The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-08-15

girl turned slowly away unable to sus
tain the burning glances OF her lover
and the vindictive stare OF Arrelsford
Whats thls?" said General Ran
dolph. "Umphi A majors commits
sion. In command OF the telegraph
department. Major Thorne. | congrat
ulate you"
That commission, General Ran
dolphl" exclaimed Arrelsford, his
voice rising. 'let me explain how
she"
That will do from you. SIR" said
the general. you have made enough
trouble as It is. l suppose you claim
that this is forgery. too"
Let mo tell you. sir" persisted the
secret service agent.
You have told me enough as II is.
Sergeant. take him over to headquar-
ters."
Fall in there!" cried the sergeant
Of the guard. Two OF you take the
prisoner. Forward march,"
Two men seized Arrelsford, and the
rest of them closed about him. To do
the man justice. he made a violent
struggle and was only marched out at
the point OF the bayonet, protesting
and crying:
For Gods sake, he's in the Yankee
secret service! He'll send that dis
patch out. His brother brought in the
signal tonight"
All the way down the corridor he
could be heard yelling and struggling.
General Randolph paid not the slight
est attention to him. He stepped over
to the telegraph table beside which
Thorne stood-and with all the force
Of which he was capable the young
man could hardly control the tremb-
ling of his knees.
Major Thorne," he said reprovingly
as Thorne saluted him, "all this delay
has been your own fault II you had
only had sense enough to mention this
before we would have been saved a
damned lot of trouble There's your
commission, SIP" He handed 1t to
Thorne, who saluted him again as one
in a dream. Come. gentlemen" he
said to his officers, Il can't under
stand why they have to be so cursed
shy about their secret service orders!
Lieutenant Foray?"
"Yes, sir"
Take your orders from Major
Thorne."
"Yes, sir" returned Foray.
Good night" said the general, for
getful of the fact apparently that
Edith Varney was still standing by the
window.
Good night, sir" answered Thorne.
Foray moved over to the table at
the right, while Thorne leaped to his
former position, and his hand sought
the key. At last he could send his
message, there was nothing to prevent
him or interrupt him now, he was in
command. Could he get it through?
For moment he forgot everything
but that, as he clicked out the call
again, but he had scarcely pressed
the button when Edith Varney stepped
to his side.
voice, giving him the old title.
He looked up at her, stopping a mo-
ment.
What l have done gives you time
to escape from Richmond" she con-
tinued.
"Escape!" whispered Thorne, chick
ing the key again. "Impossiblel"
"oh," said the girl, laying her hand
on his arm, you wouldn't do it
now!"
And again the mans fingers re-
mained poised over the key as he
stared at her.
Il gave it to you TOTO save your
life. didn't think you'd use it for
anything else. Oh! You wouldn't"
Her voice in its low whisper was
agonizing. II her face had been white
before, what could be said Of 1t now?
In flash Thorne saw all. She had
been confident of his guilt, and she
had sought to save his life because
she loved him, and now because she
loved her country she sought to save
that too.
The call sounded from the table. |
Thorne turned to it, bent over 1t, and |
listened 1t was the call for the mes
sage. Then he turned to the woman.
She looked at him; just one look The
kind of look that Christ might have