The Lost Despatch   By: Natalie Sumner Lincoln (1881-1935)

BY

NATALIE SUMNER LINCOLN

AUTHOR OF "THE TREVOR CASE"

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK AND LONDON D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1913

Copyright, 1913, by D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

Printed in the United States of America

TO A GALLANT SOLDIER OF THE UNION BRIGADIER GENERAL SUMNER H. LINCOLN U.S. ARMY WHO FOUGHT IN TWO WARS UNDER THE FLAG THIS NOVEL OF 1865 IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

"Love rules the court, the camp, the grove And men below, and saints above."

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

CONTENTS

Chapter Page

I. THE PIGEON'S FLIGHT 1

II. BRAINS VS. BRAWN 8

III. A KNOT OF RIBBON BLUE 19

IV. BANQUO'S GHOST 30

V. A SCRAP OF PAPER 46

VI. THE SIGNAL LIGHT 51

VII. THE MISCHANCES OF A NIGHT 57

VIII. A VOICE FROM THE PAST 64

IX. OUTWITTED 75

X. THE FORTUNES OF WAR 87

XI. WHO LAUGHS LAST 95

XII. THE FIGHT AT THE FORD 112

XIII. FOR THE CAUSE 120

XIV. WHEN TRAGEDY GRINS 134

XV. NEMESIS 144

XVI. A TANGLED SKEIN 161

XVII. IN CLOSE CONFINEMENT 168

XVIII. WHEN DOCTORS DISAGREE 176

XIX. GROPING IN THE DARK 186

XX. THE TURNING POINT 197

XXI. THE TRIAL 210

XXII. WEAVING THE WEB 229

XXIII. SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE 245

XXIV. A STARTLING DISCOVERY 257

XXV. A THUNDERBOLT 268

XXVI. BY A HAIR'S BREADTH 282

XXVII. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE 300

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Facing Page

"As Lloyd bent forward ... he received a crashing blow on the temple" Frontispiece

"'You? Nancy!' The doctor gazed incredulously" 68

"'I I am afraid he is dead'" 116

"Another interruption stopped her ... A hesitating step crossed the threshold" 278

THE LOST DESPATCH

CHAPTER I

THE PIGEON'S FLIGHT

It was bitterly cold that December night, 1864, and the wind sighed dismally through the Maryland woods. The moon, temporarily obscured by heavy clouds, gave some light now and then, which but served to make the succeeding darkness more intense. Suddenly the silence was broken by the clatter of galloping hoofs, and two riders, leaving the highway, rode into the woods on their left. The shorter of the two men muttered an oath as his horse stumbled over the uneven ground.

"Take care, Symonds," said his companion quickly, and he ducked his head to avoid the bare branches of a huge tree. "How near are we now to Poolesville?"

"About seven miles by the road," was the gruff reply; "but this short cut will soon bring us there. And none too soon," he added, glancing at their weary horses. "Still, Captain Lloyd, we have done a good night's work."

"I think Colonel Baker will be satisfied," agreed Lloyd.

"And friend Schmidt, now that he sees the game is up, will probably turn state's evidence."