"I don"t see how I can get the things?"
"Can"t you get your aunt or your cousin to show them to you? Then you can watch where they are put, and the rest ought to be easy."
"I"m afraid my aunt is very careful of the things. I have heard her say as much, to my cousin Marion."
"Well, you ought to take a little risk. Remember, it is to your interest to help me in establishing my claim to Jack."
"I"ll do what I can," replied St. John, after a moment"s consideration.
"I would like to get the things as soon as possible."
"I"ll go over to my aunt"s plantation the first thing in the morning.
But she may not want to listen to me just now. She is extra busy, you know."
"With those wounded Confederate soldiers?"
"Not only with those, but she also has a Federal officer there--brought in a few days ago."
"A Federal officer? Does she sympathize with the North?"
"She does to some extent."
"Who is the fellow?"
"A Colonel Stanton."
At the mention of that name Dr. Mackey leaped up in alarm.
"What! that man--in her house!" he gasped.
"Do you know Colonel Stanton?"
"I--that is--I know of him. Is he badly wounded?"
"I think he is."
"I hope he dies then. He is--a--a--very bad customer to meet."
"I can"t understand why my aunt makes so much of him."
"Tell me, has this Colonel Stanton met Jack?"
"Yes, they met some time ago, when the Yankees first came to this neighborhood."
"Ah!" Dr. Mackey drew a long breath. "I wonder what Jack thought of the colonel?"
"He likes the Yankee very much."
"Humph! Well, there is no accounting for tastes." Dr. Mackey pulled himself together with an effort. "If you see this Colonel Stanton don"t tell him about me, or repeat anything I have said, will you?"
"I don"t want to see the Yankee. I haven"t any use for any of them."
"Colonel Stanton ought to be arrested as a spy. I know for a fact that he once entered our lines and reported our movements to his superiors.
It would be a feather in your cap if you could have him arrested by the Confederate authorities."
"By Jove! do you really think that?" asked St. John, with renewed interest.
"I do."
"Then I"ll report the case without delay. I thought he was something of a sneak the first time I saw him."
"If the South would hang him as a spy it would be a good job done."
"Would you be willing to appear against him?" asked St. John anxiously.
"Well--er--no, but I can bring two other men to appear."
"Then I"ll surely have him arrested."
"And what about those things?"
"I will get them, if I possibly can."
A loud clap of thunder interrupted the conversation at this point, and when it was renewed the topic was not of special interest to Jack.
But our hero had heard enough to make him very thoughtful. Why had Dr.
Mackey been so startled to learn that Colonel Stanton was at the Ruthven plantation, and why had he been so anxious to know if he and the colonel had met?
"Here"s a fresh mystery," he told himself. "I must unravel it if I can."
"I am going to return home now," said St. John presently, when the storm seemed to be clearing away. "If I don"t get back, my mother will be wondering what has become of me."
"All right," answered the doctor. "But let me hear from you by to-morrow night, sure."
"I will."
"And don"t mention my name to Colonel Stanton."
"But if I have him arrested you will furnish those witnesses to the fact that he is a spy?"
"I will, rest a.s.sured on the point."
A little later St. John hurried off in the darkness. Dr. Mackey watched him go, and then began to pace the floor nervously.
Jack touched Old Ben on the shoulder.
"Wot am it, Ma.s.sah Jack?" whispered the faithful old negro.
"Ben, we must make the surgeon a prisoner."