Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-16

could say nothing that would not tell
Rgainst him.
On landing ell were taken to the pro.
vost marshal's ofioe. The soldiers 40
knowledged that they were members OF
the -th Tennessee regiment. but stout
ly denied that they were deserten. They
were Union men. some OF the northern.
err who had been Impressed into the
Confederate service. or had enlisted for
the purpose OF flying TO the stArs and
stripes a. soon ~ they could get near
enough to warrant an attempt They
were sent To their regiment under guard.
As they were leaving one OF them said
to Mark:
II hope you'll keep your promise"
Mark did not reply: he had cherished
q hope that they would be taken away
before anything would come out - 10
his assumption Of authority.
What promisey asked the provost
marshal quickly.
Hes an officer ON General Braggs
staf. You ought TO know him. colonel"
"Ths devilr' exclaimed the colonel.
"Oh. saw the men were doing some
thing they were ashamed Of, and blutfed
'em to row me across" said Mark with
assumed carelessness.
"Who are your
II belong In east Tennessee"
"You don't belong to any such place.
You're not southern born ut all. You're
q Yankee. thought you were only
trying 10 get north with these inen; now
believe you are spy"
"I'm q southern man, sarten." said
Mark, with such coolness that the officer
was for Q moment In doubt M to his fur.
mise.
LET me hear you say New York.
New York."
New York. repeated the colonel iron.
ically. "lf you were q southern man
you'd say New Yawk. shall have to
hold you for further Information"
IL would like to 20 to my home In
Tennessee. | came here TO buy . gun
for my brother. But II you won't let
me Ill have to stay with you, sup
pose. Only hope you won't separate
us. Jakey's very young, and ] don't
want to turn him adrift alone In .
strange town."
IL shall have to hold you till can TO
port the case to headquarters" said the
officer. and Mark and Jakey were led
away to q room In the house occupied
by the provost marshal for prisoners
temporarily passing through his hands
The reply that came to the announce
ment Of the capture Of the citizen and
tho boy was to hold them under vigilant
guard. II was reported that Mark had
been personating an officer Of the star,
and this looked very suspicious; indeed
quite enough 30 to warrant their trying
him for spy by drunfhead court mar.
tial and executing him the next morning.
Mark was searched and everything Of
value taken from him. They went
through Jakey's pockets aud felt Of the
lining Of his coat. but rs he was child
the search was not very thorough, or
they would have found the bills In his
boot. They took his gun, but by this
time Jakey realized that there was some
thing more momentous than squirrel
gun at stake, and parted with II without
showing any great reluctance. He real.
lied that Marx, for whom he had by
this time conceived u regard little short
Of idolatry. was In danger. and the boy
for the first time began to feel that his
friend could not accomplish everything.
Jakey stood looking ON stolidly ~ Mark
was searched till he saw soldier take
Souri's red silk handkerchief. He had
produced the impression on the searchen
he had at first produced upon Mark-that
he was stupid beyond his years. As the
man grasped the handkerchief and was
about to put II In his pocket Jakey set
up howl.
whats the matter. sonny asked one
Of the soldiers.
"My hanchikuh," he whined.
"Yas."
"Give the boy his wipe. said the man
to the would be appropriation. Don't
rob child"
80 Jakey preserved his handkerchief.
Then they were marched away to-
gether to . small building used for ne.
gro jail. Il was two stories high. though
the lower story had no windows. The
upper part was reached by a long flight
Of steps outside the building. The lower
part was dungeon. and though used to
confine negroes there had been mum.
Der OF east Tsnnesseeans imprisoned
there. The place was kept by an old
man and his wife named Triggs. Mark
was put into room In the upper story.
A guard was stationed ut the door, and
the only window was barred. Had Mark
been arrested with definite proof that he
was spy. he would doubtless have been
put In the dungeon.
An Ii was. he was only guarded with
ordinary caution. This, however. seemed
quite sufficient to prevent his escape.
Jakey was pat into room by himself,
but he was not required to stay there.
He was suffered TO 20 and come at will,
except that the guard at the gate was
ordered not to let him leave the yard.
He asked the jailsr's wife to permit him
10 70 In TO Mark 90 often the frst morn
ing Of his arrival that at last the guard
Mt the door was instructed to pass him
In and out Mt will.
"well. Jakey,- said Mark, when they
were together In their new quarters,
this looks pretty blue"
"Reckon II does"
"You'd better not stay here. Go out
In the yard and III try TO think mp some
plrn. But ] must confess ! don't see
any way out" and Mark rested his el.
bows on bis knees, and putting his face
In his hands thought upon his perilous
situation.
"Jest you don't wordt." said Jakey.
"sumep'n'll turn up sho."
swell. 70 out into the sunlight. Don't
stay here. n they sentence me to hang
I'll try to get them to ssnd you home"