Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-01-09
Oopyrlsht 1872 by Dodd. Mead ( Company
CHAPTER v.
The Unfaithful Servant.


the floor Of the back porch. The long
drawing room EXTENDED across the
house, and had porcbes at trent and
back, to which access was had through
long French windows. The sound was
so sudden and so unexpected that she
dropped the jacket on the couch and
turned to the window. The sound OF
low, hushed voices came to her, and
the next moment a tall, flne-lo0king
young man OF rather distinguished ap
pearance entered the room He was
not in uniform. but wore the custom
airy full-skirted frock coat Of the
period, and carried his big black hal
in his hand. For the rest, he was q
very keen, sharp-eyed man, whose
movements were quick and stealthy
and whose quick, comprehensive
glance seemed to take IN not only Mrs
varney, but everything in the room
Through the windows and the far door
soldiers could be seen dimly. Mrs
varney was very indignant at the en-.
trance Of this newcomer in this I'm
ceremonious manner.
hT. ATTelSlOIu' but ehCldAlu'u
haughtily.
In two or three quick steps Mr.. Ben
ton Arrelsford of the Confederate Sc
cret service was by her side. AL
though she WAS alone, through habit
and excessive caution he lowered his
voice when he spoke to her
your pardon, Mrs. Varney." he
said, with just a shade too much OF
the peremptory for perfect breeding
II was compelled to enter without
ceremony You will understand when
tell you why
And those men" said Mrs. Var
ney, pointing to the back windows
and the far door What have we done
that we should be"
They are on guard"
"On guard" exclaimed the woman
greatly surprised and equally resent
full.
yes, ma'am and / am very much
afraid We shall be compelled to put
you to little inconvenience; tenn
porary, assure you, but necessary
He glanced about cautiously and point
ed to the door across the hall "ls
there anybody in that room, Mrs. Var
ney?"
Yes, a number of ladies sewing for
the hospital; they expect to stay all
night"
Very good" said Arrelsford. "Will
you kindly come little farther away =?
would not have them overhear by
any possibility"
There was no possibility Of anyone
overhearing their conversation, but If
Mr.. Arrelsford ever erred it was not
through lack OF caution. Still more
astonished, Mrs. Varney followed him
They stopped by the fireplace.
One of your servants has got him
self into trouble, Mrs. Varney, and
we're compelled to have him watched"
he began.
watched by squad Of soldiers?"
1t is we'll not to neglect any pre-.
caution, ma am"
And what kind Of trouble, pray?"
asked the woman.
Very serious. am sorry to say. At
least that is the way 1t looks now.
You've got an old white-haired butler
here"
You mean Jonas?"
i believe that's his name" said Ar.
relsford.
And you suspect him of some
thtng7"
Mr.. Arrelsford lowered bis voice
still further and assumed an air of
great Importance.
we don't merely suspect him; we
know what he has done"
And what has he done sir?"
He has been down to Libby prison
ander pretense of selling things to the
Yankees we've got In there, and he
now has on his person a written com.
nunication from one Of them which
he intends to deliver to some Yankee
spy or agent, here In Richmond"
Mrs. Varney gasped in establishment
at this tremendous charge, which was
made in Arrelstord's most impressive
manner.
Il don't believe It," she said at last.
He has been in the family for years;
he wouldn't dare"
Arrelsford shook his head.
Il am afraid 1t is true" he said.
Very WELL" said Mrs. Varney de.
cidedly, apparently not at all con.
WINGED. II will send for the man. Let
US see"
She reached out her hand to the
bels-rope hanging from the wall. but
Mr.. Arrelsford caught her arm, evi.
IDENTIFY to her great repugnance.
No. mol" he said quickly, mot yet.
We have got to get that paper, and II
he's alarmed he will destroy It, and
we must have It. 1t will give us the
clue to one OF their cursed plots. They
have been right close on this town for
months. trying to break down our de.
lenses and get In on us. This Is some
rascally game they are at to weaken
us from the inside. Two weeks ago
we got word from our secret agents
that we keep over there in the Yankee
lines, telling US that Two brothers,
Lewis and Henry Dumont--"
The Dumonts of West Virginia ?"
Nf'SN A"iS' ihSyt "uo NdS now
keenly attentive to all that was said.
"The very same"
Why. their father ID a general In
the Yankee army"
Yes; and they are in the federal
secret service. and they are the bold.
est, most desperately determined men
In the whole Yankso army. They've