144

XVI. A TANGLED SKEIN 161

XVII. IN CLOSE CONFINEMENT 168

XVIII. WHEN DOCTORS DISAGREE 176

XIX. GROPING IN THE DARK 186

XX. THE TURNING POINT 197

XXI. THE TRIAL 210

XXII. WEAVING THE WEB 229

XXIII. SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE 245

XXIV. A STARTLING DISCOVERY 257

XXV. A THUNDERBOLT 268

XXVI. BY A HAIR'S BREADTH 282

XXVII. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE 300

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Facing Page

"As Lloyd bent forward ... he received a
crashing blow on the temple" _Frontispiece_

"'You? Nancy!' The doctor gazed incredulously" 68

"'I--I--am afraid he is dead'" 116

"Another interruption stopped her ... A hesitating
step crossed the threshold" 278

THE LOST DESPATCH

CHAPTER I

THE PIGEON'S FLIGHT

It was bitterly cold that December night, 1864, and the wind sighed
dismally through the Maryland woods. The moon, temporarily obscured by
heavy clouds, gave some light now and then, which but served to make
the succeeding darkness more intense. Suddenly the silence was broken
by the clatter of galloping hoofs, and two riders, leaving the highway,
rode into the woods on their left. The shorter of the two men muttered
an oath as his horse stumbled over the uneven ground.

"Take care, Symonds," said his companion quickly, and he ducked his
head to avoid the bare branches of a huge tree. "How near are we now to
Poolesville?"

"About seven miles by the road," was the gruff reply; "but this short
cut will soon bring us there. And none too soon," he added, glancing at
their weary horses. "Still, Captain Lloyd, we have done a good night's
work."

"I think Colonel Baker will be satisfied," agreed Lloyd.

"And friend Schmidt, now that he sees the game is up, will probably
turn state's evidence."

Lloyd shook his head. "I doubt if Schmidt can tell us much. He is too
leaky a vessel for a clever spy to trust with valuable information."

"But," objec