The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-10-10

hewas discovered. When the cavalry
opened fire he ran straight for the house.
Two white women, several colored ones
and three or four colored children were
running about the yard, and Dave bolt
cd through the crowd and into the
house. He expected 10 run through il
and across the back fields. but seeing
the people gathering At the back door
he went no farther than the kitchen
The doors all stood open. After 4
glance around for hiding-place, the
scout stepped behind the one leading up
stairs. This door swung close 10 the
floor and hit the wall, SO rs TO leave
quite corner where the walls joined.
The scout was scarcely hidden when
the house was full of men. All had seen
him enter, and they felt sure Of captur-
ing him. While some stood guard az
the doors, Others began search. They
examined every room in detail, constant
ly expecting 10 unearth the Yankee. and
two of the kitchen doors We're pulled
back for peep in the corners. The
cellar was the last place searched. A
window in the wall was open, and after
brief search the soldiers concluded
that the scout had crept out Of this and
made off while they were searching
above. At this moment one Of the col
ored women raised an outcry and de-
clarcd she had seen blue-coat enter
the corn-feld about thirty rods from the
house Away went the crowd, whoop-
ing and yelling, and the scout was left
alone with the women and children.
Dave now planned to step forth, cross
the highway and make for the cover Of
the forest, but just as he was ready to
execute the movement he heard the
rumble Of wheels on the road A force
was passing. and his appearance would
have been the signal for pursuit. The
only way was to remain where he was
and trust to luck.
After hunt Of half an hour the pa
troll struggled back to the house with the
information that the Yankke had made
his escape for the time being, but that
patrols had been sent out 10 cut off his
return. The Lieutenant was offered
food, and he had just drawn up 70 the
table TO eat cold bite when he was
joined by Captain Of some Independent
command, whose men had just come
down the road. The two talked briskly
of army matters and movements as they
piled their knives and forks, and what
the scout overheard. as he crouched be-
hind the kitchen door, was regarded Of
value when carried to Federal headluar-
tiers.
When the two officers had finished
their meal it was near shutdown. and as
they rose TO 90 Dave had narrow es-
cape from discovery. In the room with
them was white and colored woman,
and as the Captain rose up the white
woman remarked.
"Why, Captain. you are loaded down
with dust. Wait a minute, and Ill
brush il off,
She started for the broom. She was
doubtless in the habit Of standing il be-
hind the stair door, for her hand was al
ready on the edge Of the door TO swingit
back from the wall when the colored
woman cried out from the
other room that she had 1t.
The Captain was vigorously busted, his
hostess duly thanked. and the two
officers departed together. However,
the scout was but little better off. He
could hear troops moving along the
road, and if he left his hiding place be-
fore night his capture or death would
be almost certain. But could he remain
where he was?
The excitement having somewhat sub
sided the women went about their
household duties, and one of the colorcd
wsmen was instructed to get supper.
Dave had been standing as stiff as a
board for an hour and a half, but he
dared not change his position. The
woman talked pretty bravely, and his
escape from the house might not be ac-
complished as safely a. he had at first
anticipated. The windows were open
and he could hear sounds which con-
vinced him that soldiers were i'm camp
not far away.
BY and by twilight came and supper
was ready. Dave hoped that after the
meal was over the household might
scatter long enough to permit his exit
unseen. but Fate had trick to play
him. The meal was not more than half
over when some article fell 10 the floor
upstairs with a loud bang. AT this the
mistress Of the house remarked To one
Of the children:
Albert, shut that stair-door and stop
that draft Of wind
The boy left the table, walked overto the
door and pulled It shut, leaving Dave in
his corner without shelter. The lad gave
start Of surprise at sight Of the intruder,
but before he could cry out, the scout
stepped boldly forward with polite
good evening 10 all. No one was great
/ ~ startled, as soldiers were frequent
callers.
"Who Is it?- asked the mistress, a.
she looked up.
"Gor' mighty, it's dat Yank!" ex-
claimed one of the colorcd women in re-
ply, as she caught sight Of his blue