Year: 1868

81 received none from you-what papers do you
aIlude to?' asked the officer


II want papers to show am clear of the ar
my-they may arrest me again, " said his visa US.


~ can't give you any passport on the showing
you have made" replied the officer II have
nothing further to do with you - and the leuten,
ant again turned to the business in hand, while
Michael Walsh-as we allcontinue to call him
stood irresoute for few seconds, and then slowly
turning about, left the Office.


CHAPTER V.


Michael Walsh left the Office of the Provost,
and, at leisurely pace, took his way towards
Beaufain street, unsuspecting that his steps were
followed True it was that, with the consciousness
of guilt, he looked behind him occasionally as he
went but it was rather an instinct, like that of
brute, than suspicion, which caused him so often
to look back towards the Office from which he had
been dismissed so much more readily than he had
any reason to hope. 1t was with an inward chuckle
Of satisfaction that he found himself once more
free and threading the well-known streets of the
city, deserter and spy, but unsuspected and
unchallenged. Surely, thought he, there was q
relaxation of vigilance, and of strict military rule
when his own uncorroborated assertion was recelr-
ed by the ynxeyed official, absolutely and unhesi,
tatingly. What was an arrest now to him, when
the same official who had already pronounced bis
detention illegal, would again be his judge ? With
fear busy at his heart, he had, heretofore, walked
the streets tmorously, covering before the glance
of every soldier on duty, but now he felt embol'
dened to walk in the broad light of noon, instead
of shrinking away, like beast of prey, to cover
in some obscure den, until the gloom Of twilight
enabled him to creep out to his deeds of dark
ness.


In looking back, his eye, more than once, encoun
tered the form of Victor, but the youth had laid
aside the soldier cap which he had worn in the
morning, for slouched felt hat, which shaded his
features and so altered his appearance, that the
eye Of the guilty man failed to recognize him.
The grey jacket which he wore, had also been laid
aside for black frock coat and Michael Walsh
who was not familiar with his features, and never
remembered to have seen him before that morning
would not readily have recognized the youth, a
gainst whom he had uttered VOW of vengeance
so bitter. He event failed to notice the movements
of Victor, who, following eisurey on the opposite
side of the street, kept him in sight without seem
ing to watch him.


As Walsh was about turning corner, he wa
met by an individual who gave him friendly re
cognition and, after a moments conversation th'
two entered, arm in arm, into the building on tht
corner, which seemed to be low shop for the sale
of dry goods groceries, fruits, and vegetables, witt
q suspicious apartment in the rear where liquo
was retailed. Victor lost not moment but eros
sing the street. followed them into the store, where
some ten or dozen persons were lounging in iron
of the counter, making various small llpurchases. A
bout midway heshop, was post, seemingly PLACED
there to assist in supporting the upper story, int
which quite number of wooden pegs were driven
thus transforming it into kind of rack to dispa!
samples of the various articles kept for sale. A
round this column empty boxes were arranged, OF
some of which the coarser kinds Of goods wer
heaped up, while quite barricade, formed of emp
ty boxes, piled higher than mans head, extend
ded from this point to within few feet of the rea
wall


Casting rapid glance around him as he enteret
the store, Victor saw that Walsh and his frient
were seated on one of the boxes to the rear of tn
post of which we have spoken, engaged in con
versation carried on in low and earnest tones. Th
two sat face to face, Walsh somewhat in the shad
ow of the heap of boxes at his back, and his com
panion before him with the light from the distan
doorway falling upon him. He was man abou
thirty-6ve or forty years Of age, of medium height
with large frame, and limbs well rounded, strong
and muscular. His face was fair, smooth, un
wrinkled by time or thought, and had that eas.
careless air of levty recklessness and good nature
which belongs to men of low condition in life VIII
have little to care for, and nothing to bind then
to one spot His large light blue eyes, approach
ing to grey, were full of vivacty and self compla
cency, and his gesticulations as he conversed il
undertoneswith hiscompanion, were as excited ant
emphatic as those of the most mercurial French
man. In his excitement he frequently forgot him
self and raised his voice to such pitch as to ex
cite the fears of his comrades lest their conversa
ton might be overheard, and he frequently inter
ferred with cautionary word or gesture or glanc
to enforce greater caution upon his companion
His loquacity and destitution Of prudence and eau
ton, were traits of his character that were vislbl
at glance His hat was thrown back from hi
forehead which, although the evening was cool, b
frequently wiped with red cotton handkerchief
He was of so excitable temperament that it re
quired but little to heat his mercurial blood Viz
tor noted that he wore a grey jacket and pants
looms, such as constituted the uniform of the Cor
federate soldiers and upon glancing at his button
to learn if they betrayed, by their motto and dc
vice, the State from which he hailed, he noted tina
one of his buttons, the third from the top, bore
anchor as its device, and was such as the navy reg
ulations of the United States required its sailor
and officers to wear This was certainly sma
circumstance, and might well have been mere az
cident 1t might not even have arrested his al
tention had he not previously remarked nav
button occupying corresponding position upo
!, the coat of Michael Walsh. 1t occurred to hi


that this might possibly be the badge of the spie


and informers-a token by which they might reco(


nize each other.


Seeing the earnestness with which the two wer
conversing, Victor was desirious of hearing wha
passed between them. His blood rebelled at tn
, thought of playing the eavesdropper, even upo
suspected spies, whom he was specially commission
ed to watch, and nothing but strict sense OF dut
and the thought of the service it might be to b