Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
PRISONER TO A GIRL.

ODbli. anu llIil W siS ollC VI ny ACeASOA4o
for believing the place was deserted.
As reached the door l looked in and
saw furniture and ut once realized that
some one must be living there. l was
hesitating what TO do when the door
of an inner room opened and 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 I will pay
you for it, l replied. IF you will give
me the gourd l Will get drink of Wa
ter"
But father is away, and I am all
alone. and you are a Yankee"
We'll, what of that? l shan't hurt
You"
She looked me over from head to
foot and no doubt wondered how L got
there and what my errand was. l lean
cd against the door and smiled at her,
but the pleasant look left her face. and
she frightened her lips as if she had
come TO some decided conclusion about
something. l thought she WIS going
to turn me away. but after awhile she
slowly said:
You viii find a gOurd at the well,
and | will get you something to eat"
l went out and satisfied my thirst
and then re-entcred 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.
1 tried my best as l 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, it
was not 10 be expected that she would
give me Il very cordial welcome. |
could and did make allowance for this,
and when | found that she was sullen
and uncommumicative | ceased to an
uOy her with questions. When my cup
was empty she took it down cellar to
refill it. / heard her moving about
down there and heard her ascend the
stairs, and, though she did not immedi-
ately rcappear. did not raise my eyes
y minute later. however. she spoke,
was standing in the door between the
kitchen and the front room. ana she
had shotgun levClcd at my breast
from Il distance of only ten feet
Yankee. you are my prisoner
what do you mcanE" l asked rs l
rested an elbow on the table and stared
at her in surprise.
just what l said, sir. You are my
prisoner. and if you don't do just as
say 1 viii shoot you. Stand up
Don't be foolish. child I said as
l stood up and smiled at her That
gun isn't loaded. and even if il was you
would not dare to fire it off. Put it
away and hand me the milk. / am GO
ing TO give you the silver half dollar
when / am through eating"
'The gun is loaded, and I'll shoot"
she exclaimed. though her voice be
trayed that she was somewhat fright
ened. do as / tell You or l will fire.
Go into the pantry
My revolver was in its holster IN
der my coat. and l knew that the girl
would fire if j made Il move to get it.
1t was absurd TO let Il Child like her
make me prisoner, and yet l was
IOi " AttlltLt tlIsiA SilF W as
Gus as a mani perhaps more SO. The
result was that l backed up to the
open door OF the pantry. and as she ad-
vanced upon me l stepped into the lit
tie room, and she closed the door
and fastened it with a button.
Ny idea was to escape by the win
dow before she could get out and
around the house. but / found the
opening a small one and barred from
the outside. ] could not have escaped
that wayhad ! been alone in the house.
Drawing my revolver. / fired through
the door and made threats. but the
girls voice was firm and determined rs
she answered me:
IF YOU fire again I will shoot through
the door. and there is a big load Of
buckshot I'm the gun"
I 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 n
couple of kicks would have sent the
old door flying. but she sat down in the
kitchen 10 act as guard until some one
should come along.
1t was almost noon before any one
arrived. and then it was a squad of
Confederate cavalry beating up the
country in search of Federal scouts
and spies. They were passing the
house when the girl called them in.
and as the sergeant opened my prison
door and commanded me to step forth
seven or eight others had their car
bines leveled at me. They joked and
guyed me not a little and had much to
say in praise Of the girl.
was taken to Lees headquarters to
be questioned and later on was sent to
Richmond. where I was confined in
Libby prison.
Long after the war L revisited the
farmhouse where l was so ignomin-
iously captured. l found only an old
man about, and of him 1 queried:
did you live here during the warp
If elrn !,