om "A.
D." was referred. The letter alluded to the confidence the writer had
hitherto placed in "A. D.," and to the former correspondence between
them. It also mentioned an enclosure from "Gen. W.," written in cipher,
to which cipher "B. S." stated "A. D." had a key. "B. S." ended his
letter with the request that the enclosure from "W." be shown to
Messrs. "M." and "A.," and then promptly forwarded to "T. P."

Before showing this communication from "B. S." Drane had torn off that
part which bore the date, "May 2, 1802," and at the bottom of the page
had added in a fair likeness of the handwriting of "B. S.," the date,
"Oct. 12, 1802."

It will be remembered that at this period there was a renewal of the
old rumors in regard to Spanish intrigues, and that Gilcrest on April
court day had seen Abner in what had appeared to be a confidential
conversation with Wilkinson, Sebastian and Murray; and also that Abner,
when calling at Oaklands after his return from Virginia, had mentioned
traveling in the company of Sebastian and Murray and stopping with them
at Blennerhassett Island. Moreover, early in the year, Gilcrest,
through his friend, Dr. Bullock, of Louisville, had been apprised of a
conspiracy in which Thomas Power, a Spanish emissary, and the three
prominent Kentuckians, Wilkinson, Sebastian and Murray, were suspected
of being involved. So great was Gilcrest's infatuation for Drane, he
had violated his promise made to Bullock, and had hinted of these
intrigues to Drane, who thus had much material to work upon in his
attempt to prejudice Gilcrest against Betsy's lover.

"How in the world did this paper fall into your hands?" was Gilcrest's
first query, after examining the communication of "B. S."

"Wait," Drane answered, "until you have seen this," placing before the
old gentleman the following torn and crumpled fragment:

CAN

Honored Sir:--I was in Lexington again
and del'v'd y'r enclosure containing reco
owing to the absence of two of the
Power, I can accomplish nothing. Jud
but he is so handicapped that he ca
a trustworthy informant that Ez
also an applicant for this pro
be advisable to open negotiation
he is strongly in favor of Spai
well to make application through B
withdrawing altogether from the Uni
that you make no further move in th
ed of Power's return. I will see him
and you may rest assured that I will

Y'r ob't, hum