Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-15

Mrs. Fisher stepped to the door again
and gazed down the road. Just emery
| ing from the woods she could see a band
of men coming swiftly up the road,
and her neighbours words needed no
| further confirmation. Had they seen
! him turn into her house? She could not
tell, but, satisfied that in any event
they would stop there to make inquir-
les, if nothing more, the courageous
| woman instantly turned and once more
| faced the painting man in the room.
Hide me! Hide me somewhere, any
where!'' he pleaded. Don't let them
| get me!''
Mistress Fisher glanced hastily about
the room. What could she do? Through
the kitchen door she could see the hens
futtering in the ash heap. Beyond was
the barn, and it was useless to think of
hiding there. And the tories were al
ready approaching and would soon be in
the house.
''Here!'' exclaimed the undaunted
woman, selling a brush made of goose
| quilts lying on the table. Taking a
knife she quickly cut several of the
quilts loose. Then, cutting the feathered
parts away, she blew the ''pith' out of
each and joined four of them in the
form of long tube. She worked rap
| idly and with desperation born al
most of despair. the man meanwhile
watching her and not uttering a sound.
AS soon as she had the tube ready,
| she grasped the shovel, which was near
| the kitchen door, and said: "Come!
Be quick! We haven't a minute to
| spare"
The man followed her, not perceiving
her purpose, but too frightened to Ques-
ton or protest. Quickly Mistress Fish
er ran to the ash heap and began to dig
with feverish haste. Every moment was
precious now, and she labored desper-
ately, knowing that the fate of life
depended upon her efforts. AS soon
as she had made hole large enough to
satisfy her, she dropped the shovel, and,
taking the quill tube, said to her COM
panion: ''Here! keep this in your
mouth! Now jump in and I'll hide you.
Be sure and keep your eyes and mouth
closed. Quick!''
Her purpose was clear now, and in
stantly the man obeyed. Then Mistress
Fisher covered him with ashes, being
careful to see that the end of the tube
was left free, and as soon as the labor
was completed she flung the shovel to
one side of the house and entered the
kitchen, just as the tories came up on
the piazza. Her heart was trembling,
though her countenance was bold, as
she advanced to meet the band.
''Who are you? What wish you here?''
the brave woman demanded.
"Give up that rebel, Joe Butler" said
think you I would give him up if
he were heTe?"
you've got him here somewhere.
Now, give him over!" shouted the lead
er, fourishing a pistol as he spoke.
Mistress Fisher felt strangely sick
and faint, but still striving to keep up
her bold appearance, said: keep your
pistol to brighten children with; you
shall not intimidate met fyou want to
give up your chase and look for my
neighbor Butler here, It is your priv
iIege- IT'S lot the first time defense
less women in Westchester county have
had their homes invaded by hireHngs!"
'Come on, boys!0 called the leader,
restoring his pistol to his belt and
turning to his followers as he spoke.
'FShe hid that rebel husband of hers
under the kitchen floor, and perhaps
Joe Butler is there nOwL'
In a moment the search was be-
gun. The loose boards of the floor
were torn away, but NO rebel was
found beneath them. Then into the
cellar, into every room and closet,
tearing apart the beds, and OVerturn-
ing chairs and tables: in their efforts.
The men searched the house, but the
missing man could not be found.
''Some OF you go out to the barn.
said the leader. at last I'll stand
here and keep my eye on both places
he added, as he stepped upon the ash
heap.
In an agony of fear Mistress Fish
er watched and waited Would he dis
cover the presence Of the man con-
cealed beneath his feet? The mo-
ments dragged on like hours, but at
last the search was abandoned and
with many threats against her rebel
husband and the whig who for the
present had escaped them the men de-
parted. The woman waited until
half hour had gone and then, taking
her shovel, began to dig into the ash
heap again. Soon she had freed her
neighhor from his hiding place, but
what a spectacle he presented! Al
most too exhausted to stand, streaked
with the ashes, and almost blinded as
well, it was long before he was re-
stored. But at last, by the aid of
soap and water and such simple means
as were in the house, he was made
ready to return to his home or go to
the camp, as he deemed best.
As he stood on the piazza he said:
Z thought L was a dead man when 1
| craIvlaG into that ash bean WAS