The Lost Despatch Read online

  CHAPTER X

  THE FORTUNES OF WAR

  It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room. Miss Metoaca, who hadresigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busyknitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed tothe uninitiated to have no beginning and no end. She always carried itwith her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle. Nancy, busywith her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall. Thetread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped backand forth before the windows and door. The sergeant and Symonds sat bythe entrance, watching their prisoners closely. The piercing shriek ofa locomotive broke the stillness, and soon with a grinding of brakesthe special train came to a standstill in front of the depot. Symondsand Lieutenant Field, of the Provost Guard, met Lloyd as he jumped tothe platform.

  "Miss Newton and her niece are in the waiting room, Captain Lloyd,"reported the lieutenant, "under guard. Their luggage is in the stationmaster's room awaiting your inspection."

  "Good!" Lloyd's tone of satisfaction made Goddard's blood boil. Lloydturned to his silent friend, and held out his hand. "How are you, Bob?"

  Goddard ignored the outstretched hand and the cordial greeting.

  "What do you mean by this high-handed outrage, Captain Lloyd?" hedemanded bitterly.

  Lloyd's eyes flashed. "Do not stretch my friendship too far, Bob. Yourapparent infatuation for that rebel spy"--Goddard winced perceptibly,and his color heightened--"blinds your judgment. I give you fairwarning, sir, that if you interfere in any way in this affair you willbe placed in close arrest."

  Without a word Goddard turned on his heel and walked to the further endof the platform. Lloyd returned to the car, and joined two women whostood waiting patiently by its side.

  "This way, Miss Watt," and followed by both women he led the way to thewaiting room. Lieutenant Field threw open the door.

  "Captain Lloyd," he announced.

  Miss Metoaca's busy fingers stopped and she surveyed the newcomer fromhead to foot, but Nancy never turned in his direction.

  "What do you want?" inquired Miss Metoaca, seeing that neither of themspoke.

  "The copy of the despatch from the adjutant general's office dropped byColonel Mitchell last night."

  "Haven't such a thing. Wouldn't know it if I saw it," snapped MissMetoaca.

  "Symonds, you and the sergeant can step outside." Lloyd waited untilthey were well out of hearing. "Miss Newton," turning directly toNancy, "you and I have met before."

  Nancy raised her head and glanced closely at him. "Oh, yes," she said."I believe I have seen you once or twice."

  "Twice?" Lloyd laughed. "I have a better memory than you. How about the27th of December?"

  Nancy looked at him in genuine surprise. "You speak in riddles," shesaid disdainfully.

  "I think you can solve this one," he touched the scar on his temple."The blow from your revolver kept me in the hospital for some time."

  "Is the man crazy?" Miss Metoaca straightened indignantly in her chair."My niece does not go around knocking men on the head, though she hasbroken some hearts."

  "Come, Miss Newton, evasion will not help you," said Lloyd impatiently,paying no attention to Miss Metoaca's remark. "I know you are a rebelspy..."

  "Do you know the meaning of the word 'spy'?" inquired Nancy hotly.

  "Perfectly," briefly. "I have wasted quite enough time. Give me thatdespatch!"

  "What despatch?"

  Lloyd lost all patience. "Once for all, do you intend to give me thatdespatch, or not?"

  Nancy shrugged her shoulders. "It is impossible to give what we do notpossess."

  Lloyd strode to the door and beckoned to the two women standing in thehall.

  "Search these ladies," he directed, pointing to Miss Metoaca and Nancy,"and see that you search them thoroughly. I am positive the older ladyis padded." Miss Metoaca's face was a study. "If they give you anytrouble I will send in a guard to assist you," and with this partingthreat he walked out of the room and banged the door to behind him.

  "Don't you lay a finger on me," ordered Miss Metoaca belligerently. "Ifyou do I will box your ears!"

  "What good would that do you?" asked Miss Watt practically. "I guessyou would rather have me than one of the men undress you. Do bereasonable."

  "Yes, Aunt Metoaca, let us get it over and done with." Nancy's face waswhite, and she looked with frightened eyes at the two women. "PresidentLincoln shall hear of this outrage."

  "He shall!" Miss Metoaca's tone spoke volumes as she reluctantly beganundressing.

  Deftly the women detectives went about their work. Nothing escapedtheir notice. Garments were held up to the light to see if anything layconcealed in the linings, some were ripped open; their shoes wereexamined with care. Nothing was discovered.

  "I hope you are satisfied," snapped Miss Metoaca, hot in spirit, butdecidedly cold physically. "I do not enjoy impersonating Eve. Give methose underclothes at once!"

  Miss Watt handed her the necessary articles. "Take down your hair," shedirected.

  Miss Metoaca stopped dressing, one stocking suspended in air.

  "What?" she exclaimed indignantly. "Is nothing above suspicion?" Shewhirled around and saw the other detective cutting open a pincushion."Mercy sakes, what do you think you will find in that?"

  "Quinine," answered the woman curtly. But her search was not rewarded,and she threw the useless pincushion on the floor.

  Without a word Nancy let down her hair. It fell in profusion over hershoulders and down her back. Quickly the detective ran her fingers overthe girl's head. Without further ado Miss Watt did the same with MissMetoaca's scant gray locks.

  "You can put on your clothes," she said, more kindly, and with skillfulfingers she assisted Miss Metoaca into her dress, and helped herarrange her hair.

  "Well!" Miss Metoaca drew a long breath. "I have been through a gooddeal in my life, but I reckon this beats creation. I look like ascarecrow! Nancy, are you ready? Yes. Then, perhaps, Miss Watt, youwill be good enough to inform that apology for a gentleman, CaptainLloyd, that I would like to see him."

  Lloyd came at once in answer to the detective's call. His face fellwhen she declared nothing had been found of a suspicious nature, and notrace of the missing despatch.

  "Do you mean to say Miss Metoaca Newton was not padded?" he askedincredulously.

  "No, sir," Miss Watt hesitated. A slow smile passed over her sharpface. "That is just natural development," she added.

  Nancy turned and addressed Lloyd. "This farce is played out. I demandour instant release from this humiliating situation."

  Lloyd pondered for a moment. His thorough search of their luggage hadrevealed nothing compromising. Apparently the Newtons were innocent. Hehad no authority to keep them under arrest unless he had found positiveevidence of their guilt. He thought over the situation quickly, andcame to a sudden decision.

  "If I have put you to annoyance, it was but in the line of duty," hesaid gravely. "Accept my apologies, ladies."

  "Seems to me they come a little late in the day," retorted MissMetoaca, struggling into her wrap. "Are we at liberty to go to a hotel,if there is such a thing near this depot?"

  "I am going on to Winchester, and will take you both there in myspecial car." Lloyd led the way to the platform. "Miss Watt, a trainleaves for Washington in half an hour which you and your companion cantake. On your arrival report at once to Colonel Baker."

  They found Goddard waiting at the steps of the car.

  "I hope you suffered no indignities, Miss Metoaca," he asked, assistingher up the high steps; then, without waiting for an answer, he turnedeagerly to Nancy, who colored hotly as she placed her hand for onesecond in his before entering the car.