The Big Sandy news., 1912-12-27
adm, ann 6101nN It aside to'

Am, ann a. u hBfu0 Uoot
carefua suYvcyu a he oubsY apartment
1t was q large md handsomely fur
nished room, polished mahogany
writing-table Uttered with papers oc
cupying prominent position agains
the farther wall. A swivel chail
stood beside it, and across its bacl
hung what appeared to be q suit o.
clothine saw no other dgns OF hu
man occupancy.
Convinced that the apartment wa
deserted, and discovering no differen
means Of egress, | crossed the room OF
tiptoe, and peered cautiously out intt
the hall. It was not pleasing pros
pect to one In my predicament. Ths
lower portion, judging from the In
cessant hum Of voices. was filled witt
people, who were either unable t
find place within the crowded ball
room, or else preferred greater retire
ment for conversation. Even the wide
stairway had been partially pre-
empted, q young lieutenant, as
judged from his shoulderstraps, sit
ting just beneath the landing. whis
pered eagerly into the attentive eal
OF pronounced blonde who shared
the broad carpeted step with him.
drew back noiselessly, to figure
out the situation and determine vhai
was best for me to attempt. Il wouh
be sheer madness 70 venture upon Z
passage to the front door, clad -
was in travei-Vosn gray uniform; tc
rush through thaa Gam was impossible
II were 70 wni1 until the dance wal
concluded the lG1R hours Of the night
might indeed yisad me somewhat
clearer passAA ~ It was hardly
probabl, that a. houss, used as
knew 1t to bs ~ . military prison.
would be lsft ungn5ded. Besides,
such delay mul1 absolutely prevent
my getting beyond the Federal picket
lines before daybreak. and would
hence render valneAsss the news
sought to bsr - lLeA
moved TO ttD only window and
glanced out; II opened upon the back
Of the house and presented sheer
drop to the ground. At the slight
noise of the moving sash a sentry
standing at the corner glanced UP
suspiciously Evidently each side OF
the great building was abundantly pro
tected by patrols.
Something had TO be attempted, and
at once The room was in bore un-
questionable evidence Of recent occu-
pancy, and at any moment might be
re-entered. MY searching eyes fell
upon the articles of clothing carelessly
folded over the chair-back. | picked
up the garments one by one and took
them out; they composed the new uni
form of a colonel Of artillery, and
were resplendent with bright red fac
ings and profusion OF gold braid.
With all my soul loathed the thought
OF Disguise, and especially the hated
uniform OF the enemy. II was re-
pugnant to every instin.t Of my being.
and would certainly mean added
degradation and danger in the event
of capture.
Yet / saw no other way Sheridan,
: Brennan, Cation, the three who would
certainly recognize me on sight. ! was
Assured were absent, although they
might return at any moment. The
greater reason for haste. the less ex-
cuse for delay. But II should chance
to run foul Of the rightful owner of
the garments amid that crush below.
and he should recognize them, what
then? / stood dose beside the writ
ing-table ~ / revoivsd these eonGid-
erations rapidly in mind. and my eye
chancsd to fall upon an open paper.
It was an official order, bearing date
a. p. m. that same day, command
ing Colonel Culbertson to move hiR
battery at once down the Kendallvflie
ptlrs. and report 10 Brigadier-0 General
KnQYls for Assignment TO his brigade.
Avidentfy the new dress uniform had
been carefully bruShed and laid out
to be worn at the ball that evening;
the sudden receipt of this order had
caused the owner to depart hastily In
his service dress. vigorously express
ing his fselings, no doubt. while his
servant, now enjoying liberty below
stairs, had neglected to pack up his
masters things. -------
This knowledge was the straw
which decided me; would chance It.
Hastily drew on the rich blue and
red over my old gray, adding the dress
sword I had discovered IN q closet.
and than, wondering ouriously what
sort Of figure might cut In all these
fine habiliments, sought glance at
myself within mirror hanging upon
the bedroom wall. Faith! but It was
Gods mercy that didl
Such a face as grinned at me from
that glass, peering over the high-cut,
decorated collar. would surely have
created q genuine sensation In those
rooms below. Serious AZ my situation
was, laughed at the thought Of 4
until tears ran down my cheeks. leay-
ing white streaks the full length %
them for no chimney-sweep in the
full tide Of his glorious career was
ever worse sooted and begrimed.
thought Of the elegantly dressed
lieutenant and the blonde young lady
upon the stairs-surely they would
have supposed the very devil himself
waa coming down. SH