The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-07-03

had been corralled and found the picket
line stretched around the group ex-
amined all the men critically, but
could learn nothing from any Of them.
Considering that II would be no use
to question the women, | concluded to
adopt the generals suggestion. stood
! the men In line. ordered the sergeant
to draw In his command and assemble
them for a firing SOUND. When the
two lines faced each other told the
citizens that II they dldn't give up the
man who had been chased In among
them would shoot every one Of them.
or course | only did II to effect my
purpose, for had no orders to carry
out the threat and wouldn't have been
30 inhumnn as to do so II l had.
They all turned white, but not man
spoke. gave the word to the squad
to aim. and yet no one hinched. was
about to give up my bluif game when
window sash In one OF the houses
went up and a man put his head out
of the window.
"Don't shoot. cap'n." he said "rm
your man"
Delighted at the result OF my ex-
pedient. | turned my firing SOUND over
to the sergeant and sent the two men
I had brought with me 10 arrest the
man who had confessed. He proved
to be very young-scurcely eighteen.
scanned his fnce with view TO dis.
cover n he were the fellow who had
driven the COW. but saw no resem'
blnncc. though | did not consider this
OF importance. for he had probably
been made up for every character he
had played.
| searched him. but. finding no pa,
pers. directed the men to search every
house IN the place. was not sur
prised that they found nothing. for
there had been plenty Of time to burn
any papers he might have carried.
Not finding any documentary evidence.
took him to headquarters.
He was the pluckiest young fellow
| ever saw. The general questioned
him and cross questioned him. but
could get nothing out OF him. Asked
he said "No." He also denied that he
was the man In Federal uniform who
had eluded the provost guard. All he
would admit was that he was the man
who had been chased by the pickets
out or the wood and into the village.
Well. the case was reported to gen.
eral headquarters with the expectation
that we would be ordered to send
the spy there. No such order came.
No general likes hanging spy. and
they didn't propose to do II further up
when they could shove IL on 70 Us be-
low. That's one OF the benefits OF high
rank. We were ordered to try the
youngster by drumhead court martial
and hang him at once. He was con-
victed aud sentenced to be hanged the
next morning NJ sunrise.
That night the boy weakened and
withdrew his confession. He said that
before | arrived on the ground the
real fugitive had gone into a house.
dressed himself as a woman and, com
ing out with a bucket. started TO a
spring for water. He passed one or
the guard. who failed TO stop him. and
never returned.
No one believed this story told by a
man as a last resort TO save his life.
and preparations were made for the
execution next morning. About mid
night a telegram came from general
headquarters countermanding the or
der for the spy's execution. We were
further informed that man dressed
in woman's clothing had applied for
pass TO 60 through the lines south
ward Having very coarse voice. he
was suspected. searched and full In
formation found upon him concerning
the strength. equipment, etc., OF our
CORPS d'armee. He was to be executed
M once and had confirmed the story
Of the young man now in our hands
I never saw more relieved. hap
bier man than our general at the out
come of the affair. He called for the
prisoner and. taking him by the hand.
called him a noble fellow. Then, put
ting his own hand In his pocket. he
took out the principal part OF his last
pay and gave II TO him.
AFTER the war J went south to nnd
thar Young man. learned that he had
enlisted In the Confederate army and
had been killed In one OF the battles OF
he wilderness I've been down there
since and have found that on every
southern Memorial day the whole peo-
Die OF thar region turn out to put dow
prs ON his grave. For long while !
ana several Others used TO club togeth-
ar once a year and send a wreath to
be nut on his grave with the other
dowers