ate.

"I sent word to him that I was bringing Miss Newton to see you, instead
of taking her to the provost marshal, and to join us here. I think this
is he coming now," as the sound of hurrying footsteps sounded outside
in the corridor. Baker stepped to the door, and pulled it open. "Come
in, Lloyd."

But the man who entered was not Lloyd. He breathed heavily, as if spent
with running, and, despite the cold winter night, beads of perspiration
trickled down his face.

"Symonds!" exclaimed Baker. "Did you go for Captain Lloyd, as I
ordered?"

Symonds nodded, gazing past Baker with frightened eyes at Nancy.

"Then, why didn't he return here with you?"

"Because"--Symonds took a long breath--"because--he's dead!"

CHAPTER XVI

A TANGLED SKEIN

The President and his companions sat looking at Symonds in stupefied
silence. Secretary Stanton was the first to speak.

"Dead!" he thundered. "Who killed him?"

"I don't know, sir."

"What killed him?"

"I don't know, sir," reiterated Symonds stupidly.

"Was he shot or stabbed?"

"Neither, sir."

"Well, damn my soul!" The exasperated and hot-tempered Secretary
clutched the inkstand with the evident intention of hurling it at
Symonds. "_What_ did he die of?"

"I don't know, sir." Symonds passed a trembling hand over his pale
face. "He was just lying there in bed--dead."

"Had Captain Lloyd been ill?" asked the President.

"No, Mr. President; not to my knowledge. He appeared to be in good
health and spirits when I left him this afternoon; only exhausted from
five days in the saddle. He told me he was going to lie down and rest,
and that I was to send for him after I had seen Colonel Baker, who was
then in Baltimore, and arranged for this lady's arrest."

"Take that chair, Symonds," said the President, "and tell us all you
know of this affair."

Obediently Symonds pulled forward the chair indicated, and faced the
President, much perturbed in mind.

"I met Colonel Baker, as Captain Lloyd directed, and gave him the
information he had been waiting for. We came here, and, after
consulting the Secretary, Colonel Baker ordered me to bring Captain
Lloyd to this room.

"When I reached Mrs. Lane's boarding house, I went directly up to the
captain's sitting room. I rapped and rapped on his door, but could get
no response." Symonds paused impressively, and five pairs of eyes
watched him almost without blinking. "The captain had told me he was a
heavy sleepe