The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-12-06
Come Johnny He Said TerseIy,
"Get Up-You're Wanted"

-
Come Johnny" He Said TerseIy,
get 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?"
II so understood him"
well, how did he account to you
for being where he was found?"
Brennan hesitated, and glanced I'M
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.
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 we'll, 1t would never be
borne to other ears through any fall
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. could do no less in honor.
ut is not altogether true" said
firmly, "and no one knows this better
than Major Brennan. was there, as
told him. wholly because Of an 40
cident upon the road, but as to its par
ticulars I must most respectfully do
cline to answer" Il
"You realize what such refusal
may mean to your"
Il understand fully the construction
which may unjustly be placed upon
1t by those who desire to condemn
me. but at present can make no more
definite reply. l 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,
I presume you were seeking Long
street. Were your dispatches deliv-
ered?"
II have reason to belive So"
by yourselfT
by the sergeant who accompanied
me. and who continued the journey
after was detained"
'Is Lee contemplating an immediate
movement"
General Sheridan" 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 first
to seek escape In that way. Was
your despatch the cause Of the hurried
departure Of Longstreet's troops east
ward?"
This last question was hurled d.
rectly at me. and noticed that ever
eye in the room was eagerly scanning
my face. had the quick, fiery tenn
per of q boy then. and nay 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 officer1 Who did
not tiishonor the uniform no wore
would insult ne VIA tia question:,
A-bombsholl xz11ocinE Ia the room
could not hare pptnishe4 them - did