Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-14

were fabulous. Knowing this the cautious
Yankee said: -
..What would you have to pay RICH,
mond tailor for making such UNIFORM
about $780," blurted out La Iouche.
'If l guaranteed you satisfaction anu
charged one half. would you give me INC
job?" ,,,.or,
and as there were no dangerous cases III
the hospital at this time, the visits OF Ut.
Sahal and his assistants were confined 10
the morning and evening. On sucn occa-
sions Cooper had his work HIDDEN away
under his blanket and his rheumatism
was invariably mo better, sir. -,
with nothing to read, and only the oiu
home or the present situation TO think Oh,
time hung like an ever-crushing "eish,
ON the hands of the prisoners. But as
soon 40 Cooper started in TO WORK In the
bosnital every man who could crawl from
his blanket gathered about to watch.
Every day. soon after noon, La Iouche
danced silently into the hospita' 70 y.
htted and to see how the WORK OF arr
was proceeding. At each WISH NC
more delighted. I'll have IL reauS '"e
day before the ball." said cooper.
The night before this creation IN sa ~
hIua and gold was completed-it had al,
readv been paid for-Captain singer Vi
the Thjrty-third Ohio, who had about re-
coyered from a gunshot wound IN inc
thigh. received at Chickamauga' are" me
to one side and said: NAM
81 have a plan for escape, ana "an'
you to help me-. 49,, h "Rut
"Of course I'll do H. saiu'
why not let me mr.
II can't"
"Why not?" ana
"Recause, confound it, there Is only one
suitr 49,. y.
Singer then went on to explain tnat nc
bad manned TO take La Touches unilorr III
from under Coopers head. and, after put
ting 1t on, pass out when the guards We're
changed at daylight the next mornins,
Now ever since the cloth had pesun "
assume form, this idea had taken SNAP
a. NV mind. and so / told Singer. we
drew lots TO see who should try II, anu
INV companion won. In my anxiety "
see how Singer made out L kept awake
all night. On larceny intent, ne ie.t ny
side about an hour before oaynsh|
watched him moving to where cooper iay,
about fifty feet away, Then followed
long silence. A half hour passed, ana
I was wondering at Singers slowness'
when Cooper's angry voice broke the stn'-
ness. 81
"a man who'll try to steal from iei,
low-soIdier in prison Is no man at all.
he said, but he did not raise his voice ~
as to be heard by the guards outside.
"But the stun isn't yours; 1t belongs 10
the enemy" Singer protested holly.
Belongs to the enemy, en- NOT Dy
long sight II doesn't. That UNIFORM
mine. Why, confound you, ever since La
Touche left this afternoon 1 have peen at a.,
work reducing the girth so that itn IN
myself"
you are going to try IL yourselfT
.T am. Captain" chuckled Cooper
Now, old fellow go back to your piahk'
ct, and II you keep your mouth cioseo
and your eyes open you'll see one OF 'h'
best-dressed Confederate officers IL Rich'
mond Waiting out of this prison, witr
500 in graybacks in his pocket
Singer came back, but there was III
need to report. as 1 had overheard all.
Cooper's purpose was soon known 10
all the men in the hospital. 1t was also
known that the doctors came in at y
o'clock in the morning, and that La
Touche would be on hand for his uniform
at H. and between these hours COOPER
must make his attempt. The doctors
went at $780, and the guards about the
nrison were changed at 10. AS soon as
tho doctors went out Cooper, who kept
on his old clothes. for he was thin
man-Ye were all thin then-slipped on
the uniform. which included a gray cap
with a perfect maze Of gold lace on the
crown. We had never seen such trans
formation. The new guard had been on
| about five minutes when Cooper laid MS
hand on the door. He took no leave ana
made no fuss. He reasoned very proper
| ly that the new guard, seeing he was an
| officer. would suppose he had entered the
hospital while the other guard was on,
| and had Just completed his mission.
At this instant Cocper's GOODNESS was
| superb. His eyes were clear and steaoy,
and there was not the twitch or muscle
| 10 betray the nervousness he must gave
! felt At length. to the great relief OF All.
| he swung open the door and stepped out
| Through the brief opening we saw the
quard saluting and the officer returning
| n Then the door closed with a bang
and Cooper was free. The next we heara
| of him he was safe at Washington.
have seen some apoplectic anger ana
| have heard much fierce swearing In my
time but I never saw so angry man
az Adiutant La Toucbe when he came III
| for his clothes at noon and found ths
tailor had carried them on on MS pacA'
| The last thing La Touche said. as ne
bounced out of the hospital was:
of catch that fellow Cooper III shoo'
hIml I never heard Of such oossone
Yankee trick!'
| rr .pwrrs ne, VIRGINIA.