A VOICE FROM THE PAST
Some hours later Doctor Boyd stepped inside his hall and softly closed
the front door. Quickly removing his hat and heavy cloak, he went
directly into his back office and felt about in the dark for his match
box. It was not to be found in its accustomed place, and an angry
exclamation escaped the doctor. Apparently Martha Crane, his trusted
old housekeeper, had taken advantage of his absence and tidied up his
desk, an act of vandalism which always reduced Boyd to a state
bordering on frenzy.
"Kin I help yo', suh?"
Doctor Boyd's right hand sought his hip pocket, and he faced in the
direction from which the voice came. The intruder guessed his intention
and spoke hastily.
"Fo' God's sake, doan shoot, suh. I'se Sam." And to confirm his
statement he struck a match and held it so that his features were
visible by the flickering flame.
"Well, come in and light this confounded burner," exclaimed the doctor
testily, as his fingers slowly relaxed their hold on his weapon. "Next
time don't announce your presence so dramatically, Sam, or you may get
hurt."
"Yessir." The negro stepped with alacrity through the doorway which led
to the front office, and applied his half burned match to the gas jet
over the doctor's desk. "Miss Martha done told me ter wait in dar."
"Confound the woman!" The doctor seated himself in his armchair and
contemplated the neatly arranged papers and ornaments on his desk in
despair. "Where is she?"
"Done gone out," announced Sam briefly. "I tole her I'd be 'sponsible
fo' de house 'til she cum back."
"Where were you to-night, Sam? Miss Nancy expected you to meet her at
the Perry's."
"I went dar, suh, but I seed a lot ob men a-hangin' 'roun' watchin' de
place, so I jes' cum on heah, thinkin' p'raps Miss Nancy mite be wif
yo'. I done got de papah she wanted."
"Miss Nancy leaves at nine o'clock for Winchester."
"Golly! Den I mus' git right 'roun' an' gib her dis heah papah." Sam
started for the door.
"Stop!" commanded Boyd. "The Newtons' house is also watched by Secret
Service agents. I saw them sneaking about the yard when I left Miss
Nancy an hour ago. If you go there at this hour you will be arrested
instantly."
Sam scratched his woolly head in perplexity. "I reckon if I jes' go to
der back alley an' whistle fo' Misery dey won' notice dis ole nigger,"
he volunteered hopefully, after a moment's thought.
"What good would that do you?"
"I'll jes' slip de papah in de dawg's collah, an' he'll take it ter
Missy same as he brings her messages ter me."
Boyd shook his head. "It is too much to risk on a dog's sagacity now
that suspicion is directed toward Miss Nancy."
"Den 'spose I meet Missy at de train an' slip de papah in her han'."
"Unfortunately she is shadowed wherever she goes. Sit down a moment,
Sam, and let me think." The doctor stroked his chin reflectively. "I'm
afraid if I go to their house on the pretext of giving Miss Metoaca
medicine I will be searched, and if that paper is incriminating we will
all swing together. Here, let me read the message, and then I can
repeat it to Miss Nancy at the station."
"No, suh, 'scuse me, suh, but dis heah papah was ter be delibered ter
her pussionally."
"I am the best judge of that. Give me the paper at once."
"No, suh," reiterated Sam obstinately. "Cunnel Newton tole me I was ter
do 'zackly what Miss Nancy oddered, 'kase he willed meh ter her fo' he
died, an' I'se her serbent now same as I wore his body serbent."
"Confound your stupidity," growled Doctor Boyd. At that moment a sound
from the basement reached his quick ear. Signing to Sam to remain where
he was, Boyd tiptoed out into the hall and over to the back stairs. The
kitchen door creaked dolefully as it was pushed open by an old woman
who walked heavily along the lower hall toward the stairs carrying a
lighted candle. The doctor drew a sigh of relief.
"Glad you have returned, Martha," he called softly. "Please bring some
ice water into my office on your way to bed."
Sam was plucking nervously at his old hat when the doctor reentered the
office.
"'Tain't 'kase I doan _want_ ter gib yo' dat papah, suh," he began
confusedly, edging toward the open hall door. "But de cunnel, he
brunged meh up ter obey his odders, same as he done Miss Nancy. His
word wore law to eb'ry one on de plantashun. I reckon I'se jes' got ter
fin' some way ob reachin' Miss Nancy."
"You won't have to reach far," volunteered a familiar voice from the
doorway. Sam wheeled about and a gasp escaped him.
"You? Nancy!" The doctor gazed incredulously at the stooping,
gray-haired woman who hobbled into the room and closed the door.
[Illustration: "'You? Nancy!' The doctor gazed incredulously."]
For answer Nancy straightened her bent shoulders and removed the gray
wig.
"I found Martha Crane with Aunt Metoaca," she explained, seating
herself by the desk. "She told me that you were here, Sam, and having
failed to meet you at the Perrys' I decided to try and catch you here
before you left."
"But where on earth did you get that disguise?" demanded the doctor.
"I borrowed the clothes from Martha; fortunately, with padding, they
fit me quite well. She also lent me the key of your basement so that I
would not attract attention by going to the front door. The wig," Nancy
laughed, "I used that in some tableaux at one of the Sanitary Fairs
last year. It came in very handy, for the Secret Service men thought I
was old Martha and let me pass unquestioned."
"No wonder; your make-up is perfect," declared Boyd heartily.
"Have you secured the paper for me, Sam?" asked Nancy.
"Yes, Missy." Sam took a small slip of paper from an inside pocket and
handed it to her. Nancy studied the closely written lines intently.
"Important?" inquired the doctor, breaking the long silence.
"Very." She carefully refolded the slip. "This contains the key to
Stanton's private cipher code."
A low whistle of surprise escaped Boyd. "How did you get it?"
"Arthur Shriver, who, as you know, was a clerk in his office, copied
it, but before he could get it to me he was arrested on suspicion,"
explained Nancy. "I heard he was confined in one of the front rooms in
the Old Capitol Prison, and so arranged to have the sentry's attention
diverted while I questioned Arthur by prearranged signals."
"Did the plan work?"
"It did. Arthur told me where he had hidden the paper, and I sent Sam
to-night to get it for me."
"Well, well!" The doctor sat back and contemplated Nancy admiringly.
"There's another message written on the back of that paper."
Nancy turned it over and her eyes widened in surprise as she read aloud
the hastily scrawled words: "Mrs. Bennett is a Union spy. I have just
overheard an interview between her and Stanton."
"That woman!" ejaculated the doctor. "That cat!"
"Felines scratch," Nancy shrugged her shoulders disdainfully. "Stanton
is fighting the devil with fire."
"Be careful, Nancy; don't undervalue your opponents," cautioned the
doctor.
"I flatter myself I am a match for Mrs. Bennett," retorted Nancy, "and
forewarned is forearmed."
"Strange," muttered Doctor Boyd. "Very strange. Do you recollect
the----"
"I shall turn this paper over to you, Doctor," broke in Nancy
impetuously, "to take through the lines, along with a despatch which I
also secured to-night."
Boyd shook his head. "Impossible. I cannot leave the city now."
"Why not?"
"Because I have a capital operation to perform at ten o'clock."
Nancy gazed at him in consternation. "Why, Doctor, you have always said
that when the Cause needed your services you would not fail...."
"Nor will I, when the Cause _really_ needs me. But at present you are
better equipped to carry these messages through the lines than I."
Nancy fingered the table ornaments for a moment in silence; then raised
her troubled eyes to her listener's face.
"I have sent my last despatch," she announced quietly.
"What!" The doctor could not believe his ears. "Why?"
"Because I refuse to deceive people any longer. I was brought up to
believe a lie an abomination of the Lord--and I have been a living lie
for three long years!"
"You have developed a New England conscience," growled Boyd.
"Do you think all the virtues belong north of Mason and Dixon's line?"
retorted Nancy hotly. "For shame!"
"I beg your pardon," the old surgeon bowed toward her with stately
courtesy. "Do be reasonable, child. This operation I am to perform
means not only life to the patient, but much to science. Besides, I
doubt if the authorities would allow me to leave Washington to-day.
Now, your plans for leaving the city are already made; therefore it
will be a very simple, easy matter for you to carry those papers into
Virginia. You will run little risk..."
"I am not hesitating on that score," broke in Nancy. "I would give my
life gladly for the 'bonnie blue flag'--_in the open_. It is the
underhand methods--the spying--the deceit--that burn like a red-hot
coal." Nancy paused; then continued more quietly: "There _is_ such a
word as '_honor_'." She drew out another slip of paper from the bosom
of her dress and tossed it, together with the paper already in her
hand, on the table. "You must find another messenger."
"Missy, Missy, what yo' talkin' 'bout?" Nancy and the doctor both
started. They had forgotten Sam's presence. "Is yo' goin' back on yo'
gibben word--_yo'_--a Newton?"
The girl's face whitened. She started to speak, but the negro gave her
no opportunity to do so.
"Has yo' done forgot dat Sunday night?" he asked, leaning forward
across the table in his earnestness. "Dat night when I fotched yo' from
Newton Manor to Massa's bedside?" His voice deepened, the musical voice
of the emotional African.
In Nancy's mind distinct and vivid rose the memory of that wild ride
through the night to her father, the gay, handsome father whom she
idolized. Then, in thought, she again knelt beside the rude bed in the
silent tent, clinging to a feeble hand which had not the strength to
return her pressure.
"Missy," Sam's voice brought her back to the present, "Massa done
brunged yo' up ter ride, an' shoot, an' swim 'kase he wanted a boy so
bad. He wore shot leadin' a charge ag'in de Yanks, an' when de gen'ral
cum later ter say how bad he feel ter lose Massa, he jes' said: 'Ah
wish Ah haid uh son ter take ma place in de ranks.'" The negro paused,
then continued slowly: "When yo' an' I got dar, Missy, de Massa wore
mos' gone, but he say ter yo': 'Doan cry, dear, de fightin' Newtons
allus die wid de boots on--an' so die happy.' An' den he raise hissef
up uh li'le an' gasp: 'Ah gib yo' ter de Cause--swear to uphold de
honoh ob Virginny--ter repel invasion--swear----'" Sam raised his right
hand solemnly. "An' yo' swore dat oath on de Crucifix, Missy, on de
Crucifix--in a dyin' man's han'."
Sam's accusing eyes held Nancy spellbound. Mechanically she readjusted
her wig. Quickly her right hand sought the papers lying on the table,
and before either of the men realized her intention she had slipped
from the room and was gone.