The Arvada enterprise., 1914-04-30

gave entrance to corridor The
but they had been kicked and battered
until varnish and polish had both dis
appeared and they looked as dilapi-
dated as the cob-webbed corners and
the broken holdings. On the other
side Of the room, three long French
windows gave entrance to a shallow
balcony of cast iron !antastically mold
ed. which hung against the outer wall.
Beyond this the observer peering
through the dusty panes could discern
the large white pillars of the huge
porch which overhung the front OF the
building. Further away beyond the
shadow of the porch were visible the
lights of the sleeping town. seen dimly
in the bright moonlight.
The handsome furniture which the
room had probably once contained.
had been long since displaced by the
rude telegraph equipment and the
heavy plaster cornices and holdings
we're sadly marred by telegraph wires
which ran down the walls to the
tables. rough pine affairs. which car
ried the instruments. There we're two
of these tables, each with a telegraph
key at either end. One Of them stood
near the center Of the room, and the
other up against the fine old marble
mantel. chipped. battered, ruined like
the rest of the room. For the rest. the
apartment contained a desk, shelves
with the batteries on them, and half a
dozen chairs of the commonest and
cheapest variety. The floor was bare.
dusty. and tobacco stained. The sole
remnant Of the ancient glory Of the
room was a large handsome old clock
on the wall above the mantel. the
hands OF which pointed to the hour of
ten.
But II the room itself was in
dingy and even dirty condition, the
occupants we're very much alive One
young man, Lieutenant Allison, sat at
the table under the clock. and another.
Lieutenant Foray. at the table in the
center of the room. Both were busy
sending or receiving messages. The
instruments kept up continuous
clicking. heard distinctly above the
buzz Of conversation which came from
half a dozen youngsters, scarcely more
than boys. grouped together at the op-
posite side of the room. waiting to
take to the various Offices of the de
partment. or to the several officials OF
the government. the messages which
were constantly being handed out to
them by the two military operators.
In the midst of this busy activity
there came the noise of drums, family
at first. but presently growing clearer
and louder. while the tramp of many
feet sounded in the street below.
whats that?" asked one messen-
ger Of the other.
81 don't know" was the answer,
troops of some kind. I'll look out
and see."
He stepped to one OF the long win
dows, opened 1t, and went out on the
balcony. The other young fellows
clustered at his back or peered through
the other windows.
Its the Richmond Grays." said the
observer outside.
Yes. that's what they are. You can
see. their uniforms. They must be
sending them down to the lines at
Petersburg" said another.
well. don't believe they would
send the Grays out unless there was
something going on tonight" OBJ.
served a third
Tonight. why. by heavens. it's as
quiet as a tomb" broke in fourth.
II don't hear sound from the front"
That's probably what's worrying
them. 1t is SO damn unusual" re-
turned the first messenger.
Things have come to a pretty pass
II the grandfathers OF the home
guard have got to go to the 'front.'" re.
marked another.
Following in the footsteps Of their
grandsons" said the first. 81 wish
could go. hate this business OF car.
rying kilograms and"
Messenger here!" cried Lieutenant
Foray, folding up a message and In.
serting it in its envelope.
The nearest youngster detached him.
self from the group while all OF them
turned away from the windows,
stepped to the side of the officer. and
salutcd.
war department" said Foray terse.
ly. "Tell the secretary It's from Gen.
eral Lee, and here's a duplicate which
you are to give to the president"
Very good, SIR" said the messen.
ger taking the message and turning
away.