atch,
and held it in the hollow of his hand so the wind would not extinguish
it. As the tiny flame grew brighter, he raised the match, and the light
fell full on the face of Baker's prisoner.

"Good God! The President!" gasped the colonel, and his hands fell
nerveless by his side.

CHAPTER VII

THE MISCHANCES OF A NIGHT

Baker glanced hopelessly about him; at the President, who pulled his
old gray shawl closer around his shoulders to keep out the chill wind;
at Lloyd, who stood clutching Nancy by her arms; and at the soldiers
who stood grouped about them. For once his feelings were beyond
expression.

"How long are you going to keep me here?" inquired Lincoln patiently.
"And why did you jump at me like a Comanche Indian?"

"Not a mo-moment, sir," stuttered Baker. "It was this young lady we
were after. We had no intention at all of interfering with you."

"And why do you want Miss Newton, Baker?" asked Lincoln.

"She is a rebel spy. We caught her signaling to-night."

"I deny it," exclaimed Nancy hotly; and she tried to step forward, but
Lloyd's strong arm held her back.

"Mr. President, hear me just one moment." Lloyd spoke with great
earnestness, and Lincoln turned to face him. One of the soldiers had
found a half-burnt candle in his coat pocket, and by its feeble rays
the President noticed Lloyd's detaining hand on Nancy's shoulder.

"Release Miss Newton," he ordered sternly. "Then tell your story in
detail."

Reluctantly Lloyd did as he was told. "This young lady picked up a
piece of paper in Gautier's which I knew contained valuable
information. I have suspected her for some days of supplying the
Confederates with our secrets; so I followed her here, and saw the
signal light. Colonel Baker and I thought you came up the street in
answer to it. It was too dark to recognize you...."

"So you took me for a rebel spy?"

"I certainly am sorry for my precipitancy, Mr. President," said Baker
apologetically. "Thinking you were an accomplice of this lady's, I
tried only to do my duty."

"My shoulder and arm can testify to your zeal," chuckled Lincoln. "Now,
Miss Nancy, what have you to say to these charges?"

"I never picked up a paper, Mr. President," said Nancy firmly. "On my
return home to-night from Gautier's I found a message from my old
mammy, Aunt Polly, saying she was very ill and that she needed me. She
lives in that house with her son, who is the caretaker during Mr.
Perry's absence. So