The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-21
Theodosia Burr
by Frank 4. Munsey Go.

usual immaculate neatness. Instead of the formal dress of his office he wore an old, stained, faded uniform coat, its pocket bulging with papers. This he kept at the head of his bed when at length he flung himself down, almost in the delirium of fever.
 He lay here for two days, restless, sleepless. But at length, having in the meantime scarcely tasted food, he rose and declared that he must go on.
 Major" said he, 'I can ride now. Have you horses for. the journey?'
 Are you sure, governor, that your strength is suffcient? Neely hesitated as he looked at the wasted form before him, at the hollow eye, the fevered face. eN
 It is not question of my personal convenience, major said Meriwether Lewis. 'Tine presses for me. I must go on!''
 "At least you shall not go alone" ahid Major Nicely "You should have some escort. Doubtless you have some important papers T' N Meriwether Lewis nodded. I "My servant has arranged every thing, I fancy. Can you get an extra man or two? The Natchez Trace is none too sefe.'',,
 l That military road, as they both knew, was indeed no more than a horse path cut through the trackless forest which lay across the states of Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. , Its reputation was not good. Many a trader passing north from New Orleans with coin, many a settler passing west with pack horses and household effects, had disappeared, on this wilderness l road and left no sign. It was custom ary for parties of any consequence to i ride in companies of some force. It was considerable cavalcade therefore which presently set forth from Chickasaw Bluffs on the long ride eastward to cross the Alleghenies, which meant some days or weeks spent in the saddle. Apprehension sat upon tall even as they started. out. Their eyes rested upon the wasted form of their leader, the delirium of whose fe- yer, seemed still to hold him. He nut tered to himself as he rode, resented the near approach of any travelling companion, demanded to be alone. They looked at him in silence. l! sHe talks to himself all the time, . said one of the party, new man hired by Nicely at the army post. He rode with Peria now, and none but Peria i knew that he had come from the long barge which had clung to the gover- nor's craft all the way down the river l and which, unknown to Lewis himself, had tied up and waited at Chickasaw Bluffs, He was a stranger to Neely l and to all the others, but seemed ready 1 enough to take pey for Service along l the Trace, declaring that he himself l was intending to go that way. He was a man well dressed, apparently of edu- cation and of some means. He rode armed. l What is wrong with the governor, think you?" inquired this man once more of Peria, Lewis servant
 "It is his way shrugged Peria. ''We leave him alone. His hand is Isheavy when he is angry"
 He rides always with his rife across his saddle?" I Always on the trail.'
 Loaded; presume? And his pis- tols p '
 You may well suppose that" said Peria.
 | "Oh, we'll" said the new member of the party, 'tis just as well to be safe lifted his saddle bags and the desk or trunk, whatever you call it, that is on the pack horse wonder. Heavy ehY
 Naturally grinned Peria. They looked at one another. And thereafter the two, as was we'll noted conversedp often and more intimately together as the journey progressed. l "Now, it's an odd thing about his coat" volunteered the stranger later in that same day. ssHe always keeps il on-that ragged old uniform. Was il 1 uniform, do you believe? Can't ths governor of the new territory wear 2 ;, coat that shows its quality? This one's dozen years old, you might say.''
 He always wears it on the trail, said Peria. At home he watches it as if it held some treasure.''
 Treasurer" the shifty eyes of tho new man flashed in sudden interest What treasure? Papers, perhaps bills, documents, money? His pocke' bulges at the side. Something there yes, eh?"
 .'Hushr' said Peria You do nol know that man, the governor. Heihas the eye of a hawk, the ear of fox You can keep nothing from him. He fears nothing in the world, and in his moods you'd best leave him alone Don't let him suspect, or''- And Peris shook his head
 Gro be continued,