Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-18

I
try some trick, but he done 1t so neat
ly that he almost caught me. |
} winked. but did not drop my eyes.
| you must have taken him for an
lin moostor,' laughed the captain.
/ 'We can't be too cautious, was the
reply, and he took the tablet and
wrote that [ might circulate about the
camp until guard mount and then re-
port to the new officer of the day.
got some breakfast, sold out about
half my goods. and when l reported
and asked that 1 might pass on no OBJ
lection was made. | found troops
everywhere now, and being so far
within the lines no one questioned my
right to be there. l underwent but
one more test before reaching the gap,
and that l was prepared for. The
soldiers accepted me for what l
claimed to be, and while my condi-
tton excited the sympathies of some,
others we're inclined to ridicule and
| joke. While l knelt in a group a
joker held pistol close to my ear and
fred it off. | heard the click of the
hammer and was therefore prepared
for the report. found the gap COW
cred by weak body, with no de.
fenses to speak of, and | got through
them without trouble, though my
goods were now all gone, and l had to
claim that | was on my way to Dalton
after a new stock. | was arrested
after entering the gap, and the arrest
came about through a corporal in a
battery of artillery, who at first con-
tended that he recognized me as o de-
serter named William Ridges 1t ap
peared that closely resem bled Ridges
in build and look, bat as soon as the
corporal had close look at me he &C
knowledged his mistake. This occur
red 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. l was
not suspected of being Federal spy,
but having been arrested on a charge,
and being found without a pass, it
was quite proper to make a further
investigation.
| There we're several officers IN the
generals tent when l was taken in
and reported, and the facts in my case
had no sooner been announced than
one of them, who was a surgeon in
Hoods command, held whispered
consultation with the general and |
suspected plot to test me. My sus-
picions were soon proved correct
The escort had retired and left nae
standing in front of the entrance. in
side of course, but just where
l was in the way of anyone coming or
going. The whispered consultation
lasted about five minutes. and then
the general casually remarked to me:
Take seat and | will hear you
The surgeon was looking me full IN
the face, and had I made the slightest
move he must have detected it,
'Sit oownp commanded the general
in louder voice.
was looking at his sword hanging
on the tent pole, and did not turn nv
eyes until he wheeled around IN his
chair and beckoned to me to approach.
[ handed him my tablet and pencil
and he inquired why l had not pass
and where wanted to go. [ explain
ed about the pass as before, and told
him wanted to 60 to Dalton or Rome
and secure more goods. The general
would have been quite satisfied IN five
minutes, but the surgeon was keen
reader of human nature, and he was
convinced that | was in disguise. l
heard him whisper his suspicious to
others, ami their lack of belief made
him all the more determined to ex-
pose me. had no fear of any of the
rest, but I 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
tritles to the reader until he can put
himself in the position l occupied. He
rose up suddenly, crossed over to me,
and slapping me on the shoulder he
exclaimed:
Let me see your tongue!'
| had my teeth hard shut or my
jaws would have opened at the COM
mand.
'Straighten up! was the next COM
mand. 1 was bumped over, and the
words went through me like bullet.
| did not move, however.
Take your foot off that sashr
shouted the surgeon, but I Looked
from him to the general and 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 looket at
me fixedly for long half minute, ard
then said to his comrades:
1 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 l think you have
made a mistake this time. A deaf
and dumb person always has an ex-
preston not to be counterfeited. He
has told a pretty straight story