Year: 1873

was soldier ahead of me, but gave him
no notice until he stopped another soldier
and made some inquiries. passed them
while they were talking, and hearing the
words, "I've got pass for four days." /
looked sharply at the speaker. 1t was the
same soldier who had caught me at my
work in Stevensburg There was the long
face, the black hair, black eyes, and 1 could
not be mistaken.


Fearing that he might be going through
to Old Tavern, and not wanting his COM
pany, / pushed on at rapid gait, and was
glad to find that he did not increase his
pace. He was my evil genius, and was
sorry afterwards that some bullet had not
reached him as he stood there talking. l
was thoroughly tired out when l came to
the house described by Joe, and I made up
my mind to go in. There were no camps
in sight in any direction, and as for the
soldier, had lost sight of him half an hour
before. Turning in at the gate knocked,
and the door was opened by very pleasant
faced woman, who asked me in and set out
|
in from another room, and after ascertain
ing that no one else was in the house,
gave him my secret. Neither of them
would credit the assertion, believing, as
they afterwards told me, that was gen.
uine Confederate officer, testing their SEN
timents. l mentioned old Joe's name, and
then they were inclined to believe my story
but were yet quite cautious about accept
ing it.


81 think this will bring you," remark
ed, removing my boots.


had taken them off to unscrew the heels
and show them my notes, but just at that
moment there came knock at the door.


"It's soldier! Here jump in here |"
exclaimed the woman, holding the bedroom
door open.


followed her advice, but being little
frightened by the sudden news forgot my
boots. A moment after, my evil genius en-
tered the house and ordered the woman to
get him something to eat.


"Whose boots are these ?' he exclaimed,
catching sight of them after moment.


8" My own," replied the farmer, telling a
broad lie to shield me. @


Then there was moment in which
knew the soldier had the boots in his hands
to examine them. They were good boots,
perhaps so good that his suspicious were
excited in this way. At any rate, he doubt
ed the assertions, exclaiming


You are a--liar ! There is some one
in the house, and you are secreting him.
By the old Harry, but believe you are
concealing some Unionist !"


saw that 1t was matter which he and
must settle, and prepared for what
knew was coming l heard him get up,
and drew my revolver to be ready. He
opened a door, saw no one, and then came
to mine, jerked it open with great force,
and no sooner caught sight of him than I
gave along jump and struck him in the
face with the butt of my heavy " Colt"
He went down like log, / on top, and in
moment had my knees on his arms, and
the farmer was sitting on his legs. He had
received heavy blow, and was fully
minute in coming to. Before he could
realize what had occurred, we had him tied
up like fish in net, the cool-minded and
courageous wife bringing the ropes.


" You are that cussed Yankee spy p he
hissed, as soon as he had fair view of my
face.


!" Correct as dot" l replied. "But
suppose / am ?"


He tried to get up, fell back, rolled over
and over, and finally ceased to struggle,
and looked at me with the most devilish
eye had ever seen in my life.


"Never mind, you scamp p he hissed, at
last; "I've got dead thing on you, and
I'll make soup dish Of your skull in less
than week III have you hung before
the sun goes down !"


had conquered my enemy, but had
got into muss. 1t needed only look at
the farmer couple to show me that they
were much more concerned than myself,
as they must now leave their place, or stay
and be arrested for aiding me. The farmer
beckoned me TO the other end of the room,
expressed his feelings and then wanted to
know what was going to do. "What
was going to do'' was question which
puzzled me greatly. There seemed no
other way except to murder the soldier,
and told the farmer SO. II we let him 60
he would have the two arrested and me
hunted down in an hour never did shed
drop Of blood when there was any posi-
bic way to avoid it, and shuddered as