CHAPTER XXXI.
SENDING INFORMATION TO THE CONFEDERATES FROM MEMPHIS.
My Friend, the Lieutenant, concludes that he will make himself better acquainted with me. Indiscreet Confidences. Some of the Traits of human Nature. The Kind of Secrets Women can keep. Women better than Men for certain Kinds of Secret Service Duty. The Lieutenant wants to know all about me. I suspect that he has matrimonial Inclinations. He is anxious to discover whether I have any wealthy Relations. I am induced to think that I can make him useful in obtaining Information with Regard to the Federal Movements. The Lieutenant expresses his Opinion about the War. Arrival at Memphis. Visit to the Provost Marshal's Office. General Washburn too ill to see me . I enclose him the bogus Despatch I have for him with an explanatory Note. The Lieutenant escorts me to the Hardwick House, and I request him to call in the Morning. Procuring a Change of Dress through One of the Servants, I slip out, and have an Interview with my Confederate, and give him the Despatch for General Forrest. On returning to the Hotel, I meet the Lieutenant on the Street, but manage to pass him without being observed. Satisfactory Accomplishment of my Errand.
CONCLUDED that my friend, the lieutenant, had deserted me, for which I was inclined to be sorry; for he was apparently an agreeable enough young fellow, and I was rather anxious than otherwise to have his company as far as Memphis. If any doubts as to my being "all right," as the colonel had expressed it, still lingered in his mind, I thought that I would not only be able to remove them before our journey's end, but that I might be able so to insinuate myself into his confidence that I could learn something from him. I also wished him to go to Memphis with me, for I felt that if I put in an appearance there, under the escort of a Federal officer who would vouch for me, my status with the people at headquarters would be more satisfactory than if I went alone. In performing spy duty, there is nothing like having a friend at headquarters to introduce
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