Raiding with Morgan Part 27

Calhoun had an inkling of what smothered the flames when, representing himself as a young Englishman, he asked a Federal officer why the government permitted such open talk of treason.

The officer smiled as he answered: "It is better for them to talk than act. The government has its eye on them. As long as they only talk it lets them alone. The first overt act will be crushed with a heavy hand."

Then Calhoun remembered what both Worley and Warrenton had told him; that government spies were in the order, and that they knew not whom to trust.

Would the spies of the government find out who he was, and his mission? It was not a very comforting thought.

CHAPTER XV.

OHO NE! OHO NE! OHO NE!

Monday Calhoun left for Detroit. Dr. Warrenton was on the train, but they met as strangers. When he reached the city and went to register at the Russell House, a gentleman was carelessly leaning against the desk talking with the clerk. He did not appear to notice Calhoun, but he had caught the word "Chic." after his name.

After a few moments the gentleman approached Calhoun and said: "Pardon me, but is not this Mr. Harrison of Kentucky?"

"My name is Harrison," answered Calhoun, "but if you would examine the register you would see I am from Chicago."

"Ah, yes, I understand," and he gave the secret sign of the order. "Come,"

he continued, "and let me introduce you to some friends."

He led the way to a room where there were several gentlemen seated smoking and talking, among them Dr. Warrenton, who gave him a warm greeting.

"I have been telling them about you," said Warrenton, "and they are all anxious to meet you."

The Doctor then introduced Calhoun to each member of the party. There was Wrightman of New York, Bowman of Indiana, Hartman of Missouri, Bullock of Kentucky, and others.

"You don't tell me you are the son of my old friend, Judge Pennington, of Danville," asked Mr. Bullock, as he shook Calhoun warmly by the hand.

"The very same," answered Calhoun.

"Gentlemen, we need have no fears of Lieutenant Pennington," exclaimed Mr.

Bullock, addressing those present. "I will vouch for him with my life.

Let's see, your name is now-"

"Harrison for the present," answered Calhoun, with a smile.

The party had no trouble in getting across the river, and that night there was a meeting in Windsor which boded ill for the Federal government.

The Supreme Commander of the order was a gentleman in the full vigor of manhood. He was polished in his manner, rather reserved, but every action showed that he was accustomed to command. Behind it all Calhoun thought that he detected the signs of an inordinate ambition-an ambition which would stop for nothing.

"Isn't he grand," whispered Dr. Warrenton to Calhoun. "A fit representative to wear the mantle of your great namesake."

"Better say the mantle of Aaron Burr," thought Calhoun, but he wisely did not give expression to his thought. The object of Calhoun's coming was fully explained, and it was decided by a unanimous vote, that he should receive the fourth degree, and thus be ent.i.tled to all the information which he wished.

The degree was duly conferred on him. Calhoun was now certain he was among a band of conspirators who would stop at nothing to achieve their ends.

"Is this the highest of the degrees?" asked Calhoun, when he was through.

The party exchanged meaning glances, and then the Supreme Commander said: "There is one more degree, but it is given only to the highest officers in the order, and would not be of the least advantage to you."

Calhoun was certain there was something which those present did not wish him to know-some object which they wished to keep secret.

The number of members in the order was now given to Calhoun. The figures astounded him. In Iowa there were twenty thousand members, in Missouri fifty thousand, in Illinois one hundred and twenty thousand, in Indiana one hundred thousand, in Ohio eighty thousand. Throughout the East the order was not so numerous. This seemed strange to Calhoun, for he thought that New York especially would be fertile ground for it.

"How many of these men are armed?" asked Calhoun.

The answer was: "In Missouri nearly all, in Illinois fifty thousand, in Indiana forty thousand, in Ohio the same, in Kentucky nearly all."

"Gentlemen," exclaimed Calhoun, with considerable warmth, "if these figures are correct, why have you not arisen before this, and hurled the Lincoln government from power? Pardon me, but it looks like timidity. The North is denuded of men, those loyal to Lincoln are in the army."

"That is what I have insisted on," cried Mr. Bowman, of Indiana, jumping to his feet in his excitement. "I say strike, strike now! We of Indiana are ready. Liberate the Confederate prisoners in Northern prison pens! We have arms for them. If necessary, give every Northern city over to the flames."

"Brother Bowman forgets," answered the Supreme Commander, "that our forces are scattered; that if we attempt to concentrate, the government will take alarm and crush us. At present we have to work in secret."

"But what if Indiana and Ohio should be invaded?" asked Calhoun.

"That would be different," was the answer.

"What if you should be successful in your plans?" asked Calhoun.

"Let the South go free. We firmly believe in the doctrine of States'

Rights," was the answer.

"Would your states cast their lot with the South?" asked Calhoun, eagerly.

Again there were meaning glances among the leaders. "It is yet too early to answer that question," slowly replied the Supreme Commander, "or even to discuss it. The overthrow of the present Abolition government and the independence of the South is now our object."

But had the leaders a further object? Calhoun resolved to find out, and he did.

The conference at Windsor was over. It was resolved that the order should everywhere be strengthened, and that it should strike at the first favorable opportunity. That opportunity would come at once, should the North be invaded.

From Detroit Calhoun went to Columbus, Ohio, from there to Dayton, the home of Vallandigham. He found that that gentleman was the idol of that section. They wanted him to come home. They swore they would defend him with their lives. The whole country reeked with disloyalty to the Federal government.

Calhoun availed himself of the opportunity of talking with all cla.s.ses of citizens. He especially tried to get at the feelings of the humbler members of the Knights of the Golden Circle, why they joined the order, and what they proposed doing. All the information he gleaned he treasured up.

From Dayton Calhoun proceeded to Indianapolis, where he was to meet Mr.

Bowman. He found Indiana much better organized than any of the other states. Bowman was enthusiastic, and he seemed to hate the Lincoln government with his whole soul. He would stop at nothing to achieve his ends. But the especial object of his hatred was Governor Morton.

"I want to live long enough," he said, "to see that tyrant hanged for trampling on the const.i.tution of the state."

Calhoun found that the Knights stood in great dread of Morton. They declared he had a way of finding out every secret of the order. If he had not been thoroughly guarded, his life would not have been worth a farthing.

Calhoun was taken into the country, where he witnessed the drilling of two or three companies of Knights. These meetings always took place at night, in some secret place, and sentinels were posted to guard against surprise.

Calhoun talked with many of the members to get their ideas and to find out what they wished to accomplish.