e,
and of Kate's part in it, of her condemnation, and imprisonment as a spy,
and how Fred had secured her pardon.(2)

Calhoun listened to the story in wonder. When it was finished, he
exclaimed: "Why, Kate, you are a heroine! I am proud of you."

"I am not proud of myself," answered Kate. "I blush every time I think of
how--how I lied and deceived."

"Oh! that is a part of war," laughed Calhoun. "If Morgan didn't lie about
the number of men he had, the Yanks would gobble him up in no time. We
don't call such things lying; it's a righteous deceiving of the enemy."

"But I am ready to sink into the earth with shame every time I think of
Ainsworth," sighed Kate.

"That's rich," laughed Calhoun; "crying because you broke the heart of a
Yankee! Kate, I have a mind to send you into the enemy's lines. If Cupid's
darts were only fatal, your bright eyes would create more havoc than a
battle."

"No use sending her away," broke in Mrs. Shackelford; "there are more
Federal officers buzzing around her now than I wish there were."

"Mighty useful to worm secrets from," exclaimed Kate; "but I make no
promises to any of them."

"That's right, Kate, get all the secrets from them you can," said Calhoun;
"that is what I am in Nashville for. Can any one get around the city
without much danger?"

"Oh, yes, in the daytime; but there is always more or less danger to
strangers. Business is going on as usual. The city is lively, livelier
than before the war; but it is soldiers--soldiers everywhere."

"And you have to have no passes?" asked Calhoun.

"It is best to have one. Most of us have standing permits to come and go
in the city as we please."

"Can you get me a permit?" asked Calhoun, eagerly.

"There is Jim Grantham," replied Kate, thoughtfully; "his description will
suit Calhoun close enough. I can get Jim to loan you his."

Calhoun was now told that the Southern people in Nashville were thoroughly
organized into a secret society. They had their signs and pass-words, so
that they could know each other. So far no one had proved a traitor. The
Federal authorities suspected that such an organization existed, but their
shrewdest detectives never succeeded in finding out anything about it.

Kate, who had gone for the permit of James Grantham, soon returned with
it. The description fitted Calhoun almost as well as if made out for
himself. He could now walk the streets of Nashville with little fear of
arrest.

He was given a