“Gentlemen, I received by courier this evening a despatch from the military headquarters and a letter, and they perplex me, so I wish you would kindly look over those papers, brought by Detective Raymond some days since, and see how you regard them?” Colonel De Sutro at once took the letter from headquarters explaining the situation regarding the prisoner, Silk Lasso Sam. He read it through carefully and handed it to Major Lester, who did the same. “Do you see anything irregular in that, gentlemen?” “I do not, sir.” “Nor do I.” “Read this now, please.” The requisition of the Governor of Illinois, for the delivery to his authorized agent, Detective Henry Raymond, was then read by both officers. “Now give me your opinion of that, please, gentlemen.” “There is but one opinion to give, sir.” “So I say,” added Major Lester. “Now, gentlemen, a courier just brought this official paper, and I have received with it a personal letter from the general. Please do me the kindness to read the official document, and I will read to you extracts from the general’s letter.” This was done, and then the two junior officers sat gazing at their senior. “What does it mean?” asked Colonel Dunwoody. “I can see but one meaning to it,” the major said. “And that meaning, major?” “Is that the general was in ignorance of the governor’s requisition or----” “But he could not be, when his other communication orders me to give up the prisoner.” “That is so, sir. And, as Texas Jack always says, I pass.” “So do I,” the lieutenant-colonel said, with a smile. “Now this last letter and despatch from the general is dated ten days after the former one and the requisition, so I can see but one thing to be said of the first received, and that is that they are forgeries.” “But that cannot be, colonel, for see the real and official letter-heads, and the writing,” the major said. “The letter-heads have been stolen, as also the use of the seal, while the handwriting of the adjutant-general has been copied. I tell you, gentlemen, some very clever head and hand have been at work here for the rescue of that prisoner, and it was accomplished, too, for those men were no more detectives than you are.” The colonel paced to and fro, deeply moved, and the two officers with him evidently began to see the situation as he did, for Colonel De Sutro remarked: “It is true that it could be done, Colonel Dunwoody, and we read about such escapes in novels, but it can hardly be possible.” “It is possible and has been done, gentlemen, I now feel certain of that. But, keep the matter quiet, please, and I will at once send a special courier with a letter to the general and these forged papers, stating just what has occurred.” “It would be best to do so, sir.”