The Corporal raised his hand in salute and left the room. The men disappeared from the windows, and the back porch looked as empty as before. The whole discussion and the movements of the men had been practically noiseless. “Now, Mr. Arrelsford, are you ready?” “Yes, ma’am.” Mrs. Varney rang the bell on the instant. The two watched each other intently, and in a moment old Martha appeared at the door. “Did you-all ring, ma’am?” “Yes,” said Mrs. Varney; “I want some one to send to the hospital.” “Luthah is out heah, ma’am.” “Luther? He’s too small, I don’t want a boy.” “Well, den, Jonas——” “Yes, Jonas will do; tell him to come in here immediately.” “Yas’m.” “Perhaps you had better sit down, Mrs. Varney,” said Arrelsford; “and if you will permit me, I will stand back by the front window yonder.” “That will be just as well,” said Mrs. Varney, seating herself near the table, while Arrelsford, making no effort at concealment, stepped over to the window. Old Jonas entered the door just as they had placed themselves. He bowed low before Mrs. Varney, entirely unsuspicious of anything out of the ordinary until his eye fell on the tall form of Arrelsford. He glanced furtively at the man for a moment, stiffened imperceptibly, but, as there was nothing else to do, came on. “Jonas,” said Mrs. Varney, her voice low and level in spite of her agitation. “Yes’m.” “Have you any idea why I sent for you?” “Ah heahd you was gwine send me to de hossiple, ma’am.” “Oh, then Martha told you,” said Mrs. Varney. While the little dialogue was taking place, Mr. Arrelsford had made a signal, and the Corporal and two men had entered the room silently, and now swiftly advanced to the side of the still unobserving old negro. “She didn’t ezzactly say whut you——” he began. The next instant the two men fell upon him. He might have made some struggle, although it would have been useless. The windows were instantly filled with men, and an order would have called them into the room. He was an old man, and the two soldiers that seized him were young. He was too surprised to fight, and stood as helpless as a lamb about to be slaughtered, his face fairly grey with sudden terror. The Corporal flung open the butler’s faded livery coat, and for the moment Jonas, menaced now by a search, and knowing what the result would be, struggled furiously, but the men soon mastered him, and the Corporal, continuing his search, presently drew from an inside pocket a small folded paper. “Jonas! Jonas!” said Mrs. Varney, in bitter disappointment; “how could you?” “I told you so,” said Mr. Arrelsford truthfully, triumphantly, and most aggravatingly under the circumstances, taking the folded paper. “Corporal,” he added, “while I read this, see if he has got anything more.” A further search, however, revealed nothing. Arrelsford had scarcely completed the reading of the brief note when the Corporal reported: “That is all he has, sir.”