"Yes, I did," laughed Sam. "I would take twenty oaths before I would be locked up;" and then he added: "I tell you, we are all spotted here in this city, and who is doing it we can"t find out."
"What makes you think that?" inquired Webster, doubtfully.
"Many things. Why, only the other day I was taken before Lieutenant Watts, who has charge of the station-house, and the questions he put to me about the gang, convinced me that he knew a great deal more than was good for us."
"Did he ask anything about me?" queried Webster.
"No," replied Sam, "and if he had I wouldn"t have told him anything, you may be sure."
"I can readily believe that," said the detective, "but if it is so dangerous here, how am I going to deliver these letters?"
"I can help you there," said Sloan, after a moment"s consideration; "John Earl, Richardson and I will see that they are delivered, and that will keep you from incurring suspicion."
"That will do," said Webster, "and you can tell the people you see to write their answers at once, and inclose them in two envelopes, one directed to their friend, and the other to John Hart, at Miller"s Hotel."
"I understand; but who is this John Hart you mention--can we trust him?"
"I think so," replied the detective, laughing heartily; "his other name is Timothy Webster."
"By Jove, Webster, you"re a good one; I begin to think myself that there isn"t so much danger of your getting caught after all."
This being satisfactorily arranged, the two men started in search of John Earl and Richardson, who both agreed to a.s.sist in the delivery of the letters which Webster had brought with him from the South. They all went to the room occupied by the detective at the hotel, and after a friendly drink, the letters were properly a.s.sorted, and each man was given his particular portion. They were instructed to request answers from those only in whose friendship they could implicitly rely, and to take in person any that were prepared at the time.
In the afternoon, Webster called on Mr. Campbell, the father of the young man who had accompanied him on his trip from Richmond to Mana.s.sas Junction. The old gentleman was rejoiced to hear from his son, and after a few minutes" conversation Webster discovered that he was quite as bitter a secessionist as any one he had met, although he was quite aged and not very active. He informed the detective that he had once made a very handsome horse-bit for General McClellan, and that he was now making one for General Johnston, which he would like Webster to take with him when he next went to Richmond, and deliver it to the General in person.
"Have everything ready," said the detective, "and I will see that it reaches its destination in safety."
Returning to the hotel, he went in to supper, and after a hearty repast seated himself in the reading-room to await the return of his mail-carriers. While carelessly glancing over the columns of a daily paper, he was approached by a gentleman, who stepped in front of him, exclaiming heartily: "Why, Mr. Webster, how do you do? I am glad to see you; when did you get back to Baltimore?"
Looking up hastily from his paper, Webster recognized the speaker as Mr.
Price, the blockade runner whom he had met in Richmond, and with whom he had traveled some distance through the rebel country.
Their greeting was most cordial, and the return of John Earl and Sam Sloan found the two men engaged in animated conversation. From Price, Webster learned that a large amount of goods had been purchased by several wealthy gentlemen of Baltimore, who had adopted a very novel manner of transporting them into rebeldom, without danger from Federal pickets or gunboats. Their plan was to ship the goods upon a vessel bound for Europe and ostensibly the goods were intended for the same destination. In addition to this a small boat was purchased, which was to be taken in tow by the steamer. By an arrangement with the captain the vessel was to stand in as close as possible to the mouth of York river, when the small boat was to be brought alongside, then the goods were to be transferred to it, and the owners were to pull up the river to Yorktown, effect a safe landing, and the rest would be an easy task.
Webster complimented his companion on the shrewdness displayed in this suggestion, and that evening he wrote to me, conveying full particulars of the proposed blockade-running.
It is needless to say that this little plan, shrewd as it was, failed of execution. Men were at once placed upon the track of these merchants, and a more surprised coterie never existed than were these gentlemen, when their goods, carefully labeled for a foreign port, were seized by the government, and their conveyance to the South effectually stopped.
An examination of the goods fully confirmed the correctness of Webster"s information, and this venture, at least, was a losing speculation to those who had engaged in it.
After Mr. Price had taken his departure, John Earl called Webster aside, and informed him that a gentleman desired to send a draft for a large amount of money to Richmond, and that he had insisted on placing it in the hands of John Hart himself.
"Do you know this man, and that he is all right?" asked Webster.
"No," replied Earl, "I know nothing about him except that he is vouched for by three parties who are true, and they say he is all right."
"I don"t like this idea," said Webster, doubtfully; "I guess you had better tell this man that you will deliver it safely for him, and then you can hand it to me."
"I did suggest that, but he said his orders were to intrust it to no one but John Hart himself."
After considering for some time, Webster finally concluded to see the individual in person. He was satisfied that no harm could come to him if the man was a Federal detective, as, by application to the authorities or to me he could readily extricate himself from any difficulty, and if he was a rebel, he would incur no risk whatever.
"Very well," he said, after he had fully deliberated the question, "you can bring him to my room and then we will see what is to be done.
Meanwhile I will take a short walk and smoke a cigar."
On his return he found John Earl awaiting him.
"The gentleman is up-stairs in my room," said Earl; "will you go up now and see him?"
Webster signified his willingness, and the two men ascended the stairs.
As they entered the room the stranger arose to greet them, and Webster scrutinized him carefully. The result of his scrutiny was decidedly unsatisfactory. The new-comer was a tall, well-formed man, of about forty years of age. His hair was dark, and he wore long side-whiskers of the same color. In appearance he was what would be ordinarily considered a handsome man, but there was a look of quiet curiosity about the eyes, and a peculiar curl about the mouth, which struck Webster very unpleasantly, and caused him to instinctively regret having accorded him the interview which he desired.
"Mr. Hart," said the stranger, pleasantly, after they had been formally introduced to each other, "I have a letter here, inclosing a draft, which I am desirous of having safely delivered to my sister-in-law in Richmond. You will find the address upon the envelope inside. Can you attend to this?"
"I guess so," replied Webster. "I can try, at all events."
Webster could not overcome a feeling of unrest and suspicion, as he conversed with the man, and he felt considerably relieved when, after expressing his thanks, he took his departure.
The next morning Webster was astir early, and after partaking of a hearty breakfast, he thought he would pay another visit to Mr. Bowen.
Leaving the hotel, he walked rapidly down the street in the direction of the old man"s residence. He had not proceeded far when, on turning around, he noticed that his friend of the night before was walking upon the opposite side of the street, and but a short distance behind him.
Finding that he was observed, the man crossed the street, and after bidding Webster a very cordial good-morning, said:
"Mr. Hart, as we are walking in the same direction, if you have no objection, we will walk together."
Webster a.s.sented, and for a short distance they journeyed along, indulging in a very constrained conversation. Webster felt a.s.sured that the man had been following him, and that his apparent friendliness was a.s.sumed. Desiring to rid himself of his unwelcome and uncomfortable companion, he was upon the point of expressing himself very forcibly, when he was startled by the stranger grasping him firmly by the arm, and ejaculating:
"John Hart, you are my prisoner!"
Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet he could not have been more surprised, but recovering himself quickly, he wrenched himself from the grasp of the man.
"What do you mean, sir?" he asked.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "_John Hart, you are my prisoner._" P. 334.]
"Just what I have said," replied the other, coolly; "there is no occasion for any controversy upon the question, and as you are directly in front of the station-house, resistance would be worse than useless."
The cool manner in which these words were spoken exasperated Webster beyond control, but he saw that there were two soldiers standing guard in the doorway, and he realized at once that any attempt at escape would be foolhardy in the extreme. He therefore submitted quietly, and suffered himself to be led into the building, where an officer was seated at a table, examining the reports of the previous day.
The recognition between the Lieutenant and Webster"s captor appeared to be mutual, and, indeed, the presence of my operative did not seem to be an unlooked-for event.
"Lieutenant, this is Mr. Hart," said the stranger.
"All right," replied that officer, "we will take good care of him."
After a short consultation, held in a tone too low for Webster to hear, the stranger took his leave, and the officer turned to the detective:
"Come with me, sir; your case will be attended to in the course of the day."
"Lieutenant, I would like to speak to you a moment, now that we are alone," said Webster, desirous of ending the matter, and of enabling the Lieutenant to ascertain his true character.