The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-08-19
A DEAF
MUTE
By JOHN Y. LARNED

broke out was III bFuSSelS. Ian III
ways wanted to be in everything, but
in an independent capacity. AS for
seeing the fight in the ranks, that was
not to his taste He had no mind TO
be bossed. and, as for living in trench,
he infinitely preferred front room In
hotel
Leaving Brussels, he went to Liege,
then to the top of a high hill and
watched the Germans smash the works
defending that city. He found 1t very
pleasant looking on from safe dis
lance, watching successive missiles and
noting the damage they did or their
failure to do damage. He enjoyed the
bombardment for some time without
getting into any danger, then one
morning woke up to find the city In
possession of the Germans. This was
getting too near to the other side, and,
availing himself of his American pass
port, he withdrew to Brussels.
One morning Dan went to the front
to look for a good place from which
to see a battle. Suddenly troop OF
uhlans came down on him. Seeing
their approach, he felt in his pocket
for his passport. 1t was gone.
Though the uhlans when he made
this discovery were but few hundred
yards away, Dan did a large job of
thinking before they reached him. He
had heard a great deal of the looking
out for spies on both sides, and it oc-
Cured to him that he would be mis-
taken for one What should he do? A
spy must be able to see. If he couldn't
see be couldn't be a spy. He would
pretend to be blind.
Fortunately he carried a cane and
began at once to tap the ground before
him with the evident intent to feel
his way. The Germans. seeing this
when they reached him, drew aside to
let him pass, but the captain of the
troop pulled up and said in German:
who are you, and where are you
going?"
Dan understood enough German TO
know the question he had been asked,
but it occurred to him to pretend that
he didn't He walked right on till he
ran against the captains horse. then
started back. initiating the action Of
blind man.
He's a deaf mute. captain" sug
gested lieutenant.
Deaf mute be hanged" replied the
captain. He can hear and see as
well as any of us"
This gave Dan the idea to play that
he could neither see, hear nor speak,
and he decided to play the three cards
instead of one He made the throat
sounds of a mute.
Bring him along" said the captain.
They can find out about him at head
quarters"
The captain ordered a couple of men
to dismount and put Dan upon
horse behind a third man. This was
done. Dan making sounds as if in pro-
test. and when he was in position the
| troop moved on.
When they reached headquarters Dan
was taken before an officer whose mus
taches alone were fierce enough to
| strike terror He heard those who took
| him there say that he was either a
deaf mute or a spy-they did not know
which-whereupon the officer said he
would soon find out. Dan expected to
be searched. but the officer evidently
| preferred to test him first. Taking
cigar out of his mouth, he extended the
lighted end toward Dams nose. Dan
I,I 70 N1-of
touched the skin, then jumped.
That will do" said the officer. Hes
shamming. He must have felt the heat
before the fire touched his nose, but
he showed no sign till it burned him.
Dan saw his mistake, but said moth
! ing. keeping up the vacant stare of
blind man. The officer looked doubt
full of his discovery and, drawing his
sword, brought it to level with
Dams face and slowly moved 1t to-
ward his right eye. Dan found that
a more trying ordeal than the other
test. But he had excellent nerve and
did not bulge till he saw the point so
near his eye that the officer could not
be sure he had not touched it. Then
he sprang back. with grimaces ana
cultural sounds in his throat.
The officer. whether convinced Of not
OF his prisoner being a deaf mute, or
dered him to be searched. From a
hip pocket his passport was taken.
When Dan saw 1t an expression OF
mingled relief and joy passed over his
face which betrayed him. While
those standing about him were still
looking at him curiously he broke into
a laugh.
Heaven be praisedr' he exclaimed
in Gerrssp- II thought l had been
robbed Of II"
The officer opened the passport, saw
the seal of the United States, COM
pared the description with the original
and. finding that they agreed. was
much puzzled.
what did you pretend to be deaf
mute forf" he asked sternly.
Dan explained the matter, but the
German refused to believe him. In
stead of freeing him he sent him to
the general who asked him great
many questions which would prove or