Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-10-01

" | made straight for the
blacksmith shop and found
.snith at his forge.
my good man." said, I'm followed
BY guerrlllas. They'll be- in the town
in few minutes. Can't you give me
vour clothes and let me take your place
at the forge"
He stood with his hand on the han
die of the bellows looking at me while
what said was slowly making its way
through his skull.
"Weel, noo," he said at last.
"Scotch-I knew it I'll be taken be-
fore can make him understand" Then
10 him. do you want to save me from
death by guerrillasT"
Certain, mon.'
"Then take off that apron and give 1t
TO me at once. Not a moment to lose"
At this juncture the desperate posi-
toD was in entered his brain, and he
worked quickly enough once he real
lied what was wanted. saw wool
CD shirt, we'll begrimed, hanging on a
nail and seizing it, put it on. Then l
took the smiths apron, rolled up my
sleeves, smeared my arms with cinders
and looked into bit of broken mirror
resting against the wooden wall to OBJ
serve the effect. was disappointed to
see that my face belied my calling.
your razorw l exclaimed to the
blacksmith.
He went through door leading from
the shop to his dwelling and returned
with razor soap and hot water. In
five minutes l had shorn my beard,
leaving a dark stubble; then, Selling a
handful of coke, rubbed out every re-
| fined lineament. Taking another look
atmyself, was pleased to see that my
own mother would not know me. Seiz-
ilg the handle of the bellows, l began
10 blow vigorously.
"Weel, weel" laughed the black
smith, we maxi better lo'kin smith
than geentemon."
play your own part we'll" I replied,
"and have something nice for you at
de end Of the performance"
1t was fully 10 minutes after we
reached the hamlet before there were
any signs of the guerrillas, and then
three or four rode into the town and
asked for our party. Had they seen
US: Which way had we gone! and 9TH
er Questions, which the few people they
met responded to with grunt or a
shake of the head. put my head out
10 see and, recognizing one Of them,
drew back and began to blow my bel
lows as if my life depended on 1t. And
It did Presently one of the outlaws
rode up TO the shop.
Hello, tharH' he shouted.
WAL" / replied. still blowing and
keeping my face turned from him.
Seen man, two women. a boy an
niger go through the town"
"Hain't seen no one."
"Sho'?'
"Sho' huff"
He rode off, but I knew the storm
had not yet blown over. I went on
working the bellows. and it was Wen
Ibid so, for presently more of the Dand
rode into town. and one Of the horses
having lost shoe. its rider dismounted
In front of the shop and told Inc to put
ton
This was something l had not count
ed on. knew no more about horse
shOeing than about knitting. but l put
bold face on the matter and went TO
work
What rhe - yo' dom" yelled the
man. Air 20 goin ter put that shoe
% with nary trimminW
Don't so s'pose / know my DUST
hess? cried, bristling. Il was only
fttin it,"
With that / seized q knife and began
10 cut But / was too excited to pare
Tie hoof even If had been an expert
and in another moment the man yeiieu
again, "Ef 20 cut that critters nooi
Oh, I'll brain yo'r'
Here, Sandy" I cried to the black
smith within. come shoe this man >
Gtter. He thinks he knows more
% about shoein."
The blacksmith finished the 1op'
While l, pretending to be greatly irri-
lated, was glad to escape into MS
swelling house. Going to front Win.
dow and dropping a curtain so that |
could look into the road without peihg
sen, TOOK a view of the situation
The guerrillas were scattered about tne
Town, some riding around the houses
bunting for us. others sitting on tneir
lorses questioning the inhabitants as
70 our Whereabouts. Captain Ringo'o
vas 10 Command. A negro boy WAS
paying ''hopscotch" on the sidewaiA'
lie captain called to him:
70 boy thar. didn't 20 see anypoo!
20 this way awhile agoT
I've women an a boy bout Dig .
ueYr
Yes
An @ Ehite man an a colored mana
les. Which way did they gor =,
'bey's cviHe right long dar." And
e lo-ei to-a path leading across 'ne
''-l Tr....s .--rr5