The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-23

Lie WluOW vanity WAS llIlle DlU
flattered, in the first place, that she had
been called upon to identify stranger,
and in the next place she would lose her
prestige If she failed to do so.
Mebbe / know him, mebbe / do,''
she replied, as she looked around for
her spectacles. "Somehow or other l
allus know all the fools going, and most
of 'em comes around here for vittels.
Now then I'll look at him."
She put on her spectacles, took the
candle in her hand, and Dan was
scrutinized for long minute. He looked
up in her face and grinned and
chuckled, though 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 fool, and you are bigger
fools for stopping !"
"Then you know him ?" asked the
leader.
raythur think so His name is
Tommy, and he lives somewhere around
Fairfax. He's been here MORN dozen
times.'
Didn't propose matrimony ,dldhe 7"
asked one of the men.
"No!" she snapped, "but If he had
he'd have stood better chance than
white men who hide in fence corners to
capture niggersl"
So saying she slammed the door on
Them and went away. She sat own at
the table and looked across at Dan, and
presently unused:
Yes, he's fool, and those men had
no business hauling him around no
meter whether 1 know him or not.
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, and yet he was in trouble. He
wanted to reach and pass the Confeder-
ate out-posts before daybreak. If he
remained in the house over night he
might encounter people next day who
might want him more fully identified.
But how was he to leave
The chamber was two story affair,
all in one room, and window at either
end. One of these would let the spy
out. He crept across the floor and tried
the sash of one. 1t was old and shaky,
and yet he worked at it for long ten
minutes, and gave up in despair. The
sashes were not nailed, but so warped
that to get them up or down would
make noise enough to arouse everybody
in the house. The sash in the other
WAhNOW NOuiu w l0lGCutpub lJdI uuRcTS
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 decid-
ed to wait until the house grew quiet,
and then descend the stairs and go out
by the front door. He might have to
walt for an hour or more, and he there
fore threw himself on the bed. He had
scarcely got settled when he heard
commotion down stairs and the heavy
tread of 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 Confederate lines.
Dan listened for long time, catching
words enough to keep the run of the
conversation, and when he heard them
both moving across the floor he slipped
into bed again. 1t was well he did SO.
The stair door opened, a light appeared,
and as mother and son ascended, she
said
"Of course he's q fool Do you think
I've got SO old that can't tell an idiot
when see him p"
Well, these are suspicious times"
muttered the son in reply, and both
advanced to the bed.
Dan seemed to be fast asleep. One