The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-12-10

cautiously up to the window and looked in.
There sat Elliott, Mrs. Stevens and tho boy,
all talking busily. could not hear their
words, but as watched, Elliott displayed
the pass l had secured for him, and the
three had laugh at my expense. When
he put the pass back into his pocket, he
threw open his coat, and got glance at
the butt of revolver. He had the pru-
dence to arm himself, and had no doubt
that he possessed the courage to defend
himself. How was to capture him? If
l knocked at the door he would be on his
guard, and though not recognizing me,per-
haps he would not become my prisoner
without fierce struggle. / must get the
advantage of him in some way.
was still looking through the window,
watching all that passed, when the woman
rose up, opened the stove, and looked in the
woodbox for fuel. There was none there,
and saw her look at the boy and make a
motion. knew in a moment he was COM
ing out doors for wood. The wood pile
was between me and the smoke-house, and
ran back towards it. In moment more
the boy opened the door, began whistling a
tune as he stepped out in the darkness, and
came straight to the pile. sank down, and
stopped within three feet of me and bent
over and began gathering up the sticks
AS softly as a cat rose up, crept up close
to him, and suddenly seized him by the
neck. He started to cry out, but / had
whirled him around and got hold of his
throat before he could give the alarm. He
was not near my match in strength, and |
had him down in moment. did not in
tend to hurt him, and only clasped his throat
tight enough to prevent him from scream
ing out. When he had ceased to struggle,
/ let up little on his throat and whis-
pered:
"Boy, I'm Yankee soldier, and if you
make the least noise, I'll drink every drop
of your blood If you keep still and do as
1 tell you, you shall not be hurt. Now,
sir, who is in the house?''
"M-mother a-and Captain E-Elliott," +"
"Who else don't tell me liep
"No one else-but mother expects Mr..
Green this evening"
Then that was Mr.. Green whom had
fast and tight in the smoke-house.
"Now, boy" continued, 81 have got
Mr.. Green locked up in the smoke-bouse,
and l am going to put you in there with
him. If you open your mouth or try to get
ont I xvill shoot vou doy, in on instant y,
He promised implicit obedience if would
spare his life, and we were on the road to
the receptacle of my prisoners, when Mrs.
Stevens opened the door and called for him
to hurry along with the wood.
"Tell her that you are coming ~ l COM
manded, and he shouted the words. Salts
fled, the woman shut the door.
then hurried him into the prison, fasten-
ed the door, and hastened back to the
house. Just as l struck the step, drew a
revolver and commenced whistling as if it
were the boy. AS opened the door, El-
lott was standing with his back towards
me, looking at a picture on the wall, and
the woman was in the pantry.
"Captain Elliott, hold up your arms ~
shouted, almost reaching him before he
turned.
had the revolver on line withhis head,
and never saw man more amazed. He
could do nothing but stare at me.
Cup with your arms over your head p l
commanded, as he seemed about to reach
for his pistol. "If you hesitate another
instant, I'll shoot you down in your
tracks !"
Up went his arms, for he saw that had
the advantage. The woman was out by
this time, very much excited, but fortunate
ly did not interfere, as some of her South
ern sisters would have done.
"What does this mean-who are you,
?" demanded Elliott, getting his voice
for the first time.
"You are my prisoner and that is
enough - "Walk this way-turn around,
keep those hands up-there Now, Mrs.
Stevens, want you to take everything out
of his pockets and lay the articles on the
table,"
The captain swore, and the woman hesi-
tated, but made her do it. Out came the
revolver, a bundle of letters, a pipe, a
wallet, and finally there was nothing more.
"Now, captain, lie down ON the floor,
and you, woman, bring me that clothes-line
from behind the stove"
There was more swearing, and more hesi-
tacy, but the revolver was great persuad-
er. When had the rope, / made the cap
fain turn nver nn his face and LI,n., Ainl 1. 4.