The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-06
Such oonfusioc,nil >. as.nd }sxcitement hal,

in those days; but, the, whole garrison
had been turned otit in search Of the es-
capped felon. Gtoars Of red. coats Pc
rambulated the streets, the roads leading
to the country. and, even the lanes and
meadows. HppdEeds Of country folk,
who had come In 70 see the execution,
elso crowded the town. The throng ION
the prison hill was so dense that the
farmer could scarcely proceed step.
They were al, talking; yociferously, in
Irish ana English every ole giving his
or her version Of, the wonderful story.
Some declared that the prisoner had not
escaped and that It was device by tha
authorities to :cohceal- some foul play.
When Pat Moran had elbowed his way
with great difficulty, almost to the pri-
son gates, he'looked eagerly for the OBJ
Jeets ofohist sear6h- some of Tins own
people, whom he. discovered sitting and
standing together in an excited group
"Pat Moran, dye bleeve this?" said
one of the men, hoarsely, olutching the
farmers coat. s'D'ye bleeve that poor
Tim has got out of their cursed thrap?"
John, Welsh. Tim did get outl'
"Whist!. Lord save usl" they all broke
I'M, with Que voice. = .s.,C5T =. -.t.3
"Tisn't safe to say more. I'm thriln-
blin that some OF them fellers wild the
brass buttons will hear me-" glancing
toward the turnkey, dimly visible behind
the iron grating; "but you, John Welsh,
an you, Mick Power, come wud car
tonight, to the cross roads beyant the
ferry, at IL O'Clock, an there'll be q
friend to see you. Whist, for your
sowlsr'
The prison warders were not long in
discovering by what means the captive
had effected his escape. and from the
opening the search was carried above
ground to the mouth of the sewer where
it emptied itself into the river. A ven
turesome spirit even crept up a few
dozen yards of the black passage, but
speedily returned, vowing that nothing
could live an hour in it. Nevertheless,
they sought for foot-marks on the river
brink; but the friendly tide had been
before them. Still, on the supposition
that he might have lived to reach the
river and swim across, party Of prison
o&cials and soldiers were ferried over,
and marched in body to Farmer Mo-
rams house.
Kate was busy feeding chickens. and
her mother peeling potatoes, when they
both caught sight of the CLEAN of scar
let and white cross-belts, and heard loud
tones and footsteps.
''Lord, be good and marciful to us
evermore, amin! Protect and save us!"
muttered Peggy Moran, dropping the
potato she was peeling, and turning with
q face of terror to her daughter, who
whispered, without turning her head
'Mother, darlin', don't purtend any
thing. for all sakes. Ohucky, chucky!
Chuck, chuck, chuckl' she went on,
raising her voice gaily, as she scattered
the food
Servant, sir" she said, wiping her
hands, and curtseying to tall stout Of
ficer, who strobe upJto the door, scatter
ing the chickens by the clanking of his
spurs and sword.
rs this Farmer Moran's, my good
girl?"
y Eyes. sir.' G%
care you his daughter?"
Eyes. sir; and this is my mother"
where's your husband, Mrs. Mo-
ramp" said the officer, turning to the
look calm. -
SAT the fair, sir. Oh, sure, 'tisn't got
into any harm Pat has, STRIP.
"What harm should he get into; about
this runaway prisoner, you mean?" said
the officer, trying to startle her into
some admission.
"What man, sir?" cried Kate. "Law,
mother, honey That's what the boy
"What boy2" said the officer, now off
his guard
ga boy, sir-ohl ra'al little chap-a
gossoon-run in here O while ago an
said the man that's to be lungs got out
an run away-an' sure we didn't bleeve
him!" said Kate, with such AN air of self
possession and innocent inquisitiveness,
that the officer was completely deceived.
A boy had come in as she had said, and
told the wonderful story, 80 che told the
truth in that part of her assertion.
"Well, Mrs. Moran" said the officer,
you've no objection to have your pre-
misses searched, suppose? It is sus-
peoted that the prisoner is hidden some
where about here"
'Musha, what put that in yere heads2"
said Peggy Moran, angrily. ''Faithi it's
somethin' else we'd be thinking of, an
not meddlin' wud the law; but you're
welcome to sarch away, sir, as long as ye
like, only it's quare thing to have an
honest mans house searched like a
rogues!"
II must do my duty" said the officer
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