At the time the play opens the .Southern army is harassing the Unionists. The Northern spy force is augmented and Grace, whose brother, Harry, is already in the secret service, joins it. She meets Harry and together they take a coach to the Southern town they have selected to spy upon. A prominent colonel in the Southern army deals with dispatches, and it is this man that Grace investigates while Harry awaits events. The colonel has a sweetheart, May, and Grace manages to got an introduction to her at a ball by purposely tearing her dress and appealing to May for help. This leads to an acquaintance with the Colonel, and she practices all her woman's wiles and fascinations upon him and he is impressed with her.
