?"

The boy glowered at him and answered with a snarl:

"I don't know you----"

Ned drew a sigh of relief. One danger was passed. He couldn't recognize
him. The rest should be easy.

"You don't need to, my boy," he whispered. "You're looking for a
friend--money?"

"Yes. I'll sell my soul into hell for it right now," he gasped.

"You don't need to do that." Ned drew two hundred dollars in gold from
his pocket and clinked the coin.

"You see that gold?"

"Yes, yes--what do you want for it?"

"I want you to get for me to-morrow morning the exact number of men in
McClellan's army. I want the figures from Stanton's office--you
understand. I want the name of each command, its numbers and its
officers. I know already half of them. So you can't lie to me. Give me
this information here to-morrow night and the gold is yours. Will you do
it?"

The boy glanced at Ned for a moment:

"I'll see you in hell first. I've a notion to arrest you--damned if I
don't----"

He wheeled and started toward the corner.

Ned's left hand gripped his with the snap of a steel trap, his right
holding his revolver.

"Don't you be a fool. I know that you're ruined. I saw you in Joe
Hall's----"

The boy's jaw dropped.

"You saw me?" he stammered.

"Yes. You're done for, and you know it. Bring me those figures and I'll
double the pile--four hundred dollars."

The weak eyes shifted uneasily. He hesitated and faltered:

"All right. Meet me here at seven o'clock. For God's sake, don't speak
to me if there's anyone in sight."

All next day Ned watched Betty's house in vain. At dark, in despair and
desperation, he wrote a note.

"DEAR MISS BETTY:

"For one look into your dear eyes I am here. I've tried in vain to
meet you. I can't leave without seeing you. I'll wait in the park
at the foot of the avenue to-morrow night at dusk. Just one touch
of your hand and five minutes near you is all I ask----"

There was no signature needed. She would know. He mailed it and hurried
to his appointment.

The boy was prompt. There was no one in sight. Ned hurriedly examined
the sheet of paper, verified the known commands and their numbers and,
convinced of its genuineness, handed the money to the traitor.

"For God's sake, never speak to me again or recognize me in any way," he
begged through chattering teeth. "I got those things from Stanton's desk
and copied them."

Ned nodded, placed the precious document in his