Part 13 (1/2)
Butler stays in New Orleans the city shall acknowledge the absolute and unquestioned supremacy of the United States.”
”There is no doubt but that she will with you at the helm,” said the Admiral. ”General, do you know a man by the name of Archer?”
”John Archer?” asked the General, giving a quick glance at him. ”Well, to any one else, Admiral, I should dissemble; but to you I will say, yes.
Why?”
”This girl,” pus.h.i.+ng Jeanne forward, ”has brought messages, papers, or something of that nature for him from New York City: I thought that perhaps you could arrange a meeting with him for her. After that she has an uncle in the city whom she wishes to find.”
”This girl?” General Butler eyed Jeanne keenly. ”Rather young for a messenger, isn't she?”
”In years, perhaps; but she ran the fire of the Vicksburg batteries in order to reach here.”
”Indeed!” General Butler looked at her more closely. ”Do you know John Archer, child?”
”No, sir.”
”Orderly, bring in the man Archer,” commanded the General.
A look of surprise pa.s.sed over Farragut's face, but he made no remark.
Presently the orderly returned with a man.
”Archer,” said the General quietly, ”this girl has brought some papers for you.”
There was a startled expression on the man's face, and he looked at Jeanne with something like apprehension. General Butler turned his attention to Admiral Farragut, and Jeanne was left face to face with the man whom she had come so far to see.
CHAPTER X
AN UNFORESEEN RESULT
He was not an agreeable looking man and Jeanne felt an instinctive distrust of him instantly. For a few moments she hesitated, and the thought came to her that she would not give him the papers. But was it not for this very thing that she had come to New Orleans? What would her father say if she did not fulfil her trust?
”You wished to see me?” said John Archer, and it seemed to Jeanne that he was trying to make signs to her.
”If you are Mr. John Archer?” and Jeanne looked at him steadily. ”I came from Mr. Richard Vance.”
”Vance? Richard Vance?” repeated the other as if the name conveyed nothing of importance to his mind. ”What Vance?”
”Why Richard Vance of New York City,” answered Jeanne in astonishment.
She had inferred from what her father had said that John Archer would be well acquainted with the name. ”He is my father, and he has sent me to you with some papers. If you are Mr. John Archer?”
”I am he,” answered the man, ”but I know nothing about any papers.”
”I thought that you would,” murmured Jeanne. There seemed something strange to her in the way the man was acting. ”My mother sewed them into my petticoat,” she continued with a growing reluctance against parting with them. ”If there is any place where I could go I would get them. It seemed the best way to carry them.”
”Orderly,” interposed General Butler turning to them, ”take the young lady to Mrs. Butler. My wife will gladly a.s.sist you,” he added to Jeanne.
”Thank you,” said Jeanne, gratefully hurrying after the Orderly. They soon reached the apartments set aside for the use of General Butler's wife, and she herself opened the door in answer to the Orderly's knock.