Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-15

"Missus Brown-Missus Brown!' re-
piled Dan, using the first name that came
In his way.
well. it's only step down there"
said the man, land If she knows him it's
oil right"
So there was q Mrs. Brown close at
hand.
No one could have been more surprised
than the spy. and he feared he had gotten
himself into a bad scrape. There was no
chance for him but to 90 along, and go he
did, amusing the men for quarter Of a
mile with strange antics and silly talk.
Mrs. Brown was a widow, living in a
comfortable though small farmhouse, and
Dan was marched straight mp TO the door.
She was q woman about 80 years Of age,
with kind face and motherly WAYS.
"Widder Brown began the leader OF
the party, as he put his hand on the spy.
I'VE captured this fool down thar. He
acts and talks like fool, but we want to
be sure he amt tricking us. He says he
knows You. If you know him that's all
we want
.Missus Brown know Tommy"
chuckled Dan a. he boldly entered the
house and sat down, and took the family
cat on his lap.
The widows vanity was a bit fattered
in the first place that she had been called
upon to identify stranger, and in the
next place she would lose prestige if she
failed to do so.
''Mebbc know him-mebbc do" she
replied rs she looked around for her spec
facles. "Somchow or other allus know
all the fools going. and most Of 'em come
round for vittals Now. then, I'll look at
him.
She put on her spcctacles, took the can
die in hand, and Dan was scrutniZed for
a long minute. He looked up into her
face and chuckled, tho his heart was in
his mouth.
"She don't know him." whispered one
of the men.
The widow overheard it. and now she
was on her mettle. Walking slowly
across the room to put down the candle
and her spectacles. she turned and said:
'Yes. he's a fool. and you are bigger
fools for stopping him"
Then you know him ?" asked the lead
II rathur think so I, his name is Tommy
and he lives somewhere around Partially.
He's been here more n dozen times"
didn't propose matrimony, did he :"
asked one Of the men.
MOI she snapped. ''but if he had he'd
have stood better chance than white men
who hide in fence corners to capture mig
gersr'
So saying she slammed the door on them
and went away. She sat down by the ia
BILE and looked across ut Dan, and pres
emily mused:
.'Yes he's fool. and those men had no
business hauling him around, no matter
whether knew him or not. ] guess he's
hungry and tired and I'll give him some
thing to eat and send him to bed"
Dan played the fool" to perfection.
and when he had eaten, the woman had a
real mothcrly interest in him. She guild
ell him up stairs, and showed him the bed
he was to occupy. and then went down
with the light. saying:
''FOOls can see in the dark as well rs by
daylight, and then you might set the house
on fire.
The spy was out of the scrape. i'm one
sense, and yet he was in trouble. He
wanted to reach and pass the confederate
outpOsts before daybreak Ii he remained
in the house. he would encounter people
next day who might want him more fully
identified. But how was he to leave?
The chamber was a half-story affair. all
in one room. and window at either end.
One Of these would let the spy out. lie
crept across the door and tried the sash of
one. 1t was old and shaky, and yet he
worked ut il for q long ten minutes. and
gave up in despair. The sashes were not
nailed. but so warped that to get them up
Ill 4 A.
to arouse everybody about the house
The sasl, in the other window could be
raised. but Dams fingers had scarcely
touched it when two or three dogs. which
seemed to be kenneled directly below,
commenced a furious barking. Escape by
that way was cut off.
After moments thought. Dan decided
to wait until the house grew quiet and
then descend the stairs and then 90 out
by the front. He might have to wait for
an hour or more. and he therefore threw
himself on the bed. lie had scarcely got
settled when he heard connection down
stairs and the heavy tread of a man.
Creeping out Of bed and putting his ear
to the floor he soon made out that the
woman's son had returned home after
considerable absence within the confeder-
ate lines.
Dan listened for long time. catching
words enough to keep the run OF the con,
versation, and when he heard both moving
across the floor he slipped into bed again.
1t was well he did so. The stair door
opened, light appeared, and AS mother
and son assembled, she said:
''Of course he's fool! DO YOU think
I've got so old that | can't tell an idiot
when l see him e''
We'll. these are suspicious times"
muttered the son in reply, and both adj
vanced to the bed
Dan seemed to be fast asleep. One
hand all cramped up. was on the quilt in
plain sight. and had his face screwed
up until the lonesome look ought to have
melted heart Of stone.
There! don't he look like fool ."
whispered the mother.
HE may be one. but it don't do. anv
hurt to let the patrol take him into our
outposts. answered the son. and both de-
scended the stairs.
Dan must get out of that. Not by way