Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-12-29

"Mebbe know him-mebbeI DON'T"
she replied as she looked around for her
spectacles. "Somehow or other [ allus
know all the fools going, and most of
'em come around here for vittels. Now,
then, I'll look at him.
She put on her spectacles, took the
candle in hand, and Dan was scrutinzed
for long minute. He looked up into
her face and grinned and chuckkd,
though his heart was in his mouth.
"She don't know him !" Whispered
one of the men.
The widow overheard it, and now shs
was on her mettle. Walking slowly
across the room to put down the candle
and her spectacles. she turned and said
"Yes, he's fool, and you are bigger
fools for stopping him l''
"Then you know him ?" asked the
leader.
81 rather think so F! His name is Tom
my, and he lives somewhere around Fair
fax. He's been here more'n dozen
times"
"Didn's propose matrimony, did he ?''
asked one of the men.
"No!" she snapped. "but if he had
he'd haveSstood better chance than
white men who hide in fence corners to
capture niggers !''
So saying she slammed the door on
them and went away. She sat down at
the table and looked across at Dan, and
presently unused:
"Yes, he's fool, and these men had
no business hauling him around, no
matter whether | know him or not. l
guess he's hungry and tired, and I'll
give him something to eat and send him
to bed"
Dan "played the fool" to perfection,
: and when he had eaten the woman had
real motherly interest in him. She
guided him up stairs, showed him the
bed he was to occupy, and then went
down with the light, saying:
"Fools can see in the dark as we'll as
by daylight, and you might set the house
on fire %
The spy was out of the scrape in one
sense, aud yet he was in trouble. He
wanted to reach and pass the Confeder-
ate outposts before daybreak. If he re-
mained in the house all night he would
encounter people next day who might
want him more fully identified But how
was he to leave
The chamber was half-story affair
all in one room and window at either
end. One of these would let the spy
out. He crept across tho floor and tried
the sash of one. 1t was old and shaky
and yet he worked at it long ten min
utes and gave up in despair. The sash
es were not nailed, but so warped tha
to get them up or down or out woulC
make noise enoug h to arouse everybody
about the house. The sash in the othel
window could be raised, but Dams fin
gers had scarcely touched it when TIVE
or three dogs, which seemed to be ken
neled directly below, commenced fu
rious barking. Escape by that wa!
was cut off.
After a moments thought Dan decid
ed to wait until the house grew quiet
and then descend the stairs and 90 ou
the front door. He might have to wal
an hour or more, and he therefore threy
himself on the bed. He had scarcel,
got settled when he heard commotiol
down stairs and the heavy tread of
man. Creeping out of bed and putin,
, his ear to the floor he soon made ou
: that the woman's son had returned hom
: after considerable absence within tn
Confederate lines.
Dan listened for long time, catchin
words enough to keep the run of tn
conversation, and when he heard bot
moving across the floor he slipped int
bed again. 1t was we'll he done SC
The stair door opened, light appeared
and as mother and son ascended, sh
said:
"Of course he's a fool !! Do you thin
I've got so old that l can't tell an idio
when | see him %
.'Well these are suspicious times.
muttered the son in reply, and both ad
t vanced to the bed.
. Dan seemed to be fast asleep. On
hand, all cramped up, was on the quill
in plain sight, and he had his face screw
/ ed up until the lonesome look ought
2 have melted heart of stone.
! There don't he look like fool :?
whispered the mother.
: '"He may be one, but it won't do an
hurt to let the patrol take him into ou
r outposts," answered the son, and bot
= descended the stairs.
: Dan must get out of that. Not b
way of the window, but down stairs an
f out of the front door. The patrol coul
e not be far off, and he had no time
e spare. Hastily resuming his garment