"If God would only give me such a man to lead our armies!"
"Is General McClellan at Alexandria to-day?" Betty suddenly asked.
"I'm wondering myself. He should be on that field with every soldier under his command."
"I've come to ask you for a pass to Alexandria——"
"Then my worst fears are confirmed!" he broke in excitedly. "Your sweetheart's on McClellan's staff—his men will never reach the field in time!"
He dropped into a chair, hurriedly wrote the pass and handed it to Betty.
"God bless you, child. See me when you get back and tell me all you learn of McClellan and his men to-day. The very worst is suspected——"
"You mean?"
"That this delay and deliberate trifling with the most urgent and positive orders is little short of treason. Unless his men reach Pope to-day and fight, the Capital may be threatened to-morrow."
"Surely!" Betty protested.