The Washington times., 1934-01-10
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS

outside her tent. She told h
He appeared surprised by so
complete a Transformation. The
girls blond-gold hair, and the
way she wore it. seemed to make
her face plumper; the golden
eyelashes utterly changed her
expression, lending to the mouth
q hint Of humor and enhanc'
ing the provocation in the beau
tiful eyes.
Triumph
"Do I suit you?" she inquired
demurely, conscious Of her tri'
umph.
Eyes. You are entirely an.
other person"
"I've been troubled a little"
she ventured. "about John Gail
lard"
"You needn't be troubled,
ma'am. God himself would not
recognize you"
my particular danger from
him." she explained, would be
my voice and intonation. But I
can alter both to one Of those
husky-Sweet contraltos. I don't
mean to brag-but can do
almost anything with my face
and voice."
"Yes," he said: II realize
that"
II am wondering, also" she
went on, whether Chancellor
might be suspicious if I should
encounter him. really am
afraid of that man."
II am, too," said Colonel
Sharpe.
Operator 13 put on her trav-
cling hat and Paisley shawl,
with it's jewel-like central me-
dallon. "Good-by," she said, ex-
tending her pretty hand.
"Good-by."
That was all. She went out,
leaning lightly upon his gold
laced arm; the reckless Jessie
Scouts" saluted: the aged black
driver touched his battered hat;
the six mules pricked up their
ears. A moment later the cav
alcade was gathering away
through June starlight.
Moment Of Danger
Her train left at midnight.
There was no sleeping car.
Dawn was breaking when she
left the train and took her place
in one of six-muledrawn army
wagons which were loaded down
with exiled ladies and their
luggage and drove off immedi-
ately toward the Confederate
lines.
Three mounted men rode out
ahead Of the wagons: a serg-
cant of cavalry, carrying a
white flag on his lance; a
trumpter. A smart major of
cavalry led the procession at
q lively trot.
Operator 13 stole a glance at
the other women in her wagon.
She knew none among them,
and was thankful.
When, at last, Confederate
pickets challenged and halted
them, the early June sunlight
lay rosy and golden across
fields Of dewy clover. While the
ceremony and details of the
cartel were occupying Federal
and Confederate officers, and a
good-natured conversation was
going on between the pickets
and the Yankee troopers, Oper-
ator 13 kept her eyes busy.
She could see a train with
steam up, about half a mile
away on an embankment flanked
by field Notifications. This
must be the Richmond train.
There were some rickety Con-
federate army wagons await
ing them in field.
Toward the middle Of the
afternoon the wagons rumbled
across the bridge into Rich
mond; and Operator 13 regis
tered at the Spottswood, took a
bath nd a nap, and then leis-
urely unpacked.
OF the numerous resident and
mobile Federal spies assigned to
Richmond, Operator 13 had
knowledge of very few. and
these had belonged to Webster's
group. Of that group only the
brave negro. John Scobell, re-
mained in Richmond; and. un-
less he made himself known to
her as somebody's cook, or as
o common laborer. or perhaps
as q peddler, Operator 13 would
not know him. Nor for that
matter would she know where
to find her own couriers, Jack
Babcock and Billy Dix. until
they ma lie contact with her.
The first thing the girl did
was to report to the provost
marshals office. where a polite
officer. Captain McCalhoun,
begged her to be seated until
General Winder could do him.
self the honor Of waiting upon