men in Mooreville," continued Griffin, getting
upon his feet and buttoning up his coat, "and Randolph and his friend
Drummond are laying their plans to bring sorrow of some sort to them.
There was still another telegram which was sent to this place."

"Was there anything in it about me?" inquired Rodney.

"It was all about you. In it Drummond asked the operator here to keep an
eye on you if he could conveniently, and send word to Mooreville when
you went up the river and what boat you went on. Then he will send off
another dispatch to that St. Louis Yankee, who will know just when to
expect you."

"He means to be revenged on me for voting as I did, doesn't he?" mused
Rodney. "I shall not have any dispatches about me, but I don't want to
be arrested. It would delay me just that much, and might make it
impossible for me to get out of the city."

"Really I must be going," exclaimed Griffin, "or my cousin, who thinks I
came here on purpose to see him, will have his suspicions aroused. Can
you show me the way out? Remember I musn't be seen by anybody."

The Barrington boy, who was as well acquainted in that house as he was
in his father's, led the way to the front door, and after again thanking
his visitor for the trouble he had taken and the friendship he had shown
in warning him of his danger, he ran down the steps to the sidewalk and
looked in both directions. There was no one in sight; and having made
sure of it Rodney motioned to Griffin, who quickly disappeared in the
darkness. Then Rodney went slowly back into the house and entered the
room in which he had left his father. He told him and their host
everything, even at the risk of hearing Mr. Gray declare that he should
not stir one step toward St. Louis. That was just what the boy thought
his father would say, and he was ready for it, having hit upon a plan
which he was sure would throw his enemies off the scent.

Rodney's father was as angry at Randolph and Drummond as he was grateful
to young Griffin for the service he had rendered his son, but all he had
to say about it was that he would remember them all. And we may
anticipate events a little by saying that he kept his word so far as
Griffin was concerned. When the Confederate Congress passed that famous
conscription law "robbing the cradle and the grave," that is to say,
making every able-bodied man in the South between the ages of seventeen
and fifty subject to military duty, it did not neglect to provide