Your aunt called to see me this morning, Miss Nancy."

"It was most kind of you to give us passes to Winchester." Nancy looked
gratefully at the President as she tried to keep step with his long
strides. "The change will do Aunt Metoaca good, she has been too long
in Washington without a change of air, and I am worried about her
condition."

Lloyd rejoined the little procession at the corner of New York Avenue
and Seventeenth Street. To the right gleamed the lights of the cavalry
corral on the ellipse back of the White House, and on the left were the
buildings of the quartermaster general's depot. Lloyd drew Baker to one
side and whispered:

"Apparently the girl has covered her tracks this time. Symonds and I
entered the house and the darky, Jasper, and his mother repeated the
same tale to me. We searched the house, but could find nothing
suspicious. On leaving I stationed a guard about the grounds, for I am
convinced she _did_ signal to some one who may try to enter the house
later on."

"Better give it up," growled Baker, whose temper had been sorely tried
by his own exploit.

"Never!" Lloyd's teeth came together with an ominous click. "I will
trap that girl if it takes me months."

The President and Nancy led the way up Seventeenth Street to
Pennsylvania Avenue and down that thoroughfare toward the White House.
Lincoln stopped when he reached the entrance to the War Department.

"I am going in here to read the latest despatches," he said. "Good
night, Doctor. Miss Nancy, when do you go to Winchester?"

"On the early train to-morrow, or, rather, this morning. Good night,
Mr. President."

"Good night and a safe journey to you." The President watched Nancy and
Doctor Boyd out of sight; then turned to Baker. "Don't take it to
heart, man. I rather enjoyed your springing at me--it was a new
sensation."

"Indeed, Mr. President, you should not go out at this time of night
without a guard," remonstrated Baker earnestly. "Then such a thing
would never have happened. It is not safe for you to walk about without
proper protection."

"Baker," said the President reminiscently, "you remind me of the little
girl who had just been told of the omnipresence of God, and was so
upset that she turned angrily upon her pet dog, saying: 'Go back in the
house, Peggy. It's bad enough having God tagging 'round, without you.'
Good night, Baker," and Lincoln disappeared inside the War Department.

CHAPTER VIII

A VOICE FR