Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-03-22

way of any one coming or gong
The whispered consultation lasted
about FIVE minutes, and then the
general causually remarked to me;
"Take a seat and will hear
you"
The sergeOn was looking me full
in the face, and had | made the
slightest move he must have de-
tected it.
"Sit down y commanded the
general in a louder voice.
81 was looking at his sword
han ging on the tent.pole, and l did
not turn my eyes until he wheeled
around in his chair and beckoned
to me to approach. | handed him
my tablet and pencil and he in
quired why 1 had not a pass ana
where | wanted to go. explained
about the pass as before, and told
him I wanted to 60 to Dalton OF
Rome and secure more goods. The
general would have been quite sat
isfed in five minutes, bnt the sur
geon was keen reader of human
nature. and he was convinced thar
| was in disguise. | heard him
whisper his suspicious to others,
and their lack of belief made him
all the more determined to expose
me. | had no fear of the rest, but
| realized that it would take all my
nerve and tact to hold ont against
the surgeon. Some of the tests he
at once put me to may seem trlhes
to the reader until he can put him
self in the position | occupied. He
rose suddenly, crossed over to me,
and slapping me on the shoulder,
lie exclaimed.
"Let me see your tongue 7"
had my teeth hard shut or my
laws would have opened at the
command.
"Straighten up :" was the next
command. | was bumped over,
and the words went through me
like a bullet. | did not move,
however.
"Take your foot off that sash y
shouted the surgeon, but looked
from him to the general and show
ed my wonder.
"Come, now, but you're beaten 3"
laughed one of the officers, and as
the others had some remark to
make the surgeon was nettled. lie
looked at me fixedly for long halt
minute, and then sald to his com
rades:
'T won't give in vet, general
Please hold on to him until we are
certain of him one way or the
other"
"Oh, certainly but | think you
have made a mistake this time. y
deaf and dumb person has an ex.
preston not to be counterfeited.-
He has told a pretty straight
story"
"This is true but ! want tC
study him little more. He claims
to have lost his pass. | want tt
ask hun for more details. What
was tue date?'
He turned and put this question
to me, and had | not been looking
ahead for it or something of the
kind, my mouth would have go'
away with me. His failure pro
voked another laugh, and | wrote
on the tablet:
"What does the officer say
Does he believe am deserter 2
''He says you are deceiving u.s..
81 have it hard enough now
without being looked upon Will
ridlcule or suspicion wrote, anC
+ the general nodded his head to M
aud said to the surgeon
81 won't keep him longer thai
noon tomorrow. The poor Gus
has a hard row to hoe, and | don
want to discourage him"
The guard was called, and | wa
rem owed to the guard house, whicI
was a long structure and quit
comfortable. 1t held a prisoner
and had no doubt that he ha
been placed there for purpose
AS soon as the door was shut bC
hind me, he came forward and too
my hand and said :
+ "Ah and they have got yoI
too Both of us must die tC
r gelher!"
4, signed to him that | was dei
a mute, but he replied :
I "Come, no non sense with me.
know you, and you will soon kno
7 me. have seen you at Sherman
Headquarters a dozen times. | al
/ Jack Ross, a Union spy. l was a
rested here week ago, tried /
4 court martial, found guilty, an
q tomorrow | am TO be hung
r. He trapped himself right on Il
q start. As | had never been
4 Sherman's headquarters but ono
t / knew the name of every spy Ell
d pIoyed by that army, and the
r. was no such person as Jack Kos
@ He worked every way he cou
Is think of to trap me, bat after
o couple of hours he gave 1t up as
n bad job. l did not 60 to sleep tn
,, night, suspecting the surge'
o would play me some trick. Abo
,f midnight he came softly III with
g couple of soldiers, aud at sign