The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-12
A DEAF
MUTE
BY JOIN Y. EARNED

broke out was In Brussels. Dan al
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 10
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 high hill and
watched the Germans smash the works
defending that city. he found II very
pleasant looking on from a 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,
avaiIing 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 battle Suddenly a troop OF
uhIans 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 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 he couldn't be a spy. He would
pretend to be blind.
Fortunately he carried 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 1t 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 a
blind man.
Hes 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 abo- [ him at head
quarters"
The captain ordered couple Of men
TO dismount and put Dan upon
horse behind a third man. This was
done, Dan making sounds as il 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 lie heard those who took
him there say that be was either a
deaf mute or a spy they did not know
which-w hereupon the officer said he
would soon find out Dan expected 70
be searched, but the officer evidently
preferred to test him arst Taking
cigar out OF his mouth, be extended the
lighted end toward Dams nose. Dan
had the nerve 70 walt till the fire
touched the skin. then jumped.
..That win do. said the officer. Hes
shamming. He must have felt the heat
before the ore touched his nose but
he showed no sign tn It burned him
Dan saw his mistake, but said moth.
ing. keeping Up the vacant stare Of a
blind man. The officer looked doubt.
ful Of his discovery and. drawing his
sword. brought 1t 70 q level with
Dams face and slowly moved Il to-
ward his right eye. Dan found that
more trying ordeal than the other
test. But he had excellent nerve and
did not bulge TN be saw the point 80
near his eye that the officer could not
be sure be had not touched IT, Then
be sprang back. with grimaces and
cultural sounds Ia bis throat
The officer. whether convinced or not
Of his prisoner being = deaf mute. or
dcrcd him 10 be searched From 3
hlp pocket his passport was taken.
When Ian saw It 40 expression 81
mingled relief sud Joy passed over his
face. which betrayed him While
those standing about him were still
looking nt him cariously BE- broke into
O laugh
Heaven be pralsedr he exclaimed
an Gertaan = Thought ! bad been
solilled - It.
The oncsr OPENED me passport, saw
tie seal ~ the United States. com
pared the description with tie original
ana. finding hat Ties arneed. was
much TsiEz.ed
-Wbat did rea pretend - - deaf
mufe f1rg- he asted sterulf
uan explained tie mattef tut the
German refused 81 believe him Tn
uesa ~ freeing ttm IS sert him e.
The leuarsi. who nsEel hm y great
Flr~r Questions rhGih aoEt prove q
sisurare thrf - wut ths r--ral -
fha rrssr.a~ fsu uErf mnnfh -
- - =