're more pretentious.
1t may have been two miles further
| along, when the lieutenant, and his In
dian companion, wheeled suddenly to
the right, and, without %slackening
speed, rode through an open gate, and
up a ]graVeled roadway, circling
through a grove Of trees to the front
door Of a great square mansion, It
vas dark and silent, o wide porch In
front supported by huge pillars, a
broad flight Of steps leading from the
driveway. The Indian ran up these.
leaving the lieutenant holding his
horse, while we drew up some yards to
the rear. | heard the boom of the
iron knocker, followed by a CLEAN Of
light through a lower window. Then
a Negroes voice spoke, and the front
door opened, disclosing two figures.
one with s%Duttering candle in hand
The two exchanged a dozen words be.
fore the lieutenant asked im~patiently:
rs 1t all right Tonepah?"
The tactturn Indian made no at.
tempt at speech. but gave an express
sive gesture, and the young officer
turned in his saddle.
Take the prisoner to the lower
room, Peter" he ordered CURLY. "TIl
decide tomorrow II he can be Of any
use TO u.s."
The two fellows loosened the rome
about my ankles, and Peter waddling
ahead, the graybeard gripping nv
arm, we climbed the steps, and en-.
tered the hall. A tall, slim negro, evi.
IDENTIFY a house-servant from his sleek
appearance, cycling me c%uriopsly
handed the little fellow a second light.
ed candle, and the three Of lis went
tramping along the wide hall, past the
ctrcling stairs, until we came to n
door at the rear. This the black flung
open, without a word, and | was led
down into the basement. The flicker.
ing candle yielded but glimpses of
great rooms, beautifully decorated
and, almost before realized what was
occurring, | had been thrust into n
square apartment, the door behind me
closed and locked. The two guards
left the sputtering candle, perbaps a
third burned, behind, and | heard them
stun bling back through the darkness
to the foot Of the stairs. glanced
ABOUT curiously, shaking the loosened
rope from my wrists, my mind instant.
ly reYerting to the chance Of escane
whoever these fellows might be. what.
ever their purpose, | had no intention
or remaining in their hands a moment
longer thar necessary. Somehow their
silence. their mysterious movements
mad impressed me with a strange feel.
ing OF e a which | could not apalyze
couI d not believe myself a mere nris.
oner of war, but rather as being held
Tor some private purpose yet to be re-.
vealed. Yet the room offered LITTLE
promise. 1t was nearly square he
walls OF stone solldly imbedded In
mortar, the door Of oak, thickly stud.
ded with nails, and the two small win.
dows protected by thick iron bars. II
was a cell so strong that q single
glance about convinced me Of the hope.
lessness of any attempt at breaking
out.
" as not there to exceed ten min
utes when, without warning. the lock
clicked, and Peter came in. / sat III
quick y. but as instantly he had closed
the door, and actually stood there
grinntng cheerfully. | would never
have believed him capable of 80 pleas.
ant an expression but for the evidence
of my w eyes.
Spring lock-" he grumbled, a thumb
over his shoulder, "opens outside"
Whatever resemblance 10 a soldier
he m ght have previously shown while
IN unt lofnl was now entirely banished.
BareAeaded, his bald dome of thought
shining in the candle-light, his round.
solen n face, with big inpocent gray
eyes gazing at me, an apron about his
fat W aist, the fellow presented an al.
most ludicrous appearance. Somehow
my heart warmed to him, especially as
| perceived the tray, heavily laden.
which he bore easily on one arm, and
the towel flung over his shoulder. And
as ! stared at him his movements be-
came professional Silently. solemnly,
his VI lind strictly upon his duties. he
wiped of the table top, ard arranged
the Various dishes thereon With the