The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-06-25

J
one of the flowers was very small
note, the paper being almost as deli
cate es the tissues of flower leaves.
The note said:
DEAR ToM:-I vas so startled
and horror struck to see you yester
day that | almost betrayed the fact
that recognized you. Fortunately
| did not, and now | will try and
help you. Examine carefully every,
thing l bring; it may have some
thing useful. Agnes is already al
most i'll, and have not dared to
tell her. MABEL.
Evidently the young lady thought
| was somebody else.
A guard came to my cell after she
LETT and said:
| saw you were one Of the favored
ones today.
Yes. l replied; who is the lady?
Miss Murfree-Mable Murfree.
Her home is in Vicksburg, | pre-
sumo?
No, Judge Murfree, her father,
lived ontside, and his plantation was
for several weeks in possession OF
the Yankees. Finally he came here
to be in a safe place and brought his
daughters along.
The next day Miss Murtree came
again, and when she reached my cell
she handed me another bouquet.
waited until | was free from
observation, then examined my bou,
quet. In the hollow stalks of the
flowers was a very small file, a slen-
der but strong steel bar with a sharp
point, and little platinum hydro
foric acid. The flowers had been
carefully sealed up at the bottom to
prevent their contents from falling
out. Besides the tools for escape
was this note.
DEAR ToM-Tomorrow | will try
and find out the password from
young officer who visits US.
MABEL.
| awaited the result OF her effort
with painful interest, and when she
came the following day and gave me
the usual bouquet | found the follow
ng note:
My DEAR ToM:-The password
tonight is Cartridge" II you get
out, go to the corner this side of the
flag staff which you can see from
your window, and give low whistle
A colored man will come from the
basement of the tall building on the
right and address you as Massa
Tom. Follow him and l think you
will be safe. May God help you to
escape. MABEL.
The night proved an auspicious
one Tor my purpose. 1t was very
dark and heavy thunderstorm
shook the old Jail, so that no amount
of filing or prying could be heard.
With the acid and the tools | made
short work of the irons which fet-
tered my limbs.
| squeezed through the window
and dropped to the ground.
l had not gone far when guard
called out sharply, Halt! who goes
there?
A friend. | answered.
Give the countersign!
Cartridge.
Pass on.
On reaching the corner | whistled
softly, and in answer negro came
up and said interrogatively, Massa
Tom?
Yes. replied.
He threw a long cloak over my
shoulders, and started up the street
at a sharp gait. | followed him
perhaps a nalf mile, when he stop
ped before a plain brick house, un-
locked the door and bade me enter.
| had scarcely glanced around the
dimly-Iighted hall before the mys-
terious Mabel, accompanied by a
young lady taller and darker than
herself, hurriedlv entered from an
adjoining room. They had evident
ly been waiting for me.
l only heard my benfactress say:
Oh, Tom, thank heaven before her
companion, with wholly glad and
halt hysterical cry, threw her arms
about my neck and showered tears
and kisses upon me in most embar-
RAISING profusion.
was utterly dumfounded. Fin
ally, collecting my thoughts, l turned
from the excited and half crying
woman I held in my arms tothe one
| partly knew, and said:
Ny dear Miss Murfree, you haye
saved my life, and l am bound, as
an honorable man, to tell you that
you have made a strange mistake in
thinking you know me!
Mistake! gasped the young lady
who had SO passionately caressed me.
Mistake! What do you mean? Are
you not Tom Atherton?
Not quite, | answered; but if you
thought l was he, the mistake is not
a very bad one. | am his twin
brother Ned.
The surprise and confusion which
had overwhelmed me we're trans
ferred to the young ladies, and for
moment we all simply started at
each other. Then Mabel laughed
and said:
And SO you are that wonderful
brother of whom Tom used to tell
us.
Yes, fortunately, | answered.
And you stood there and let me
kiss you without saying a word,
Agnes q found out afterward she
was Agnes said reproachfully.