The Lost Despatch

  CHAPTER XVII

  IN CLOSE CONFINEMENT

  Stanton's face hardened, and he wheeled on Nancy.

  "Where is that paper?" he demanded curtly.

  "I do not know."

  The Secretary's eyes were the first to fall before the girl's steadygaze.

  "I have wasted quite enough time with you," he snapped. "Baker, conductMiss Newton to Old Capitol Prison, and have her placed in closeconfinement."

  "Wait." Senator Warren rose. "Your pardon, Mr. Secretary; but so faryou have produced no direct evidence to prove your charge against MissNewton. Therefore, I demand her immediate release."

  "It is impossible to grant your request. Miss Newton is too dangerous acharacter to leave at large. She will have an opportunity to prove herinnocence of the charges against her before a military commission."

  "Charges?" said Nancy inquiringly, as she picked up her wrap inobedience to a sign from Baker. "Charges, did you say, Mr. Secretary?Your threats multiply with lightning rapidity."

  "Charges, madam," sternly, "as a rebel spy, and, as such, conniving atthe death of Captain Lloyd and stealing the paper which proves yourguilt."

  "It is monstrous!" cried Nancy hotly. "Symonds' own words prove CaptainLloyd died naturally in his bed. As to the paper, I have repeatedlytold you I know nothing of it. It may be simply a fabrication of thisman's excited imagination. You have only his word against mine that itever existed."

  "Very true, madam; but I prefer to take his word." Stanton's tone ofoverbearing finality made Nancy clench her hands with rage. She turnedappealingly to Lincoln.

  "Mr. President, in the name of justice I ask for fair play."

  Lincoln unlocked his big, bony hands, brought his chair softly down onits four legs, and rose awkwardly.

  "There is much to be explained, Miss Nancy; and Secretary Stanton isright in the stand he is taking," he said unwillingly. How gladly wouldhe have spoken otherwise! "I cannot interfere." Nancy blanched, and bither lips to hide their trembling. Nothing escaped the President, andhis worn, unlovely face grew tender. "I give you my word, you shallhave a fair and impartial trial. Warren, go with Baker and see what youcan do to soften Miss Nancy's imprisonment."

  "Thanks, Mr. President." But he had turned back to the desk and did notsee Nancy's half-extended hand, or hear her faltering voice. Her handdropped to her side, and, choking back a sob, she followed SenatorWarren and Baker out of the room.

  Nancy had only a confused idea of what followed: the drive to theprovost marshal's office, his questions and cross-questions, thesigning of papers, all were but the hazy outlines of some fearfulnightmare from which she must soon awake. She was hurried from theprovost marshal's and into the carriage again. The rapid hoof beats ofthe horses kept pace with the pounding of her heart.

  "Here we are, Nancy." Warren touched her on the shoulder as theircarriage stopped in front of the Old Capitol Prison.

  Baker sprang out, and beckoned to a soldier standing before thedoorway. Nancy followed the Secret Service officer more slowly andpaused, as the guard gathered about her, to gaze at the twinkling starsand fill her lungs with the cold, fresh air which fanned her hotcheeks.

  "Come!" Nancy shuddered involuntarily as Baker's hand closed over herarm in no gentle grip. "This way." And they entered a wide hall.

  A number of soldiers lounged on the benches which lined the walls onboth sides. Recognizing Baker, they rose, and stood at attention.

  "This way, Colonel," said the corporal of the guard. "SuperintendentWood is still in his office." And he preceded them down the hall.

  Nancy answered apathetically all the questions the superintendent shotat her.

  "Room No. 10, second floor, women's section," said the latter to anorderly, as he closed the register and filed his papers away. "See thatclean bedding is taken there at once." The soldier saluted and hastenedout of the room. "Now, Miss Newton, follow me." He led her into asmaller apartment where a stout woman and two colored assistants stoodwaiting. "The matron has to search you. Let me know when you havefinished," he directed, and banged to the door.

  Nancy submitted quietly to the ordeal. Her thoughts were elsewhere; shehardly noticed what the others did. She was soon told to put on herclothes, and the matron, leaving her under the watchful eyes of theother women, stepped out of the room. In a few minutes she returned andbeckoned Nancy to the door. She found Senator Warren and thesuperintendent waiting in the hall.

  "I sent to your aunt for some necessary clothes for you, Nancy, and thesuperintendent, here, says they will be brought to you as soon as mymessenger returns with them."

  "After they have been examined by me," put in Wood gruffly. "Yourquarters are in Carrol Prison, where the women are confined."

  He pointed up the dirty staircase, and Nancy, preceded by the corporalof the guard, climbed wearily up them, and turned down a long corridor.The corporal stopped before an open door midway down the hall, andsigned to her to enter. Senator Warren, who had accompanied her byWood's permission, stepped forward.

  "I must perforce leave you here," he said; then, seeing the hunted lookin Nancy's weary eyes, he added pityingly: "Don't be so worried, child;keep a brave heart. Your aunt and I will have you out of here in notime."

  Nancy turned and impulsively kissed him. "You dear, faithful friend,"she murmured brokenly.

  "There, there." The senator's own eyes were moist. He thought of hislittle daughter at home under a watchful mother's care. What if shewere in prison, suspected of grave crimes? He patted Nancy's wavy hairwith tender hand.

  "Senator"--her voice was so low he barely caught her haltingwords--"won't you get word to me to-morrow without failabout--about----"

  "About what, child?"

  "About Major Goddard's condition. I--I--must know."

  Bravely and unashamed, she looked squarely at Warren. His shrewd eyessoftened as he read the story of an untold love in her blushing face.

  One second more and the door slammed to; the bolt was shot, and Nancy,with wide, curious eyes, stood gazing at her new surroundings by theaid of a half-burnt candle. The room was small and unspeakably dirty. Awooden cot with its straw mattress stood in the corner farthest fromthe window; a broken-down wash stand with a tin basin was in anothercorner, and a wooden chair without a back occupied the center of theroom.

  While Nancy was taking stock of her furniture, the door was opened anda bundle of clothes tossed unceremoniously inside. She waited until sheheard the door relocked; then took up her belongings, which were welltumbled by the inspection they had undergone. There were some pegs inthe walls, and Nancy hung her wrap on one of them; then walked over tothe window.

  Her room looked out on a court formed by the wings of the buildings. Ahigh platform wide enough for two men to pass each other had beenerected on the top of the fence at the back, and she caught the gleamof the moonlight on the sentries' bayonets as it was reflected back bythe burnished steel. There was no curtain of any kind in the window.The dirt on the window-panes was her only protection against pryingeyes. So Nancy pushed the stool over by the bed, piled her extraclothing on the foot of the bed, and carefully blew out the candlebefore undressing.

  It was a relief to get her clothes off, and she sat on the edge of thebed listening to the sentry's unceasing tramp up and down the corridor.Suddenly the silence was broken by the sentry's call from outside:"Post No. 1! Two o'clock, and all's well!"

  As the call sounded from post to post, Nancy threw herself face down onthe hard mattress.

  "Bob, Bob," she moaned, "what evil fortune led you into that room!"