I can introduce myself and plead my own cause. If he's the
fair, great-hearted man you believe, he'll see that justice is done----"
"You are going to kill the President!" Betty gasped.
"Nonsense--but if I were--what is the death of one man if thousands
live? I saw sixty thousand men in blue fall in thirty days--two thousand
a day--besides those who wore the grey. At Cold Harbor I saw ten
thousand of my brethren fall in twenty minutes. Why should you gasp over
the idea that one man may die whose death would stop this slaughter?"
"John, you're mad!" she cried, clinging to him desperately. "You're mad,
I tell you. You've lost your reason. Come with me, dear--come at
once----"
"No. I was never more sane than now," he answered firmly.
"Then I'll warn the President----"
He held her with cruel force:
"You understand that if it's true, my arrest, court-martial and death
follow?"
"No. I'll warn him not to come. I alone know----"
She broke his grip on her arm and started toward the door. He lifted his
hand in quick commanding gesture:
"Wait! my men are in that hall--it's his life or mine now. You can take
your choice----"
The girl's figure suddenly straightened:
"Take your men out and go with them at once!"
"No. If he does justice, I may spare his life. If he does not----"
"You shall not see him----"
"It's my life or his--I warn you----"
"Then it's yours--I choose my country!"
She walked with quick, firm step to the door leading into the family
apartments of the President.
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