San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-30

the other day. Do you see that blood spot |
on has left cuiff'
was looking the officer full in the face as
he spoke. felt that he would try some
trick, but he did it SO neatly that he almost
caught me. | winked, but did not drop my
eyes.
You must have taken him for an impos-
tor" laughed the captain.
I'VE can't be too cautious" was the re-
ply, and he took the tablet and wrote that /
might circulate about the camp until guard
mount and then report to the new officer of
the day.
got some breakfast, sold out about half
my goods, and when | reported and asked
that might pass on no objection was made.
I found troops everywhere now, and being
so far within the lines no one questioned my
right to be there underwent but one more
test before reaching the gap, and that was
prepared for. The soldiers accepted me for
what,I claimed to be, and while my condi-
ton excited the sympathiss of some, others
were inclined to ridicule and joke. While ]
knet in group joker held pistol close to
my ear and fired it off | heard the click of
the hammer and>was therefore prepared for
the report. l found the gap covered by
| weak body, with no defenses to speak of, and
| got through them without trouble, though
| my goods were now all gone, and l had &c
| claim that was on my way to Dalton after
| a new stock. / was arrested after entering
the gap and the arrest came about through
corporal In battery Of artillery, who at first
| contenSed that he recognized me deserter
named William Ridges 1t appeared that l
closely resembled Ridges in build and look,
| but as soon as the corporal had a close look
at me he acknowledged his mistake This
| occurred Just before dark, and the captain of
the battery, who was in command, sent me
| to Gen Wayne in command of some Georgia
| state troops. | was not suspected of being
| Federal spy, but having been arrested on
charge, and being found without pass, it
was quite proper to make further investi-
cation.
There were several officers in the generals
| tent when | was taken in and reported on,
and the facts in my case had no sooner been
announced than one of them, who was
| surgeon in Hoods command, held a whispered
| consultation with the general, and | sus-
pccted a plot 10 test me. My suspicious were
soon proved correct. The escort had retired
and left me standing in front of the en-
trance inside of course, but just where was
| in the way of any one coming or going. The
whispered consultation lasted about five
| minutes, and then the general casually re-
marked to me-
Take seat and will hear you"
The surgeon was looking me full in the
face and had made the slightest move he
must have detected it.
"Sit DOWN. commanded the general in q
louder voice.
l was looking at his sword hanging on the
tent pole, and did not turn my eyes until he
wheeled around in his chair and beckoned to
me to approach. l handed him my tablet
and pencil and he inquired why had not a
pass and where l wanted to go. J l explained
about the pass as befoTe, and told him
| wanted to go to Dalton or Rome and secure
more goods. The general would have been
| quite satisfied in five minutes, but the sur
geon was a keen reader off, human nature,
and he was convinced that was in disguise.
heard him whisper his suspicious TO others,
and their lack of belief made him all the
more determined to expose me. l had no
| fear of any Of the rest, but realized that
it would take all my nerve and tact to hold
out against the surgeon. Some of the tests
| he at once put me to may seem trifies to the
(, reader until he can put himself in the position
occupied. He rose up suddenly crossed
over to me, and siapping me on the shoulder
| he exclaimed:
| Lot me see your tonguev
had my teeth hard shut or my jaws would
have opened at the command
''Straighteu up!' was the next command
| was bumped over, and the words went
| through me like bullet. | did not move,
| however.
Take your, foot off that sash!' shouted the
surgeon, but looked from HIM to the general
ard showed my wonder
| Come, now, but you're beaten" laughed
one of the officers, and as the others had some
remark to make the surgeon was nettled He
looked at me fxedly for long half minute,
and then said to his comrades:
| ~ won't give in yet, general Please hold
| OH to him until we are certain of him one
way or the other"
oh, certainly; but l think you have made
| mistake this time. A deaf and dumb per-
son always has On expression not to be
counterfeited. He has told pretty straight
story"
That is true; but l want 10 study him a
little more He claims to have lost his pass.
l want to ask him for more details. What
was the datoH'
He turned and put this question to me- and
had not been looking ahead for it or some
thing of the kind my mouth would have got
away with me. His failure provoked another
laugh, and l wrote on the tablet:
What does the officer say! Does he believe
| am deserter"
He says you are deceiving u.s."
"Ihave it hard enough now, without being
looked upon with ridicule or Suspicion I
! wrote, and the general nodded his head to me
| and said to the surgeon: