ok a turn up and down the hall. He walked up to a door.

"That is my chamber," said Mrs. Stafford, quickly.

The officer fell back. "It must be searched," he said.

"My little children are asleep in there," said Mrs. Stafford, her face
quite white.

"It must be searched," repeated the General, more gently. "Either they
must do it, or I. You can take your choice."

Mrs. Stafford stood aside and made a gesture of assent. She could not
trust her voice. He opened the door and stepped across the threshold.
There he stopped. His eye took in the scene. Charlie was lying in the
little trundle-bed in the corner, calm and peaceful, and by his side
was Evelyn, her little face looking like a flower, lying in the tangle
of golden hair which fell over her pillow. The noise disturbed her
slightly, for she smiled suddenly, and muttered something about "Santa
Tlaus" and a "dolly." The officer's gaze swept the room, and fell on
the overcrowded stockings hanging from the mantel. He advanced to the
fireplace and examined the doll and trousers closely. With a curious
expression on his face he leant over and gazed earnestly down at the
two little heads on their pillow. Then he turned and walked out of the
room, closing the door softly behind him.

"Major," he said to the officer in charge of the searching party, who
descended the stairs just then, "take the men back to camp, except the
sentinels. There is no spy here."

In a moment Mrs. Stafford came out of her chamber. The old officer was
walking up and down in deep thought. Suddenly, as the last soldier
disappeared through the door, he turned to her: "Mrs. Stafford, be so
kind as to go and tell Colonel Stafford that General Denby desires him
to surrender himself."

Mrs. Stafford was struck dumb. She was unable to move or to speak.

"Kindly present my compliments and say he need not hurry; I shall wait
for him," said the General, quietly, throwing himself into an
arm-chair, and looking steadily into the fire.

VII

BOB SECURES A UNIFORM

As his father concealed himself, Bob had left the chamber. He was in a
perfect agony of mind. He knew that his father could not escape, and
if he were found dressed in citizen's clothes he felt that he could
have but one fate. Once the men went toward the passage that led
through to the rear entry in which his father was concealed. Bob's
heart stood still; but he acted quickly. He flung himself on the floor
right i