aiting for my change, the
car bell rang. I quickly returned, and in a few minutes,
we were on our way to Chatham (200 miles West). That
place we reached between seven and eight o'clock,
Saturday evening. When we got out, we met a gentleman
who asked me if I wanted a boarding-house. I said yes;
and he invited me to go with him. I asked him if there
was any way for us to get to Dresden that night. He
answered, 'No, it is a dark night, and a muddy road, and
no conveyance can be got tonight.' I soon found that we
must stay in Chatham until Monday morning.

On our way to the boarding-house, the gentleman said to
me: 'Is this your son with you?' I answered, no; and
then I asked him, if he knew a man living in D., by the
name of Bradley. He replied that he was very well
acquainted with him, and then inquired if that young man
was Mr. Bradley's brother. I said, no--not exactly a
brother. He must have thought it strange that I did not
give him a more definite answer to his question.

When we reached the house, we found several boarders in
the sitting-room and a few neighbors. I had already told
him my name, but with regard to Joe, I had not yet had a
chance to explain. I, of course, was introduced to those
who were in the room, but Joe--well, Joe took a seat,
and did not seem to be troubled about an introduction.
As the landlord was going out of the room, I asked
permission to speak with him alone. He took me into
another room, and I said to him: 'That young man, as you
call him, is a young woman, and has come dressed in this
manner, all the way from Washington City. She would be
very glad now to be able to change her clothes.'

He was greatly surprised, and would hardly believe that
it was so; but said, 'I will call my wife.' She came,
and I guess all the women in the house came with her.
They soon disappeared, and Joe with them, who, after
being absent a while, returned, and was introduced as
Miss Ann Maria Weems. The whole company were on their
feet, shook hands, laughed, and rejoiced, declaring that
this beat all they had ever seen before. Chatham
contains, I was told, more than three thousand
fugitives.