A Man of the People Part 39

[_Hesitates._]

I joined, and I'm one of their officers----

LINCOLN

[_Carefully._]

Of their inner council?

VAUGHAN

Yes----

LINCOLN

You--know--all their signs and pa.s.swords?

VAUGHAN

Every one----

LINCOLN

[_With sudden deep excitement._]

Young man, you may have thought you came here to-night with murder in your heart--but Almighty G.o.d sent you for a different purpose----!

VAUGHAN

What do you mean?

LINCOLN

You'll stand by me now, through thick and thin?

VAUGHAN

[_Pa.s.sionately._]

I'd count it an honor to die for you----!

LINCOLN

Well, I'm going to ask you to do something harder than that for a man of sensitive honor. These Copperhead traitors took advantage of your illness and grief over your father to inveigle you into a scheme of high treason----

VAUGHAN

What----!

LINCOLN

You believed their purpose to be patriotic--didn't you----?

VAUGHAN

Of course----

LINCOLN

[_Seizing_ BAKER'S _Report._]

This doc.u.ment from Baker's Office contains the original order of their Chief for an uprising on the night of the election----

VAUGHAN

Uprising for what----?

LINCOLN

To overturn the Government, recognize the Confederacy, and divide the Union----

VAUGHAN

Is it possible----!

LINCOLN

You know--after what has pa.s.sed between us to-night--that I speak the truth----

VAUGHAN

Yes----!

LINCOLN

You came in here to demand a trial for your father--and find him in reality justly condemned to death. I have pardoned him. I want you to atone for his wrongs and your own tragic mistake, by placing yourself with the signs and pa.s.swords of that Society at my disposal. You have been basely deceived and betrayed--will you do it?

VAUGHAN

If my country calls--yes--and I'll thank G.o.d for the chance to atone----!

LINCOLN

Good----! You are the one man on earth to-night whom I need and didn't think I could get! I'm going to send you on a dangerous mission. I need two things to carry this election and save the Union--a single victory in the field to lift our people out of the dumps, and a word from Jefferson Davis _that there can be no peace save in division_! I know Davis. We were both born in Kentucky, on almost the same day. He holds that position. But the peace party of the North refuse to believe it. They say he will compromise. Now I've sent two men down there--Colonel Jacquess, a Methodist clergyman, of our hospital service, and John R. Gilmore of the _Tribune_, old Greeley's paper. They go as private citizens of the North, who desire peace. They are to draw Davis out, and get his declaration for me. Technically, they are spies--for they have no credentials. They may be imprisoned or executed. They pa.s.sed through our lines but twenty miles from Richmond, seven days ago. I haven't been able to hear from them. The silence is ominous.

VAUGHAN

And you wish me to find out what has happened to them----?