He reached for the letter and saw that it was addressed in Kate’s fine hand. His hands trembled as he turned it over several times, then tucked it into his inside pocket. When the mail had been distributed Senn cleared his throat. “Three of you are lucky. Bradford, Brown and Frazer received money in the mail. We have a system now.” He frowned. “To prevent illegal exchange. I give you printed slips. You fill them out. These authorize our quartermaster to convert your money to Confederate currency at Government rates. The quartermaster keeps the money in his care....” As Senn droned on, Tim lost the hope of ever seeing his cash. He heard Senn’s words again, “... but the sutler won’t come to the jail as he did before. You will give your requests for goods to Corporal Addison or me, and the wagon will deliver your things to the jail. A list of goods and prices has been posted by the door at the end of your corridor.” Tim reached for his slip. His family had sent him a hundred dollars. He filled out the slip and gave it back to Senn, who nodded with a show of friendliness. “Your goods will be brought in on Thursday, if the quartermaster has what you want.” Red’s face was like a happy child’s. “Nancy’s fine, and she says the little fellow’s well. Looks just like his dad, she says.” Tim grinned. “I’m glad she’s well and the little fellow too. I’m glad he has good health to make up for his looks.” Red smiled and walked away. Tim sat on the steps of the Army kitchen. He took out Kate’s letter and read: STONE’S BROOK, CONNECTICUT October 27, 1863 DEAR TIM, Your letters give great pleasure to us all. We thank God your health is fine and that you have a friend like Lieutenant Kelly to lighten your days in that dark jail. I am sure it must work the other way as well. How fondly I remember the many times when I was blue until you made me laugh! Perhaps I shouldn’t say it in a letter that might be read by your captors, but it seems the war has taken a turning now. The defeat of Lee at Gettysburg was a blow to the Confederacy. Now we have news that General Grant is Supreme Commander in the west. Maybe he will be paying a call on you soon. Or perhaps your next letter will come from the comparative freedom of one of our Army camps. How fervently you must hope for exchange! Kate had written the letter on small, thin paper, and Tim was surprised to see that the second page was blank. But when he looked more closely he saw that it was double. It was covered with spidery lines and printed all over with the faintest legends. As he looked Tim heard footsteps on the stony earth and was startled by a voice close by. “Time to go back inside,” Red said. When he saw Tim’s face he laughed. “Did I frighten you, lad?” Red started for the jailhouse door, and Tim read on: