The Lost Despatch Read online

  CHAPTER VII

  THE MISCHANCES OF A NIGHT

  Baker glanced hopelessly about him; at the President, who pulled hisold gray shawl closer around his shoulders to keep out the chill wind;at Lloyd, who stood clutching Nancy by her arms; and at the soldierswho stood grouped about them. For once his feelings were beyondexpression.

  "How long are you going to keep me here?" inquired Lincoln patiently."And why did you jump at me like a Comanche Indian?"

  "Not a mo-moment, sir," stuttered Baker. "It was this young lady wewere after. We had no intention at all of interfering with you."

  "And why do you want Miss Newton, Baker?" asked Lincoln.

  "She is a rebel spy. We caught her signaling to-night."

  "I deny it," exclaimed Nancy hotly; and she tried to step forward, butLloyd's strong arm held her back.

  "Mr. President, hear me just one moment." Lloyd spoke with greatearnestness, and Lincoln turned to face him. One of the soldiers hadfound a half-burnt candle in his coat pocket, and by its feeble raysthe President noticed Lloyd's detaining hand on Nancy's shoulder.

  "Release Miss Newton," he ordered sternly. "Then tell your story indetail."

  Reluctantly Lloyd did as he was told. "This young lady picked up apiece of paper in Gautier's which I knew contained valuableinformation. I have suspected her for some days of supplying theConfederates with our secrets; so I followed her here, and saw thesignal light. Colonel Baker and I thought you came up the street inanswer to it. It was too dark to recognize you...."

  "So you took me for a rebel spy?"

  "I certainly am sorry for my precipitancy, Mr. President," said Bakerapologetically. "Thinking you were an accomplice of this lady's, Itried only to do my duty."

  "My shoulder and arm can testify to your zeal," chuckled Lincoln. "Now,Miss Nancy, what have you to say to these charges?"

  "I never picked up a paper, Mr. President," said Nancy firmly. "On myreturn home to-night from Gautier's I found a message from my oldmammy, Aunt Polly, saying she was very ill and that she needed me. Shelives in that house with her son, who is the caretaker during Mr.Perry's absence. So I..."

  "Disguised yourself and came here," broke in Lloyd insultingly.

  "If by 'disguise' you mean I changed my evening gown, I did--for thismore suitable street dress." Nancy threw back her head haughtily. "I amoffering my explanation to the President; not to you, sir."

  "Continue your remarks, Miss Nancy," directed Lincoln quietly.

  "Why, that is all, Mr. President. After changing my gown I camehere..."

  "By side streets," again interposed Lloyd.

  "By side streets, because the more direct route is crowded with noisymen and women," answered Nancy calmly. "I found Doctor Boyd here withAunt Polly." Lloyd uttered another exclamation, but Nancy refused topay heed. "He advised that we move Aunt Polly into a room facing southas it would be warmer and more cheery for her in the daytime. Jasperand the doctor carried her there, and I went ahead with the lamp..."

  "With which you have been signaling to the rebels," declared Lloydroughly.

  "I did nothing of the sort," retorted Nancy vehemently. "In trying tofind a place to put the lamp down I walked backward and forward with itin my hand until I had pushed a table before the window. I then placedthe lamp on it, and went to help the doctor. He told me my presence wasno longer needed, and advised me to go home, as Aunt Metoaca would bealarmed by my long absence. Bidding Aunt Polly good night, I slippedout of the side entrance and ran into you at the gate, Mr. President."

  "Miss Nancy told me then," volunteered Lincoln, slowly, "that she hadbeen with Aunt Polly who was ill. I know Aunt Polly, too; we havefrequent talks when I stroll down this street and she is working in thegarden, or sweeping the driveway."

  "And I will take my oath to the truth of Nancy's story," said DoctorBoyd, stepping into the circle about the President. "Aunt Polly had toundergo a minor operation, she insisted on Nancy being present, and toprevent the old woman working herself into a fever I sent for Nancy. Iwould have escorted her here myself, but my duties at the hospitalprevented."

  Lincoln nodded understandingly. "It's all right, Doctor," he saidsoothingly. "I believe Miss Nancy, and I guess our friend, ColonelBaker, does, also."

  Baker looked doubtfully at Nancy. "Yes," he muttered ungraciously,"Miss Newton has made everything clear." He turned to address Lloyd,but the latter had disappeared.

  "Then suppose we walk on," said Lincoln. "It is cold standing here.Your aunt called to see me this morning, Miss Nancy."

  "It was most kind of you to give us passes to Winchester." Nancy lookedgratefully at the President as she tried to keep step with his longstrides. "The change will do Aunt Metoaca good, she has been too longin Washington without a change of air, and I am worried about hercondition."

  Lloyd rejoined the little procession at the corner of New York Avenueand Seventeenth Street. To the right gleamed the lights of the cavalrycorral on the ellipse back of the White House, and on the left were thebuildings of the quartermaster general's depot. Lloyd drew Baker to oneside and whispered:

  "Apparently the girl has covered her tracks this time. Symonds and Ientered the house and the darky, Jasper, and his mother repeated thesame tale to me. We searched the house, but could find nothingsuspicious. On leaving I stationed a guard about the grounds, for I amconvinced she _did_ signal to some one who may try to enter the houselater on."

  "Better give it up," growled Baker, whose temper had been sorely triedby his own exploit.

  "Never!" Lloyd's teeth came together with an ominous click. "I willtrap that girl if it takes me months."

  The President and Nancy led the way up Seventeenth Street toPennsylvania Avenue and down that thoroughfare toward the White House.Lincoln stopped when he reached the entrance to the War Department.

  "I am going in here to read the latest despatches," he said. "Goodnight, Doctor. Miss Nancy, when do you go to Winchester?"

  "On the early train to-morrow, or, rather, this morning. Good night,Mr. President."

  "Good night and a safe journey to you." The President watched Nancy andDoctor Boyd out of sight; then turned to Baker. "Don't take it toheart, man. I rather enjoyed your springing at me--it was a newsensation."

  "Indeed, Mr. President, you should not go out at this time of nightwithout a guard," remonstrated Baker earnestly. "Then such a thingwould never have happened. It is not safe for you to walk about withoutproper protection."

  "Baker," said the President reminiscently, "you remind me of the littlegirl who had just been told of the omnipresence of God, and was soupset that she turned angrily upon her pet dog, saying: 'Go back in thehouse, Peggy. It's bad enough having God tagging 'round, without you.'Good night, Baker," and Lincoln disappeared inside the War Department.