Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-09-02

the entrance. Inc whispered CONSUL
tation lasted about FIVE minutes, and
then the General casually remarked
to me:
"Take a seat and l will hear you.
The surgeon was looking me full in
the face, and had l made the slightest
move he must have detected it.
"Sit down" commanded the Gen
eral, in a louder voice.
I was looking at his sword hanging
on the tent pole, and l did not turn
my eyes till he wheeled round in his
chair and beckoned me to approach.
l handed him my tablet and pencil,
and he asked why had not pass
and where l wanted to go. | explained
about the pass as before, and told him
l wanted to 60 to Dalton or Rome and
secure more goods. The General would
have been quite satisfied, but the sur
geon was keen reader of human ma
ture, and he was convinced that | was
in disguise. l heard him whisper his
suspicious to others. l had no fear of
any of the rest, but l 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 trifes to the reader until he can
put himself in the position | occupied.
He rose up suddenly, crossed over to
me, and, 4apping me on the shoulder,
he exclaimed
LET me see your tongue =
l had my teeth hard shut, or my
jaws would have opened at the COM
mand.
"Straighten upl' was the next COM
mand.
l was bumped over, and the words
went through me like bullet. | did
not move, however. The surgeon was
nettled. He looked at me fxedly for
a long, long half minute and then said
to his comrades
He claims to have lost his pass. |
want to ask him for more details.
What was the date?"
He turned and put this question to
me, and had l not been looking for it
or something Of the kind my mouth
would have got away with me. His
failure provoked another laugh, aid l
wrote on the tablet
"What does the officer say? Does
he believe | am deserter ?"
81 find it hard enough now, with
out being looked upon with ridicule
or suspicion" l wrote, and the Gener-
al nodded his head to me, and said to
the surgeon
Il won't keep him longer than noon
tomorrow.
The guard was called and | was re-
moved to the guard-house. 1t held a
prisoner, and l had no doubt that he
had been placed there for purpose.
AS soon as the door was shut behind
me he came forward, took my hand
and said
"Ah they have got you, too Both
of us must die together"
signed to him that | was a deaf
mute, but he replied
Come, no nonsense with me. /
know you and you will soon know me.
l have seen you at Shermans head
quarters a dozen times l am Jack
Ross, a Union spy. | was arrested
here a week ago, tried by court-mar-
tial, found guilty, and tomorrow | am
to be hung"
He worked me every way he could
think of to- trap me, but after couple
of hours he gave it up as bad job. /
did not go to sleep that night, sus-
pecting the surgeon would play me
some trick, and about midnight he
came softly in with couple of soldiers
and, at a sign, the men screamed in
my ears. l did not move Then
musket was discharged over my body,
and the surgeon called out
"You careless beggar, you have
SnOC MIN.
I did not think so, and did not
awake" until they pulled at me.
Next morning the pretended spy was
taken out. After breakfast, as | sat
with my back to the door, it was softly
opened, and heard the click click !
of the hammer of a revolver. 1t made
my flesh creep, but l did not turn.
At noon l was returned to the Gener-
ais tent. He was alone, and he wrote
on The tablet that / was free to 60,
and that he would give me pass. As
he said this he handed me a paper.
but ten seconds later quietly remarked;
"See if I've signed my name to it.
This was not the last test. He con-
Quoted me to the door of the tent,
waved me past the sentinel, and OBJ
z...-oJ