Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-20

Henry Dumont had been thrust vio-
lently into the room by the soldiers
outside. He had been captured, as
Arrelsford had said, earlier in tho
day; he had allowed himself to be
taken. He had been thrust into LIBBY
prison with dozens of prisoners taken
in the same sortle. He had not been
searched, but then none of the others
had been: had he been selected for
that unwonted immunity alone II
would have awakened his suspicious,
but the Confederates had made a
show of great haste in disposing OF
their prisoners, and had promised to
search them in the morning. There
fore Henry Dumont had retained the
paper which later he had given Jonas,
when by previous arrangement he
made his daily visit to the prison.
He had been greatly surprised, when
about a quarter to nine o'clock
SQUAD of soldiers had taken him from
the prison, had marched him hurriedly
through the streets with which he was
entirely unfamiliar, and had taken
him to the residence section of the
city. and had halted at the back OF
a big house. He had asked no ques-
lions, aud no explanations had been
vouchsafed to him. He was more sur
prised than ever when he was taken
UP to the porch, the window was
opened, and he was thrust violently
into room, so violently that he stag
gered and had some difficulty in recov-
ering his balance.
He made quick inspection Of the
room Thorne, In the deeper shadows
at the farther end of the room was
Invisible to him. He stood notion
less save for the turning OF his head
as he looked around him. He moved
a few steps toward the end of the
room, opposite his entrance, passed
by the far door opening into the back
hall which was covered with portieres,
and went swiftly toward the near door
INTO the front hall The door was
Nightly ajar, and as he came within
range of the opening he saw in the
shadows of the hall. crossed bayonets
and men. No escape that way!
He went on past the door toward
the large windows at the front of the
house and in another moment would
have been at the front window where
Thorne stood. The latter dropped
the curtain and stepped out into the
room.
For the thousandth part of second
the two brothers stared at each other,
and then, in fiercely intense voice,
Thorne, playing his part, desperately
called out:
Halt! You are a prisoner!'
Both brothers were quick witted
both knew that they were under the
closest observation, both realized that
they were expected to betray relation
Bhip, which would fncriminate both
and probably result fatally for one and
certainly ruin the plan. Thorne's cue
was to regard his brother as the pris
oner whom it was important to arrest
and Dumont's cue was to regard his
brother as an enemy with whom II
was his duty to struggle. The minds
Of the two were made up instantly
With a quick movement Dumont
sought to pass his brother but with
, movement equally rapid Thorne
leaped upon him. shouting again
Halt, l say"
The two men instantly grappled. II
was no mimic struggle that they Ell
gagged in, either. They were of about
equal height and weight; If anything
Thorne was the stronger. but this ad-
h, 40 20 hot h..
had been recently i'll. and the two
fought therefore on equal terms at
hrst. It was fierce. desperate crap,
pie In which they met. AS they strug-
3led, both by common impulse
Seeled toward that part of the room
near the mantel which was farthest
away from doors or windows, anC
where they would be the least likely
10 be overheard or TO be more closely
observed. AS they fought together
Fhorne called out again:
s Corporal of the guard, here is you
man! Corporal OF the guard, wha
are you doing"
At that instant the two reelini
bodies struck the wall next to thu
mantel with fearful smash, and
chair that stood by was overturned
by a quick movement on the part o
Henry Dumont, who did not know hi
brother had already received the I'm
portant message In the confusion o
,he moment, he Kissed in Thorne'i
ear:
Attack tonight, plan 3, use tele
graph! Did you get that?"
YES" returned Thorne, still keep
ing up the struggle.
Good" said Dumont "They ar,
watching us. Shoot me in the leg"
mo, l can't do It," Whispered
Thorne.
All the while the two men were reel
Ing and staggering and struggling
against the wall and furniture. Tn
encounter would have deceived tn
most suspicious.
"Shoot, shoot" said the elder
II can't shoot my brother" tn
Younger painted out.
1T Is the only way to throw then
off the scent" persisted Dumont
II won't do it," answered Thorne
and then he shouted again:
"Corporsl Of the guard. have you
prisoner"
"Let me 60. damn you'll" roared Du
mont furiously, making another des
perate effort-"if you don't do 1t,
L, a Il. IL. 4.