The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-30

OuSpCSVu was uOt Tic cduSc VI uDy
trouble on the boat. but that was too
attractive to a maD.
On the guard as We left Richmond,
standing near me. WIS Il young fellow.
typical southerner. who from his
glances judged was quite struck with
my appearance. When went into
the cabin he followed me and in order
to scrape an acquaintance offered me
some books to read. Thinking that 1t
might be more dangerous to repulse
him than to accept his attentions,
accepted novel and in order to get
rid Of further devotion pretended to be-
absorbed in It. This did NOS serve.
for, though he was considerable. defer
entail and all that, he insisted IN tax
ing advantage of every opportunity to
converse with me. Finally Concluded
to favor him and permitted him to do
SO. Since he seemed To be smitten
with me. there was surely M reason
to fear that he would suspect me OF
being MD and my true errand. At
last. remarkins that the air in the cab.
in was sitting he insisted on my going
out on the guard with him.
We sat together. passing along the
yellow stream. with its banks nearly
as bare as when the settlement OF
Jamestown found the peninsula a vii.
derness. My companion at tirst said
my asserting that any man who did
not stand by the south was traitor to
his country be veered around and ad-
mitted that he was In the Confederate
service. TO draw MIN out pretended
not to believe his last statement. and
in Virginia regiment.
"Then why are Won not in nniform?"
I asked. with feigned suspicion Of the
truth Of his statement.
This was too much for him. Re
confessed that he was going to Fortress
Monroe on secret service. He was the
bearer Of dispatches to prominent
southern sympathiZers in the north
and intended sailing on any vessel he
could find to take him there.
This confirmed Mr.. PinkertOn's story
that the routes between the north and
south were full OF Confederate spies.
| was seized with the fear that one of
them had suspected me and had made
my acquaintance with Il view to trap
ping me. | nerved myself to an effort
and gave every evidence of my appre
citation of one who was about to risk 50
much for the Confederate canse.
1t was hard for me to believe that
one bent on such an errand would thus
give himself away to a stranger. yet,
on the other hand. he was still In Con
|. federate territory talking to one who
prOfessed to he wrapped up In the sue
cess Of the south. At any rate.
should soon know whether ne was de-
ceived by me or was playing game
to trap me.
] thought 1t best to leave the bont at
a landing some distance above the end
OF her route. | babe my friend good
by with my best wishes for his sue.
cess ana. going ashore. hired n man
to drive me In his buggy toward the
point wished to reach. In one way
or another got as far as a Federal
outpost and asked to he taken to the
commander.
had kept sewed up in my clothing
an order. signed "a. Lincoln to all
In the Federal service to give me aid
and comfort and showed II to the gen.
era commanding. was at once pro
vided with mans clothing. and an ord
nance officer furnished me With a re-
vOlver. wished this weapon In case
] should meet my admirer with whom
! had Travelled. did not wish to give
him away. but wanted to get the dis
patches he carried. SD i could give
them to President Lincoln. had not
been at the fort two hours before
saw the young man passing across the
parade approached and accosted
him. He did not recognize me ut once.
but as soon as It broke In upon his
brain that he had given himself away
to man thinking him to be a girl he
turned CHASTITY pale.
Don't fear anything for yourself"
uHNe JUST 'otut Ou Tue Sttue
boat With you IN more respects than
one. ! have been in the Confederacy
on secret service. ! know what il
would have meant had my mission
been discovered. | would have got the
rope. Give me the documents you car
~ and will keep your secret"
He looked relieved. though his sense
Of homer deferred him from giving me
what would compromise others. But
what could he do in the center of a
United States fortress? He gave me
the dispatches, and I helped him to get
back into Confederate territory.
In due time | made my report to
President Lincoln. aud he told me that
the dispatches ! had captured were of
Ear more Importance than the informa
SOn be had sent me for. Ills possess
sion of them thwarted an important
plan in the interest of the Confederacy.
] made several other trips for Mr..
Lincoln. On the last. having escaped
capture by hairs breath. conclud-
ed not TO risk going again. But ! had
the capital to set me up in business.