By this time Fox and Jacks had the flour bag open and a miscellaneous collection of articles stolen upon the battlefield were spread out on the counter. With a well-trained eye Davidstein ran over the lot in a careful but apparently careless manner. Some talk followed, and he finally offered a hundred dollars in gold for what was there. To this Fox and Jacks demurred. They would take three hundred and not a cent less. Davidstein told them to pack the articles up again. This brought on another talk, and finally a purchasing price of two hundred dollars in gold was settled upon, and Davidstein proceeded to get the cash out of a secret hiding place in the cellar. Louis listened to the talk with keen interest. He understood that Davidstein was a receiver of stolen goods, and he felt sure that his own things must be among those Jacks and Fox had come to sell. “If I get the chance I’ll have them back again, see if I don’t,” he thought, and continued to keep as quiet as a mouse. Davidstein had hardly disappeared into the cellar when there came a sharp rapping on the front door. At once the Jew came running up again. “Who is dot?” he questioned, and went forward. An officer and two guards from the prison presented themselves. “I haven’t seen or heard noddings about any escaped brisoner,” answered Davidstein, in reply to the officer’s questions. “Jacob, haf you seen anypotty?” “Not a soul,” answered the sleepy clerk. “I heard somedings going on ofer by der brison, put dot’s all.” “Your window upstairs is open,” said the officer. “We think he may have climbed up to it. We want to make a search.” At first Davidstein demurred, but at last he consented to have the officer and guards take a look around. He went upstairs with the soldiers, and Jacks and Fox followed, while the sleepy clerk stood watch below. Louis scarcely dared to breathe. The clerk moved forward to the front door and looked out upon the street. Then he came behind the counter and walked slowly towards the spot where the young Union soldier was in hiding. Louis felt that a crisis was at hand. CHAPTER XXVII LOUIS AS A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER Moving along as if in deep thought, the clerk of the store reached the very spot where Louis was in hiding, behind a number of loose shelving boards standing upright under the counter. His legs were within easy reach of the young Union soldier, and had he leaned down less than a foot he could have seen the hidden one without trouble. “Jacob!” It was a call from above, and at once the clerk moved away. A moment later Louis heard him ascend the stairs, and an earnest talk on the next floor followed.