The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-02-13


in your favor, but II is to be regretted
that Brennan has great influence just
now st headquarters. and Sheridan "a
not man to lightly overlook those
hesty words you spoke to him"
l could only thank him most warm
u for his interest. realizing fully
from his grave manner my desperate
situation. and follow my silent con
ductor down some narrow and steep
Stairs until wa stood upon the cement
ed floor Of the basement Here a
heavy door IN the stone division wsll
was opened; l was pushed forward
into the dense darkness within, and
the lock clicked duly behind me.
SO thick was the wall I could not
even distinguish the reheating steps
OF the jailsr.
Tired rs I was from the intense
strain OF the past thirty-siN hours,
even my enxio1s thoughts were lnsuf-
ficts4 20 keep me awake. Feeling
my way cautiously along the wall. I
cSmo at last to a wide wooden bench,
and stretching my form at full length
upon II, pillowed my head on ono
nrrn, and almost instantly was sound
asleep.
When awoke. sore from my hard
bed and suffened by tho uncom-
/ Portable position in which I lay, It
v<s broad daylight. That the morn-
/ Ing was, indeed. well advanced I
knew from the single ray OF sunlight
which streamed IN through grated
window high up In the wall opposite
mo and fell like a bar OF gold across
3 the rough stone floor. ! was alono.
Even in tho dark OF the previous night
: had discovered the solo prctence to
furniture In the place. The room itself
proved to be a largo ami almost
square apartment, probably during the
ordinary occupancy OF the house re-
ooptacle for wood or garden produce,
but now peculiarly well adapted to
tho safeguarding of prisoners
Fho solid stone walls were of SUI
ficient height to afford no chance OF
reaching the great oak Orders that
supported the floor above, even had
the doing so offered favorable open
ing for escape. There were. apparent
", but three openings of any Kind
the outside window through which
the sunlight sheamed, protected by
thick bars Of iron; o second opening,
quite narrow, and likewise protected
By . heavy metal grating; and the
tightly locked door by means Of which
hGd entered. The second, l con-
GUIDED after inspecting It closely, was
SSTs air passage ls2drS into some
other division Of thes cellar l noted
the5s openings idly, and with scarce
ly thought as to the possibility of
escape. had awakened with strange
Indifference az TO what my fate might
be. Such fesling WAS net natural
to me, but the fierce emotions Of the
preceding night lad seemingly robbed
me OF all my usual buoyGncy OF hope.
u one sense l yet trusted that Mrs.
Brennan would keep her pledge and
tell her story to Sheridan; even If she
failed 70 do this, and left me to face
the rifles or the rope. then It made
but small odds how soon It should be
over. II she cared for me IN the
slightest degree che would not let me
die unjustly. and to my mind then
she had become the centre OF all life
Dependency Is largely a matter of
physical condition, and I was still
sufficiently tagged to be in the depths.
when the door opened suddenly, and
an ordinary army ration was placed
withis The soldier who brought =
did not speak, nor did / attempt To
address him; but after he retired the
appetizing smell of the bacon, together
With the unmistakable flavor Of real
coffee. drew NE irresistibly that way.
and | made a hearty meal The food
put new life into me, and I fell to
pacing back and forth between the
corners Of tho cell, my mind full OF
questioning, yet with q fresh measure
Of confidence that all would still DO
well.
was yet al IL when, without warn,
ing, the door once again opened. and
Lieutenant Cation entered He ad-
vanced toward me with outstretched
hand, which / grasped warmly, for /
felt how much depended on bis friend
ship, and resolved to ask him some
questions which should solve my last
remaining doubts.
Captain Wayne" he began soberly,
looking about him, you are I'm even
worse stress here than ] supposed.
but l shall see to It that you are
furnished with blankets Sefore leave.
Sheridan Is hasty himself and his
temper often leads him to rash
language. am sure he bears you no
malice for what you said But Bren,
nan has his ear, and has whispered
something to him in confidence.
what, ] have been unable to- ascertain
which has convinced him that you
are deserving Of death under martial
law
Without trial2"
The opportunity of furnishing the
information desired will be again Of
fered you; but, as near as T can learn.
the charge preferred against you is Of
such private nature that it Is deemed
best not to make it matter for camp
talk. Whatever IT may be. Sheridan
evidently feels justified in taking the
case out from the usual channels and
In using most drastic measures. I
am sorry to bring You such news,
especially as I believe tho charges
are largely concocted I'm the brain or
him who makes them, and have but
the thinnest circumstantial evidence
/ TO sustain them Vet ghortdop fg