The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-11
A WAR EPISODE.


Confederates could be seen vending their
way down the dusty road that leads into
the little town of Warrenton, and from
the tired look of the men and the steaming
sides of the horses one could plainly see
that the cavalcade had ridden fast and far.
The company were part of the rangers,
and at their head rode their chief, Mosby,
on black s5eed, while the rest of the men
trotted on bahind in a leisurely manner
and made the air ring with their jests and
gay songs 1t was true that the enemy
might come in sight at any moment or
that some stray bullet from foe hidden
in bush might cut short the laughing
words the merry lips, but familiarity
with the horrors of war had bred an easy
indifference, and these men, though daily
facing death. thought no more of their
danger than if they were riding to picnic
in some neighboring grove.
1t was just about noon when the party
dismounted at a farmhouse, and in an in
slant the jolly rebels were the center of an
admiring group that crowded about them,
and the eager host fastened to bring out
for their entertainment all the good things
that his larder afforded. The men were
hungry, and seated beneath the huge oaks
they were soon discussing the relative
merits of the buttermilk and fried chicken
with which they were plentifully supplied.
But time wore on, and the men, forgetful
of its passing, sought refreshment in a
doze on the grass beneath the trees.
A sudden cry of ''The Yankees are COM
ingt' rang out on the still afternoon air,
and the Confederates sprang to their horses
just as a party of Union troops dashed in
sight around bend in the road. In a mo-
ment the rangers had leaped on their steeds
and galloped out of sight down a narrow
woody lane that ran near the barn and
partially concealed them from view In
full had not one man s FESTIVE nag delayed
the fellow so long in mounting that the
approaching squad caught glimpse of the
gray jacket as it vanished in a cloud of
dust in the distance
All of the rangers had got out of danger
except their leader, Mosby. who was in the
house when the alarm was given and had
not heard the warming cry. So when he
looked up from the book which he was
reading while resting in the cool of the
hallway, he saw the Union troops charg-
ing in at the gate, which was only a few
hundred yards away. 1t was too late now
to escape, and while the Eederals did not
yet know of his presence they would search
the house, and it was only matter of
few moments before he would be a prison
er in their hands.
In the parlor, which opened into the
hall, q young lady sat sewing, and her
quick wit took in the situation at glance.
'Herel Step in this clock cassP' she hur-
riedly whispered as she threw open the
door of an immense old clock that stood
ticking in one corner of the hall.
And in moment Mosby had squeezed
himself into lbs dusty recess.
By this time the Union men were dis
mounting, but before they entered the
house the lady had seated herself and was
quietly sewing.
The Union officer strobe into the room
and looked anxiously about.
care there any rebels concealed in this
house?' he demanded in a Ieud voice.
NI0sby' men were here awhile ago."
she replied, 'sbut they all escaped as your
troop came in sight,
The officer glanced about the room, and
his quick eye caught sight of mans soft
felt hat thrown carelessly on chair
Search the house, - he ordered of three
men who were waiting his commands.
In q moment the men in blue were
swarming over the house and poking into
every nook and corner. They commenced
at the garnet, searching each room closely
as they descended, and the rattle of their
sabers could be heard distinctly in the
hall below as they tramped about, throw
ing open closets and upsetting beds.
Presently all gathered in the hall and
were discussing in a disappointed tone their
fruitless search.
Every moment seemed an eternity to
the ranger shut up in the hot, dusty depth
of the old cloek, and the warm air had
grown almost unbearable Yet he dared
not move, for only few feet away he
could plainly Asar the angry tones of the
Yankee officer, al1Athe least motion meant
capture death Slowly the moments
dragged on, and still the mon fingered.
Finally Che occupant of the clock felt
an uncontrollab4e desire to aneeze, and as
he realized the fact he broke out in a cold
PRECIPITATION at tire horrible thought. TO
prevent it was something beyond his con-
troll, but a sneeze would surely be an
swered by a bullet through the clock case,
and the ranger felt he would prefer tho
danger of facing his foes in an open fight.
Suddenly bright idea came into his
mind, and just as he bent his head to
sneeze he gave q pull on the pendulum
that sent all the wheels whirring IN a loud
confusion.
The Union men glanced suspiciously at
the noisy timepieee.
81 am afraid tlIat clock needs mending, -
! remarked the lady carelessly as she turned
! down 81 new hem in the linen on which she
was sewing, and her quiet voice disarmed
| suspicion.
With a sigh Of relief, Mosby heard the
! officer command his men to mount, and
| presently the eallop of their departing
horse hoofs fell On his delighted ear. And
scarcely had the echo died away when the
clock few open, and the exhausted prison
er struggled out in an almost sufToceted
condition.
| narrow escape, but in all the dangers that
| he faced during four years of bloodshed
| there was none that tried his nerves like
! the terrible half hour spent in the old
! clock case. Exchange.
| -