LINCOLN [_Whispering._] Give me a little lift, then---- [_Pauses._] I'm just whistling to keep up _my_ courage! [_He pauses again in an agony of suffering._] I know that he got to Atlanta---- [_Pauses._] Sherman has disappeared! BETTY Forgive me--I forgot. _You're_ going to win. I feel it. I know it! LINCOLN That's the way to talk! That's the way I'm talking to myself though I'm scared within an inch of my life---- [_He pauses and goes over to the_ OPERATOR--BETTY _following._] Say, boy--can't you beat it a little harder and make the blame thing talk for us? OPERATOR I wish I could, sir. LINCOLN Try him again----- [_The_ OPERATOR _calls Atlanta and pauses_--LINCOLN _and_ BETTY _bend over with breathless suspense. The instrument gives one click_--LINCOLN _starts. The instrument stops._] Didn't the thing start to answer? [_The_ OPERATOR _shakes his head._] Call the War Office and ask Stanton to step over here--My God--why can't we hear! BETTY [_Wistfully._] I'm not going to cry again--but I just want to ask _one_ question--you won't mind? LINCOLN As many as you like! BETTY He--he--had to enter Atlanta a spy, didn't he? [_Sobs and catches herself._] LINCOLN Yes--of course---- BETTY Well, if he should be captured--could--they execute him without our knowing it? LINCOLN They might--but he's a very bright young man! He'll be too smart for them---- BETTY [_Hopelessly._] I don't know--I don't know----! LINCOLN Now listen--! I'm going to tell you something--I _know_! I've a sort of second sight that tells me things sometimes, my dear. After the battle of Gettysburg I saw General Daniel E. Sickles in the hospital. They told me that he was mortally wounded and could not possibly live. _I_ told General Sickles that he _would_ live and get well, and he did! I saw his living body that day at work in health and strength as plainly as I see you! We have not heard from Captain Vaughan yet, but it will _come_--! He has reached Atlanta. The General got my message. I know that. I felt it flash through the air from his soul to mine! I can see you and your lover at this moment seated side by side smiling and happy---- BETTY [_In awe._] You--see--this----! LINCOLN [_In dreamy tones._] As plainly as I see the sunlight dancing on the leaves outside that window now---- [STANTON _enters and_ LINCOLN _turns to meet him eagerly._] STANTON You've no news? LINCOLN