Courier Democrat., 1904-12-22
PRISONER :
TO "A GIRL

CCspyr1ght. lsol BY 7. c. NcClure.l
I was scouting along the front OF
Lees army to pick up Information for
General Grant. and ON this particular
day had approached what thought
was IN abandoned farmhouse that I
might get drink Of water from the
well. The front door stood partly
open. and that was one Of my reasons
for believing the place was deserted.
As reached the door looked in and
saw furniture and ut once realized that
some Que must be living there. l was
hesitating what to do when the door
OF an inner room opened and a girl
about twelve years old stood before
me. She was poorly clad, and hands
and face were not overclean, but her
eyes shone with intelligence. and her
expression was pleasing.
''What do you want?' she asked aft
er we had surveyed each other for a
minute.
Something to eat. and 1 will pay
you for it." replied. IF you will give
me the gourd viii get drink of wa
ter"
"But father is away. and I am all
alone, and you are Yankee"
''Well. what Of that? I shan't hurt
you"
She looked me over from head to
foot and no doubt wondered how got
there and what my errand was. lean
ed against the door and smiled ut her,
but the pleasant look left her face, and
she tightened her lips as If she had
come to some decided conclusion about
something. l thought she was going
to turn me away. but after awhile she
slowly said:
'You will find a gourd ut the we'll,
and will get you something to eat''
went out and satisfied my thirst
and then re-entered the house and sat
down at the rude table in the kitchen
whereon the meal was served. She
brought me some milk and some corn
bread and cold meat.
tried my best as ate to engage her
in conversation, but she either an
swered in monosyllables or not at all.
She knew all about the war, young as
she was, and, being southern born, 1t
was not to be expected that she would
give me very cordial welcome.
could and did make allowance for this,
and when found that she was sullen
and uncommunicative ceased to an
noy her with questions. When my cup
was empty she took it down cellar to
refill it. l heard her moving about
down there and heard her ascend the
stairs, and, though she did not immedi-
ately reappear, did not raise my eyes,
A minute later, however, she spoke
and my eyes lifted fast enough. She
was standing in the door between the
kitchen and the front room, and she
had shotgun leveled Mt my breast
from distance Of only ten feet.
yankee, you are my prisoner!'
"What do you mean?' asked us l
rested an elbow on the table and stared
at her In surprise.
"Just what said, sir. You are my
prisoner, and If you don't do just as
say will shoot you. Stand up!"
Don't be foolish, child" said as
I stood up and smiled Mt her. "That
gun isn't loaded, and even if it was you
would not dare to fire it off. Put it
away and hand me the milk. I am go
ing to give you the silver half dollar
when am through eating"
1.-THE gun is loaded, and III shoot!'
she exclaimed. though her voice be.
trayed that she was somewhat fright
ened. do as tell you or will fire.
Go into the pantry"
My revolver was in its holster un-
der my coat, and knew that the girl
would fire If made move to get it.
1t was absurd to let a child like her
make me prisoner, and yet was
forced to realize that she was as danger
Gus as man-perhaps more so. Tho
result was that backed up to the
open door Of the pantry, and as she ad-
vanced upon me stepped into the lit
tie room, and she closed the door
and fastened it with button.
My idea was to escape by the win
dow before she could get out and
around the house. but found the
opening small one and barred from
the outside. could not have escaped
that way had been alone in the house.
Drawing my revolver, fired through
the door and made threats, but the
girls voice was firm and determined as
she answered me:
"If you fire again will shoot through
the door, and there is big load of
buckshot in the gun"
coaxed and attempted to bribe, but
she refused to hold any conversation
with me. hoped that she would leave
the house to get help, in which case a
couple Of kicks would have sent the
old door flying, but she sat down in the
kitchen to act as guard until some one
should come along.
It was almost noon before any one
arrived, and then it was squad of
Confederate cavalry beating up the
country in search Of Federal scouts
Ind spies. They were passing the
house when the girl called them in.