The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-08-25

been mortised out, making quite re-
ceptacle, in which was concealed set
of keys, fitting all the locks from his
cell door to the outer one.
| sent for him and showed him what
I had discovered. His head dropped
for a moment, then raising his eyes,
with look so sad and sOrrOwful that
the impression of it has not yet passed
from my mind, he said
"Mr. Warden, thus "-pOinting to the
keys vanished into air hopes that
have buOyed me up for the last three
years. have one more, the key to the
outer door, on which / am now at work.
Permit me to return to the shop. No
one else can find it, and l will deliver it
up. 1t is of no use to me now
The key was found concealed in the
floor under his bench.
L felt that any punishment | had the
power to infiict would be slight COM
pared with what he suffered from the
discovery OF his plans, and the deStruc-
ton of his hopes of escape. He was
therefore permitted to return to his
work without being punished.
Years passed. He maintained the
same quiet demeanOr, giving no trouble,
LO IllOIC dUCCIupUS W cSCdDc
until he had reached his twelfth year in
prison. The rebellion had broken out,
troops were called for. He became
quite interested in the result, and early
expressed desire to take part in the
conflict, that he might, as he said, to
some extent by his services, or even his
life, compensate the community for the
wrongs he had committed.
Feeling great interest in the man, I
laid his case before Gov. Andrew, who
granted him pardon. l saw him en-
listed in one of the Massachusetts regi-
ments and was present when he left for
the seat of war. He assured me |
should hear no i'll report from him.
On the night following the battle of
Fredericksburg the Union commanders,
uncertain of the movements of the en-
emy during the night, called for some
one to volunteer to go to the front, and
if possible ascertain what they were do
ing.
D., as / shall call him, was the first
to step forward. Receiving his instruc-
tiOns he silently disappeared in the
darkness. After long interval of al
most intolerable suspense, the silence
was suddenly broken by struggling
shots followed by volley all along the
enemy's lines. A few minutes later our
spy emerged from the darkness covered
with mud and the blood streaming from
half-a-dOZen wounds.
He had succeeded in penetrating their
lines and had obtained correct knowl-
edge of their plans. In attempting to
return he was discovered, fired upon,
and wounded in several places, but not
seriously. The darkness favored him
and he escaped.
His information was so important
that the commanding officer withdrew
his troops under cover of the darkness
and established another line which COM
pletely destroyed the plans of the en-
emy, thereby saving the Union army
from great peril, if not from destruc-
ton.
D. was complimented in general
orders for his services, and every one
expected that he would receive COM
mission. But it got whispered abroad
that he had been convict, which not
only prevented promotion, but had
tendency to ALLEVIATE from him many of
his old associates, who from that time
avoided him. Notwithstanding this
unjust treatment, he continued to dis
charge his duties in faithful manner.
Some months later he was made
prisoner and taken to Richmond. His
skill as workman became known, and
every inducement was held out to him
by the Confederates to induce him to
enter their workshops, but in vain; he
remained true to his oath as soldier.
After many weary months, sick and
emaciated, he was exchanged. His
constitution was so shattered by the
hardships he had gone through, that he
asked for, and obtained, furlough to
come north. In this he had double
purpose, to recruit his health, and to
obtain if possible, some information in
regard to sister, who, on the death of