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already begun. This morning I sent a wire to Army headquarters in Washington, to General Earl Howard in the records office. He and I are old friends. I expect to hear back from him right away, maybe even tomorrow. I told him it was urgent.”
    Some of the worry left Elizabeth’s face. “Thank you, Sidney. I appreciate this more than I can say. And the children appreciate it, too.”
    Sidney gave her a hug. “You just relax now and leave it to old Sid. We’ll find Gordon and have him back home before you know it.”
    It was late morning the next day when Cleora came into the parlor where Elizabeth was sitting in her favorite overstuffed chair, reading a book of poetry.
    “Miz Elizabeth, I jus’ happened to look out the door an’ I saw Mr. Sidney’s buggy comin’ up the drive.”
    Elizabeth closed her book and set it aside as she rose to her feet. “Please bring him in here, Cleora.”
    When Sidney walked through the parlor doorway, Elizabeth searched his face, but could detect nothing from his expression. She waited for him to speak.
    Cleora closed the door behind him, and he said, “I received a wire back from General Howard two hours ago. The army knows that Captain Gordon Burke was seriously wounded in a battle on the banks of the Appomattox River at Farmville, Virginia, on April 7. He said—”
    “Please don’t tell me he’s—”
    “No, no! General Howard said Gordon was taken to Potomac Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, but the Washington office has no more information.”
    “Oh, I was afraid of this! He died, didn’t he? They buried him and didn’t even let me know!” She began to sob.
    Sidney grasped her upper arms firmly. “Liz, let me finish! As soon as I read General Howard’s telegram, I wired Potomac Hospital. They wired me back about an hour ago but didn’t give me much, except to say that Gordon was released alive and well on May 3.”
    “May 3! That was twenty days ago! Something’s happened to him. We’ve got to find him!”
    “I think the best place to start is the hospital. Talking to someone there face to face will get us a lot more information than trying to communicate by wire. Surely someone there can tell us where he said he was going after his release.”
    “You’ll go with me?”
    “Of course I’ll go with you. And so will Darlene.”
    “Oh, I’m so glad. It will be a real strength to have both of you with me. When can we leave?”
    “We’re leaving on the train to Washington at eight-thirty in the morning. I already have the tickets. With all the stops the train makes along the way, we won’t get to Washington till evening. We’ll stay in a hotel tomorrow night and drive to Bethesda Wednesday morning.”
    “Oh, bless you, Sidney! But I don’t understand why someone at the hospital didn’t notify me that Gordon was there.”
    “That puzzles me too, but we’ll get some answers when we get there. Be ready in the morning at seven, all right?”
    Elizabeth raised up on her tiptoes and kissed Sidney’s cheek. “I’ll be waiting. Thank you, Sidney.”
    On Wednesday morning, Sidney pulled the rented buggy into the hospital parking lot and helped his wife and sister-in-law from the vehicle.
    The receptionist at the desk smiled at them as they approached. “May I help you, sir?”
    “Yes, ma’am. We’ve come to inquire about a patient who was here from about April 8 till May 3. His name is Captain Gordon Burke.”
    “And what did you need to know?”
    Sidney gestured toward Elizabeth. “This is Mrs. Burke. I am Captain Burke’s brother, and this other lady is my wife. We haven’t heard from my brother, so I contacted U.S. army headquarters in Washington. When I was told that he’d been wounded and broughthere, I wired the hospital and received a return wire that said he’d been released alive and well on May 3.”
    “I see.” The receptionist blinked, looking puzzled.
    “We came down from Boston to talk to someone who can give us more information. Can you