room."

"I have it!" exclaimed she. "He has got them." I need not tell the
reader I felt greatly relieved, that there was at least the shadow of
evidence, which would serve to clear me and implicate Cunningham. The
lady appeared to be intensely excited. I was in doubt what course it
would be prudent for me to pursue. Finally, I went to the house of
Watkins, and told him that the package I had given him was of no value
to any person but myself; that it was made up of various articles of
writing, containing hundreds of names, many of which were familiar to
me. He looked them over in a cursory manner, and remarked,

"I think there must be witchcraft in these. The letters, though very
simple, bear upon their face a suspicious appearance." He, however,
agreed to preserve them with care.




CHAPTER V.


After my interview with Watkins, I felt greatly relieved. I hastened to
the hospital to see the colonel, as was my custom, often several times a
day. I found him surrounded with visitors, all of whom appeared to be
affected while in his presence. He needed sympathy. His mind was
tortured. His whole life seemed made up of successive throes of
excitement and desperation. His heart was torn by conflicting passions.
His confidence and affection for former friends were evidently waning.
If any remained, it hung like the tremulous tones of music uncertain and