Read Manly Wade Wellman - Novel 1954 for Free Online

Amanda Bowen slid past him and climbed up. She called down to
him and he hoisted up the heavy bags, one after another, then climbed to the rough planks of the landing. By the lantern light he saw her
talking to a slender man in a tail coat.
                 “All
clear?” called the oarsman. “Then I’m off.”
                 Barry
gazed after the departing boat, until Amanda Bowen touched his arm and
introduced him to Colonel Selby, who was old and wiry, with a daggerlike beard
tuft. He shook Barry’s hand, and called a Negro servant to take the mail bags.
Then they ate an early breakfast, served by their host’s brownhaired daughter,
Miss Emma.
                 “No
trouble getting into Memphis from here,” the colonel assured Barry. “And Ab Grimes will get you out
on the south side of town. You’re going to drive our spring wagon.”
                 The
ride to Memphis was uneventful. Barry drove with Amanda
Bowen beside him, and the precious bags hidden in the wagon, under hay and odd
parcels. They rolled into town past a sentry post at the outer limits, where
Union infantrymen lolled carelessly. Memphis was not as large as Saint Louis , but seemed just as busy. Drays and wagons
packed the streets, and on the sidewalks moved crowds of soldiers.
                 “Around
the next corner,” directed his companion. “You’ll see a sign that says Blaney’s
Livery Stable. Drive in and pull up and wait.”
                 Barry
nodded and followed directions. Blaney’s Livery Stable had a huge dark door,
like a cave, and into this Barry guided the wagon. One or two men moved among
distant shadowy stalls, but nobody spoke or looked his way. A full minute
passed. Then Barry started violently as a man in blue Federal uniform strolled
from somewhere, straight toward them. A moment later, he felt a pulse of joy as
he recognized the brown-bearded face.
                 “Amanda,”
said Absalom Grimes with his usual quiet courtesy, “my apologies for not
escorting you to the wharfs. The Graham's waiting, but so is the provost guard, and they might like to see me.” He gave
her his hand to help her down. “Goodbye,” he said. “I’ll be back in Saint Louis by June, as I reckon. Barry, help me shift
these bags over to my buggy. A driver is waiting to take the colonel’s wagon
back to him.”
                 As
Amanda Bowen left the stable, Grimes faced toward the darkest part and made a
clicking sound with his tongue. Into view rolled a shabbier buggy than the one
in which they had fled from Pike County . In its shafts, led by a
stableman, trod a sinewy brown mule with sleepy eyes. Grimes chuckled at
Barry’s disappointment.
                 “Think
we could get through the lines into Dixie with
a gold-trimmed rig and a team of blooded trotting horses?” he teased. “That
mule’s name is Yonder , because that’s where he is when
the Yankees are looking for him here. He’s a good sentry-fooler. Drag out the
mail, now.”
                 As
the buggy halted beside the wagon, Grimes took hold of the front seat and pushed
hard. It slid back on oiled metal tracks, revealing an open space like a trunk.
Into this he and Barry hustled the mail bags, Grimes dragged the seat forward
again to hide them, and they were off.
                 Some
of Barry’s earlier uneasiness returned as they drove southward through Memphis . Grimes wore Federal uniform. If captured,
he would face a spy’s death, Mrs. Wilson had said—and so would Barry, if taken
in his company. But Grimes drove with his usual calm assurance.
                  As they left the town behind, and
approached a crossroads, they saw a white tent and four soldiers at the
intersection. Yonder plodded near, and the blue quartet moved into line across
the way.
                 “Halt!”
cried the tallest, and Grimes pulled up. “Who goes