The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-04-26

hope that by cutting away the floor he
might drop down into the room below, and
so have another chance of getting off
With the Ratchet he had caught up he fell
to work, the noise he made completely
drowned by the uproar without and some
minutes before their object was effected, he
landed in the room below.
Instantly the alarm was given by the sol
diers nearest the hearth place. Some of
their number remained above, while the
rest hurried down to get into the room be-
low But here was another delay, for the
women who occupied ia good Protestant
as several of them knew, and therefore not
to be suspected of voluntary harboring a
French spy (for such they declared the fu-
gutive to be)-was absent and the door
locked. Some, who had hurried round to
the back of the house, found the window of
there was no other outlet from it.
With shout they announced their GER
tainty that the Frenchman was still in the
called for a crowbar to break open the door
and seize him at last. Somehow, none Of
them ventured to follow him through the
hole he had made in the floor and ceiling.
They knew he must be armed-they had
abundant proof of his energy and despera-
ton; and the bravest man that ever step
ped might we'll be pardoned for not adopt
ing means of descent sure to be fatal to
himself
But Just as the crowbar was about to be
put into requistion, there was a cry Of
"Stop stopl" from female voice IN the
crowd, and presently little woman, greatly
Hurried and excited, came Glowing her
way towards them ''Oh, General, honeyi'
she cried. sure We went break open my lit
tie room? | have the key somewhere
only wait one mint i And the little clear
starcher fumbled desperately in her pockets
and in the bosom of her dress, vowlng the
while, as we'll as she could speak, that it
was ''the Lord sent her back from her er-
rand in time to prevent her little place from
being smashed - Still the poor creature
was so frightened and so confused that 1t
was not until the general losing all patience
had again called for the crowbar, that the
key at length made its appearance In an
swer to despairing dive into the depths of
a capacious side pocket.
1t was snatched from her, the door was
flung open, and the men poured in. In
moment every crool, and Granny was ran
sacked in vain There was no trace Of the
fugitive, and they were completelyln fault.
The window shut, and bolted on the inside,
precluded any idea of escape in that dlrec-
ton; the fire cheerily burning in the large
CRATE as effectually proved that he could
not have assembled the chimney; he was
nowhere in the room, yet there was plain
TO all beholders the aperture in the ceiling
by which he got down. And louder than
the cries of the angry soldiers were those OF
the little clear starcher, whose apartment
had been 80 unceremoniousIy distgured
The would-be capt0rS we're baifled by the
devil himself
But the Evil One had no need, even were
he 50 inclined, to interfere In the matter
The little Protestant clear starcher bad
contrivea very cicverly to outwt the sold
iery. That she was odd in her ways was
certain for while every man, woman or
hid, except herself, WAS in CONJUNCTION ON
he arrival Of the military, she remained It
Ter waFh-tub rubbing away. and listening
20 the upyoar and the blows overhead, il
'tothing at all unusal we're the matter
here she was. when the ceiling gave way
md the poor hunted Frcnchman, pale and
covered with dust, stood before her She
never cried out or even spoke she Just looked
NJ nun ioi d otcoiid' t'.CH poibtcu " VIVA
NV he sprang ont, and fastened off in tie d.
1cction she indicated. The little woman
busted the window sill where he had left
the prints of bis feet, shut the window,
NOTED it on the inside, threw some fresh
fuel on the fire, slipped out, locking the
door behind her, and ningling unobserved
with the people in the street.
Wherever the Frenchman was, he was
saved. When he jumped out through the
,,indow, he made Of across a garden, on
trough other gardens. ont into a field
where some men were digging potatoes
'hese seeing him running, and his dress all
Urn, guessed how it was, and one of them
ave him his jacket, aaother his brogues,
mother his caubcen, and they rubbed clay
over his hands and face, and otherwise
,ided | i disguise.