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The Signal, 1898-12-15, Page 7THE+ SERcEANT OF THE GUARD 9Y $ P.Y. BLACK it COPYRICHT, It9f pY THE AUTHOR. OHAPTER L pore Healy rose when the s•ooad bol- es of beer had been opened, oonimand, d shellac and lathed his dews as the ytcie table of Mother Revell's kitobon is the manner of an accustomed after driller speaker. "Yell excuse me bowldniss," said be. but Oi'm afther roidn to perpoase pdth an long loite to Misthrea Revell _.an .ore Ot'd betther be namin her liner Revell at onot, aur it's that the whole rigimint names bee, more power le " "Ilear. heart" cried the newly made n egeaat, patting his mother's wrinkled lend, • hand of a boiled looking white from mach laundry work in the old 1111011. "Good boy, Healy." Dried old Fin Meet. the farrier. "Wait till I get • a.ri�l� t that ` ' TVs) an tOrmant oniffhlsiherst lite. Flit Ye ooiimn't report nothln. 'What wad the loike uv you.. be doin wid • .into?' the corporal asked, ging. 'Shut yet face till Oi be through sp'ak- a1. Martin, me sou, ye be young to be • sargint, but faith it's natural ye rtn'd jump over me, who's bin oorp'ril e n bink an oorp'ril an trek in the ngi• mint tin mimes over. It's iver bin me pti"ia1 practloe. Martin, MI yet mother's, tan to tacks • pSoini.in young noncom the roight way to do his duty, which has bin fruitful uv tkrubble an foight to owin to the oonated frtshnees ley young noncoms ginerelly, who think they know it ail But you.° ens bor•ru wid tbe throop en o'ed tarn his drill to my Johnnie Dome lately frum Wist int. An fur them manifowld blesin' e. Oi .bud ay Sargint Rev • t8—ye'tt thank yet mater, da why? de's bin the bist tri'nd uv iv'ry mall Y the ould throop dam yon's ens in stooks, me son. She's aved entity a wan tram • bobtail discharge an miny a wan frum hell. God bleat her. An what we wudn't do fur Mother Revell sr ber toy ain't worth doin, begab an kegob. That's all, an now ye can blow et all the gas ye've a mind to, Fin Omit, fur Oi'm through wid me sp'ak- bo „ "Hear, bear I" old Fin croaked. "I'm aD orator like Healy, Mrs. Revell, be- ams I've nothin to ay. Only we're bee to wet Martin's stripes, so we'll open another bottle to his health. H. was a bugler when be was 16 an • eor- poeal se 20. an now he's a sergeant at 111, an there's not `ti man jealous of him either. Martin, I spanked you when you was small for the love of you, an I'm proud to think them .pankin's helped to make • man of you. Keep oo. my son, an you'll be first sergeant of the old troop in another year. like your father before you." " Achoo!" Healy was seised with an attack of .oaring so that he buried his face in .s handkerchief. Little Mother Rev- d's tanned and wrinkled face whiten- ed, and .he looked reproachfully M the farrier with big, gray. sorrowful eyea. Pin himself turned red and opened am owl bottles of beer in his confusion. "And I'll bet my Lather made • good me," mid the young sergeant. "Eh, mother? You never tell me much about him." "It was so long ago, dear," the tsun- amis answered in a whisper. There came • rap on the door, per eaptory and official, and Martin rase and opened it, letting into the room a shiver compelling gust of wind and a skirl of mow. "Hello, Seddon r• he cried. "What's tit Come in I" A scow bespattered orderly, costed sad befurred, entered with a stamping a[ overshoes. "With the major's emnplimenta to Yea Revell," be said formally, "and he know witenstripes should be wetted. " The orderly grinned and placed two bottles of wine on the table and dashed rat again to resume his post at the bathe of the major commanding. Tears sprang to Mother Revell's eyes, sad her stn reddened with pleasure. "How kind of the old major,'' she said. "He's been a good friend to me To think be should remember your pro. motion. Martin t" "Ah, 1t's you be remembers, mother, caned Martin. "Do you think he forget(' how you nursed him when the Apaches gave him that bullet in the ribs?' "Faith," Healy muttered, "an may- be aybe he Mainds farther back than that me boy, whin be was Duly • sargint hisself in the war, an yer mother named more Par hien through the bullet fever." " Healy I" cried Mother Revell Dern eu.iy. '. Mem." said the long legged. red haired corporal "shall I be etcher open - to a bottle uv wine?" "In it shampeen," cried the farrier e.citedly, "or maybe sherry wine?" "Pam me the bottle, Fin. av ye Dimas" said Healy, "an Oi'll be ether tellin ye It's naythur. It's portell old fashioned :intlema0'. wine. Minh Ings Revell, ms grandfather had d keg the order. "Paymaster ooming upHickories,from Fort Hickories, Healy." "11's time," growled the corporal. "It's stony I am." "Mother, I'm in charge of the moors to meet hint tit Wolf oreek—start right away—meet hon im tomorrow no. That breaks up our party." "Aw I" the farrier cried. "The eeran get major don't• know bow to run • roster. It's not your turn. ''"Junior sergeant beads the list, " aid the orderly briefly. "Thank you, Mn. Revell—your health. My word) Wine? You're Sony." "I'll report at the office with my men and escort wagon in half an hour," said the sergeant "blood night, mother." escort "It's • bitter cold night for ort du- ty, " said Mother Revell anxiously. "Wear all your furs, Martin. and take thump,as many blankets a• you eau thump, camp Wait, I'll fill • flank of the "ttbw knows tt-sli, "- Pill Strait mew- mnred admiringly, toasting his toes at the stove. "She's an old warhorse, is your mother, Martin. bioodby. We'll finish the wine drinkin. Good luck to Mother Revell let her tall boy out, kilningking him good night, and returned with • shiver to the tire. "Mem," raid the farrier softly. "1 beg your pardon for that slip about bis father. I forgot." "Hush!" mid Mother Revell, paling. "There's only you and Healy and the that major left know the troth of it The boy need never know. Come, you've all given toasts but me. Here's mine: The new sergeant I May be never know trouble" There was • tsar in her bye as the The hareems or the six male team "book merrily in the moonlight, but tbe wheels of the moors wagon were almost soundless in the deep ow. The wind towed np great drifts, through which the mules plunged with snorting breath that at passed out on the freez- ing air in white clouds Round and round, all about, west where the foot- hills cuddled close to the mountains,as north, et and south, there was noth- ing to be seen but the soft, white moon- light, falling upon the bolder white of the eat and imowy plains The assort,not yet appeased at their. fortune in be- ing turned out for such duty on so cold a night, growled within the canvas oov• ening of the wagon or tried to sleep The uight pawed thus monotonously. and it was nearly dawn when the junior sergeant awoke and was softly called by the teamster in front Tbey were ford- ing an icy strum at • bend, where the creek splitand broke about • wooded is- land, a bushy strip of land some 20 yards broad. The gray bearded china driver Jerked his aur bat toward the Ode. "D'ye mind, Martiu, when ye was a kid at the poet school, an the pay- master's clerk was brought in dead an the money gone? 'Twos here they done It --Wild Horse bend." "I remember something of it," Mar- tin answered. "10 or 18 years Meek. One of them was shot There's never n been any trouble up hesince, has there?" "Nop," aid the teamster yawning. All day they made camp and rented creektheir mules at Wolf creekTbey built a fireand ste steaks from an autelope a lucky shot had gathered in. At noou there daubed up with a clatter of hair ns t eand a cloud of wisp snow. the pay• mastery ambulance, and, behind it, the escort from Fort Niokereon. The imps• tient officer, anxious to get on, annonne of ed his intention resting jest long sh enongh to feed and refresh his team and then riding through the/fight and pay- ing ay ing off next day. ``Y� Once more the wort climbed into their wagon shortly before sunset, but sow they bpd 50 dispense with the can • vas shelter and keep broadly awake, bllowing closely the paymaster's light- e r ambulance, precious with the treas- ure of two mouths' pay for men. en. The moonligbt was gone. Gray cloadi had sullenly been driven up by the soourging wind. The snow drifted so thickly that the sir looked as in • snow- storm. By 10 at night, when they came 10 Wild Hone bend. the teamsters were pressing forward their teams and think- ing of bastards. The tenor% was 60 yards behind when the ambulance males slowed down and began to ford the stream at the Wand. The soldiers' sore eyes were weary, lacing the wind and piercing the darknees, and the teamster was Oto cold to swear mach as he urged hie wages after the lighter vehicle. They were but a few yards behind, when fromthe hashes of tee isle sound- ed the quick oaack of a rise end the am- bulance driver gave first • cry of pain and then a tempeut of curses. The eels of the first shot still sang in the wets g, Wag!' "binug!' replied the emote was 00 tap of hila, and struggliug, ohokiug half drowned, but oliugiug like bulldogs, the two men rolled over the pebbly bottom.Martie held fast, and quickly others came to his assistance with ropes. lu a fuw minutes the prim- mer. bound cruelly tight, lay at the bottom of'the wagon, a twat fur the O„1 Biers' feet, mud the teens were away et • swift trot fur the post, the pay cheo,t safe, but the paymaster murdered. CHAPTER IL Mother Revell, old campaigner and m fearluof weathers, palled on a warm- ly lined pair of rubber boots that show- ed ho ueetly beneath. her seuaibly short ka "rts, haw wrapped a warm sl over her head and .buuldeus and veutttred boldly away from her little cottage by the creek, plodding through the knee deep a ▪ ow. The blizzard which the temster had emitted afar had blown )est. and again the wind was stilled, mu that the drifts lay motlonleas, freezing crisply in the moonless night No. 1 on there'd - phrased smile, the woman white and dazed. At last she found herself and pushen ed the and pie between the bars. "Driuk it!" she murmured "1 shall see you amain." Ho nodded to her and gulped the itot drink down and took the pie. Mother Revell had tx en gone but two in mutes when elle came back to the guardroom"Did that brute frighten you?" tried Martin. " You are white ae jour apron. " th "Hu, Martin," aid the old lady, with a Oliver. "Don't tall him that It was only the dark and the cold of that. lonely cell that frightened me " "Ha, hal" the troopers laughed "A veteran of the war frightened be the dark i Oh, Mother Revell!" The delicate finah, so readily provoked on lira Revell's cheek, raved her pallor from being again noticed. "Has the major seen him?" she ailed quietly of her .on. al "No, only the adjutant; but the fel- low's cute. He won't k. Nobody is allowed to ase him. Angels of mercy are, of course, excepted." He patted his mother's cheek, and she tried to laugh, then took her basket end bade them all good night and a quiet She walked steadily home, tramping bravely through the drifts, answering cheerily enough the greetings of a party of offices the met as they Dame out of the club; but, once home, she locked and barred the door, put out the light, and at her face hidden ill her hands, until morning by the stove. Before the bugles sounded reveilleem "O.r=.� sound the whi: - ground - she was up. and busy"- into odd oorners for something she frowningly sought At last she found it, • little steel tool. and she slipped it 1n the bosom of her dramShe fed the stove and made ooffee again and filled Th her can.en, while the dawn hong timorously in doubt and tits sky in the east was very .lowly trembling from violet to gray, she pulled on her boots e nd took her shawl and once more start- ed for the guardhouse. There the men were weary, and themnot out on poet were iietoing. The young sergeant was wrapped in his blankets, sound and snoring. and a drowsy corporal was in charge. Ile brightened at sight of Moth- er Revell's can. "Begum. but you'll spite the ser- geant With yer coddlin!" be said. "Shell I wake him?" Mother Revell shook her head and poured out a magfal for the grateful corpor "Is she asleep?" age asked, nodding toward the prisoner's cell. "Nop Just now he was swearin at the oold " "It is horribly cold in there," she said. "Won't you give him a cap?' "shucks, Mrs Revell, ye're all heart. 'Twos him killed the paymaster." "That's not oertain yet," said Moth- er Revell, suddenly shaking. "But it wgid he .arid fora dog in there. Let "fiends top, d—a emir hoose porch, beyond the lines of bar- racks and officers' bosses, lonely in ita grimness, saw ger Doming, • cloth cov- ered basket on her arm, and challenged ger with smiling oeremony. "Who Domes there?" he cried, .tad she answered cheerily, "A friend." are, You bet you Mother Revell," said the sentrj and helped her on to the porch. "Want to sea the sergeant?" He opened the guardroom door and pushed her gently i. "Another prisoner for you, sergeant. " bd e said and grinned. "Hello, mother!" cried the sergeant of the guard, ooming forward from his little Mlles bedroom. 'What icings you out in the stow?' "It's Mother Revell," the troopers called out, throwing aside cards and jumping from their bunks, "and a bas- ket What's in the beaket?" •'1 thought," said the little, gentle eyed woman, who for all ger long, rough life with the army could yet blush pleasantly. "I thought an it was Mar- tin's first -guard aa • sergeant you boys wouldn't mind if I just fixed you all a lunch, seeing it's so cold" The sergeant laughed and gave the little woman a boy's hard squeeze. "You ought to be brevetted colooel, " screeched the young trumpeter. "Achl flutter Revell? Why vas you not secretary of var made alretty?" a Dutchman grunted. No. 1 poked his head in at the door anxiously. "Make them keep some for me, Mrs. Revell," he cried earnestly. "I've hall an hour yet to freeze out here." Hot mince pies and • can of better than moseunrn ooffee came from., the big basket, and the soldiers ate •withaa boiaterogood humor. Mrs sat Revell on the edge of ■ trunk and eyed them oomfortably. She knew them all, knew many of their amnawas she had known Recruit and veteran, private ani ser- geant of the old ttoop for 20 yearn and more. Her quick gray eyes glanced from one to the other motherly. "Brown," she maid, "are those your best boots? Mind you draw a new pair next clothing Mem. You'll be on the sick report with pneumonia if you don't take care. Billy McNab, how's your arm? Thought you knew better than lot your horse throw you. Have you got though coffee, Martin, boy?" "How, mother?" lira Revell glanced at the barred sed aimed door of the common prism 14710/1."Mayn't they havesee�s -Igoe " "Oh, we're empty tonight, mother. There's only old Barney Oonertable—the usual thing—and he's sleeping it off." "Poor old Barney! I doubt but they'll bobtail him in the end. Where's the—the stage robber?" she whispered. "Sulking in his .ell there. i guessthey'll ship him off to the civil •utbori- aaeM to it in hi • the otaldoounthry. " "Give it here," the farrier cried. waving a corkscrew. "Fin Strait," "aid the carpool, sod dimly snatching it, while he frowned upon hiafriend. "In • matcher se this gintllity yell be koind enough to re mimber me rank 1. ebnpnrier to yours." And he opened the bottle with dig- utty. They had Met once sipped the nnwomt- Na , .l were beginning to ooze• meet opera its tete when ono* again there name • rap open the door, a rap ea peremptory and nffliial as the first. Fin Strait, fearfat ref intrusively thirsty thrrate, hid the mond bottle prtmptly, and Mother Revell drew nearer the rive away from the draft of the open- ing doer Again the .horn drifted in se Martin Revell answered the knook, and again a gnaw iseepattered orderly enter- blue and belted overcoats. The arm M. This time It was the orderly tenni- iboa a volley after there, fntile in the pet, from the sergeant major's nIlI e. Stowe„ and &triremes, but Sergeant Rev - "there to distnrh you, Mrs Revell." f 11 ienddenly.d•rted frost ties et h. mid. "(Mier Fran tbe.djrnent's 01.4 pinnging lame deep into the meek. One ilia. sergeant. " (et the nntl•we had slipped and.tnmhled -11411° 1- ubcnted elm tswgeentt. WSW* la the strewn. Is • breath the agile lad sweet pink spread on her cheek. "Tb all right, Martie. Are you off duty to• day?" Hu shook hie head. w "No such luck—guard," be auser- ed, and bent hungrily over his plate. Revell evell paled agate turd trent bled. "Guard!" she quid at 14 "Why, Msrtiu, you were on the night before last. " "Can't help it, Schiede a gone sick, Foley's acting acrgeaul major, M eMlllan's on deem:hod writhe weed- ing telegraph wirer, Fairleigh'spreempt sergeant and so on. There's only Bob Otierend 1 for duty --one night io. " "It's a bhawe!" the cried. jumping up iu a passion of fear. "You can'tl •'Is she better?" You wast null" "Is there ally chane for her?" "Why, mother?" • All day long the men came slipping "Yuu—i'll go and speak to th• up to the hospital and whispered their major!" anxious inquiries in the attendants' "What on earth—mother. you know ears and went off in gloom when the such things often bappe. It's all in .tetward purred his lips and rebook hia the five yeare. Don't get excited." bead, Yon—you'll be til." She began to Toward evening she became sensible s.7. "It'll tire you out" and found Martin in the room with the "Mother, " he said, stepping to her aide doctor. and a tall muataohed figure in and petting her, "you are ill. Why, 70,4 the Maslow' of • corner. of all people, know one night in is no "Martin," she whispered. "are 7o0 hardship It won't last Loot here! I'm hart. boy?" She setJ to bur boll and drug her- self entreatingly cqp his breast, bre not before ate revomver mad cracked. The eu prisoner was a seud later. Hubert by Martin's bullet, he returned the fire as Mother Revell clasped her boy. Martin heard bis mother cry out in pain and felt her tall heavily forward upou his rescuing farm. The guard rushed past, ready, ady, in pursuit of the fugi tive, but the sean rget of the guard paid no attention to them. Ho picked the lit tie unaanus wsciot i woman up in his aus and dashed away to the poet hospital, terror in bis eyes. CHAPTER IV. "How is she?" "Theoorporal,eMiggelhisaisealfWe. It was hart to refuse Mother Revell anything. So again aim slipped along the corridor. The prisoner must have heard her voice, for be was already at the bats Beetle, " he hoarsely whispered. "You're the same as ever—a good old girl And you haven't forgotten the old man. A corner of your heart for him still, eb?" She shrunk from his bloated faoe for a moment; the next the stepped deter- minedly to the grating. "Listen," the murmured hurriedly. "Don't touch my hand. I'm going to help you, but not for your sake—for the tame reason I helped you before, when, in your drinking craze, you shot -the oowboy in Dodge. I wanted to save my boy the abome of hearing his father was hanged. 1 want to ave him again." "'Little Martin—the baby. Bessie, is hs� here? Let me see him—Bee.." doing well; he'e a boy to be proud of. He studies and will pas for a commis- sion in time. He knows nothing of your life, of you, and never shall. I'd die first Ito you think I'd see the boy creep about ill shame for his father, a Aesarter, twice a murderer? Could he hold rep his head among his comrades when he's en floor and • gentleman. u be will be, as he deserves to he? Se- vin! Never! You mull go away--ee gape, else there are some here will zee -grilse you. " She was tremblinganw. and he gulp- ed the steaming coffee sulkily. The men snored; the ocet'ponl nodded over his stove "'What What name have you gone by? You bare not call yourself Revell?" "Hardly," he grinned. "Take this," she said, and gave him the tool from her dress. "It'eall loould fin --a gimlet You bore hole atter hole in the planking of the floor until a pieoe is loose. It's slow, and you must be mations of the guard seeing you. Get through by night after next if you ten, for they are eager to send you to prism. There's • foot and a half be- tween floor and ground You can crawl out. It was done once by a titan at Fort McKinney. Look out for Na 1. He puma round the guardhouse every quar- ter of an hour." He took the 1001 eagerly and she turned away. "Bessie 1" She ptosed. "I ave in a paper that Pollock waa made a major. He always bad lack. You and I remembered him as • big buck private when 1 area a sergeant in the war. Say, be he—in he stock 00 you Mill? I int him out for fair then, didn't ihossilt 701Cd.get.ittlito res end marry him." She looked at him Seemly. "The majora a good man, not et far to name. Get away from here aft quick as you ern, and remember this-- thare'e only one thing I love in the world and that'. the hay." She slipped quickly frau him and through the guardroom, plot the drowsy corporal end regained her home before the tmn wad yet above the plain's far ritn. going to ask the hospital steward to "I wish I were, dear little mother," send you duwu • tonic, and don't you he cried, "so that you were safe I" move from your stone today. I'll run "Huth l None of that now, sergeant, up and see you at dinner time. Now, 1 or you'll have to get out, " the doctor must hurry and clean my belts a bit." said as the lad flung himself on his He left ger shaking silently, but turn knees by the bed. .d at the open door. Mother Revell petted her boy's hand "That hangdog road agent is to be weakly, and her eyes sought the oorner. sent to the railway tomorrow. The cher- "It it yon, major?' she asked softly, iff will take charge of him there." and the offioeroommanding�e silent- .•- tcitr -Retrell'Ireatdtetriey 1n bat aftir nee age: T•'.— e _ . chair as the door -a -oiled bahini! her and ' ire g-eer Rave ' Ild whiid4 became a nervous bundle of anxious "don't you wieh to speak to me?" fears." ears title paused. cleweyes, and her eyeand "Tonight I" she muttered. "He must then opeued them upon the doctor. escape tonight, and Martin ton guard I If • •I've swan many of the poor boys go, he should fail, if the guard shoots him doctor," alta mid "Tall me' —• tom shoot his father down! Oh, obi And he turd her. The doctor took And if he snowed. Martin will be tried Martin by the shoulder and pushed hun for allowing the escape, for neglect of es him gently, and the major duty, and oused fat It will ruin his and Mother Revell were left alone. At Shene at, stunned, until the bugles on onith chof promotion.Oh, oh I" once e asked: the .. He was caught?"?" e parade ground announced guard mount. She stole to the window and "He was shot down, dead, Bessie." watched. Creah wont the band. All the "And you recognized him?" familiar, stirring maneuvers were per- "But nobody else, Bessie. Nobody formed in the bright winter sun. The Stall know be was Sergeant Revell " band ceased, the adjutant and sergeant "Thank you, major," she aighed,with major saluted, the shrill bugles ad- • content that almost stifled her pain. vanoed, and the new guard marched on "Martin will never know when—when es sea vasegreeffe,gag.rall Zgieil4to Ilea an officer and a gentleman. Major, eyed young sergeant in command. She Toa .e."1/oan veiy, very good and kind. " ooald hear his clear voioe even when be "I'd have done more if you'd let me, was ont of sight at the distant guard- Bessie," he answered. hoose: "Nevi guard! Present arms!" "Do it for—for Martin," she plead - Evening stable mil and the troopers ed. "He's no like his father." in white stable -dress, trotting at double "No, no, Bees—like you, dear girl, time through the frosty air of the fail- like you. Bella " Lite day—supper call—retreat and the She looked at him with • faint shake sunset gn. Martin ran into see her and ef the heche eve me • right to be a father found her so white he reseilved to bring the post surgeon in the morning. Dark- to the boy. Thrice I've naked you, and nes, but she lit no lamp att4 at last yon refused. though Revell was good as Dame tattoo and taps to usher in $ windy dead. " night, with white clouds swiftly crone "For your sake, major. I'm only • ing the half moon. Night—the thud lanndn'a" click of the billiard balls in the club, "I rose from the ranks," he replied. the final song at (captain West's even-. "I don't want to think that the rascal -Oing party, the first silent round of the who spoiled your life sou to the end. W of the day. The sentry at the I've been patient Let me remember guardbome lifted up his voioe, "No. 1, you a my wife—take MY name." 12 o'clock!" and from the corral, from Again she motioned "no." the cavalry stables, from the haystacks "I've money, Bea, and Martin will and from the distant sawmill mune the be my son. i have iufluenee, and Mar - swift replies of lonely sentinels, tin, as my son, will draw on it naturol- "Twelve o'clock, and all's well I" ly ' "You attack the weaker wing. ma- t longer, MothererRevell epee unable s from she answered. and pressed hu , 50to beat satilieatwe. e.:'lie Monsefrom jog'. ' the house. Well she knew the old punt hand. and how to hide in the abadows and "Yes?' "Yea" how to avoid the sentries Unseen, ell- He stooped and kissed her and har- ed with a shuddering disgust at herself ried out to send his orderly for the post at having .o to hide, she gained the chaplain. Martin. bewildered, was rear of the guardhouse. There, there there, and the doctor, and these alone Seal a little clump of scrub oaks by a saw Mother Revell acknowledge the spring of clear water, and in Weir mistake of her hasty girlhood and marry shadows the little woman crouched and at last the man who had patiently watched waited. Tramp, tramp, tramp, to the end orf After that she lay in pain, finking the porch; to the rear, march. and swiftly, and grew a little delirious and tramp, tramp, tramp to the other end. saw into the future, speaking of her boy Shift, carbine to the other shoulder, and as "Captain Revell, a gallant officer it's time to patrol round the guardhouse. and gentleman." At 9 o'clock ehe was Bo went No. 1, monotonously. distract- very weak, but sensible, and sent mes- ingly. Once, twice, thrice and four times sages to a number of her children—the he passed round the building, and it grief stricken troopers. Shortly she was 1 o'clock. Again he sang the hour whispered to them to open the window, and again came back the distant echoing although it was very' oold, and they sentries' calla, "All's well!' did so. ages soon, it the roads open np If 1t hadn't been for the blizzard, they'd have sent him before this. We've had him eve days now, and the adjutant don't like the respoueibility of keeping such a desperate murderer in this old wooden shack" Mother Revell had a little of s wom- an's curiosity, and a great deal of • woman's tenderness. "He must be oold in that dark cell," she munuured. "Won't you give him a song of hot coffee?" He'd only growl and refuse it." "Let me," aid Mother Revell, with innate Rel Crone proclivities. file took the tin cup and fined it steaming toll and took es wall • piece of pie. With these she stepped lightly along the dark corridor to the farthest Dell, a dark and chilly dungeon. ntterly lonesome, securely barred. She penned tlmi'diy .foot away from the grating. By the smoky light of the oil lamp 1a the onr•ridor she made out to ase a bun- dle of blankets in the for corner. "Wold your 11ke a cap of coffee std • piece of hot pier" asked Mother Rar- slL The blanket was dipped from a ghag- gy, gray haired, gray bearded heed and two eyes, red shot, stared oht. "I've hrught you a cap"— The blankets were toned aside and the prisoner made • spring at the bans His lipm went apart in unrpriee; his hand, ,hook ; his ayes were eager. "Good Lord! Are yen still with the boys?" he whigperel. The meg of toffee shook in Mother Revell'', hand until mach of the draft ram spilled on mho wm'nrut bra/wilt, tent Mother Revell had cartage ar,d wit rind preemuoa of mind, deve•lopesi by her nn - tonal training. She neither Prieenind nor fainted. bat her breath came pant- ingly. Yen again!" she whisireraY IR bet, and they were silent, ,tering at math other. the emu with an astontened, half need the ready p•ymasle and his clerk Somebody "honied • commend, and four dark forms leaped from the brash. Haat up! Grab that beg, Jack, on the front matt Mende te6='lf "gats Quick I" "Drop that beg 1" Dried the p.ymas Mr. "Serest:S t" And then name • dresdfal mr,sm e. • pistol cracked M ids eye and he fell beck deed. The soldiers were out of the wages plunging through the drifts, and even e. the paymaster fell Sergeant Revell discharged his emblem and dashed to the rescue, followed by the men. At the ambalsnoe the clerk was fighting fnri- oasly. The precious bag he bad thrown between his feet Then the enldien were upon them, and it wan all over. The robboru had not been quick encrogh in their daring dash. The man at the hearts of the pinnging males nipped off fieri Sod the other three dashed acres the half fmaess water at eight of the ever," she cried fiercely. "He's ASSESSMENT er'sTEM. is one day less of life 'eft fol yon. `There nlay be thousands of days to come but there may be only one —that is the point. Are you taking chances and carrying your own risk If so, are you wise? Would it not be better to join your life with 3o,000 others' in the aaadian Order of 'Foresters and protect those you love and those that love you from the suffer- ing caused by the untimely or un- expected death of their bread- winner ? . Full particulars of the cheapest, ,Stiaeat a,ndte.ar T_7r±rnn, sent fry on appticatsowto - R. ELLIOTT, x c 1, Ingersoll. THOS. WHITE, Il,th Secy. Brantfeel ERNST 6ARTUNC, S. O„ Brantford DOING HIMSELF PROUD. •ad Keeptrss Hca tdeattt7 a seen. All the Time. The young man had applied for the position of country cones/pendent He promieed the editor that he would send in ell important news Once a week. lie was a bright young man, and above bib eellnloid collar the seep on his face shone. The office had great expectations. Ab, but alae! The yonng man's name was Rohere Edgar Bi II son. - The following is hip first breezy let- ter: Last evening R. E. Billson went to $gntowo to visit relatives. Early Tuesday morning, Robert F Billiton found that the henhouse bad been robbed. There was greet excite- ment in tbe village to know who the culprits were. A most delightful .nrprise party was given to R. Edgar Billson on Wednes- day eve. There was dancing and oysters- Popular ysterspopular "Bob" Billiton is thinking seriously of going to Cuba. '-- The engagement of Robert Edgar Bill- son to the belle the village, Miss Ma- tbilde Hayrick, has been announoed. Ed Billson will take charge of hie father's store while the latter is in New York. Everybody in town is now wondering who jhe bright new correspondent of The Daily Hostler is—New York Jour- nal. " Mother Revell was in a fever. She "I want to hear the bugles, " she said. telt no cold Her eyes sought oontinu- Soon they semded—fie lest, lait comely the yawning blaokneee between trieadly, loving mol to rest—tape. the wails of the old guardhouse and the TUX Pet aowny ground. Again the faithful nen- ossa. •act ramataha•a6 try pawed around and went back to the porch. A minute passed, and something protruded from beneath the guardhouse, reaching out to the white snow, stealth- ily, on its belly, like a great, sneaking eat. Mother Revell clasped her hands k andoak bed. Inch b inch C11APTER ITL The young amrgeant came t0 st taahis moth- er's little breakfast in • poor hu- nter. " Mather, can you give me something to cat?" he .'rued. "They've (tetanal a rain conk, and he can't either hake rsa liveens ter make toffee. The meat break- fast vkile mined. This is something like. Stibnite„ nerve or dead. ever made thigh aka yeti. mother, and this la coffee, nal Sayer,Lninteg. mothers you're pale. a'e'eat have yin been doing re yrrnrseif7" •' she wertd, and the soft, and shoo y he came—the murderer, • big man, while the hole was narrow. The moon glanced upon him, and she saw the glit- ter of his excited, determined eyes. Inch by inch, without • sound, he dragged himself tofreedom, and No. 1 continued to tramp the wooden porch nnsanpect- ingly. The man was out and on his feet stooping low, glancing here and there to make sere of the right direct tine to run. "Quick. quick! Oh, man, be off with you quick?" murmured Mother Revell. As if he heard her, he started to run through the deep maw, soandlesely. Otte step be took and Mother Revell closed her eyes in despair. The man's legs, cramped by confinement, were un- certain. Hie Rae struck • rook in the snow, and be fell, notedly bumping againet the wooden wall. At that he forgot himself, or became at mem rock- iaOa and "wore aloud. er-ai of the g" OMR shouted and daehed round the house, while inside tumult and clashing of steel resounded. The prisoner picked himself op but dipped and slid again before hominid start afresh, so that No 1, carbine loaded and asked, was en his beetle It was no intention of the sentry's to kill, bat rather to recapture alive_ He brought the batt to the front swiftly end thrust viciously to knock hie man over like ar•bbit. The running blorw mimed, end in an instant the pris- oner turned, a ehagpy, ,wild eyed image of desperation. They closed, but for • second, The next instant the gentry lay net the grow. find the *wheeler had the carbine Ile was off again with a dash, but notE the gnsnl carne running out, !Sergeant Revell ten wee in advent?, reeelver at the reedy. "Halt. or 1 fire!" he yelled. The prisoner sweet( alw,nt and hrrnglit the carbine to his abolder. A acrmata nagne frogl-1,l..' eyeing. end Mother Rev •11 ran out wringing her 6Mils "Nu, iw l 1b*W of you l Don't shoot !" Marie --I. poverty a crime? Poorboigh (gloomily)—Yes; punish- able by hard labors—Up to Date. Ltre'e 1 hates. Fond Mother—Th' papers is sayin s how Mr. De Star, th' great actor, de get - tin one boondrxl dollars a night. Beene Shifter—Yin, an wot does we gat—only 60 mute a night fee shit/tin sU.that heavy atwery fer himkwA o w spout before. 11'. an anarchist I'ii S NIP be.—New Teak Weekly. Mine Law es AppwIaettee. 1lllit a—DD 7o iliffoin It•s ever pos- sible to come anywhere near the rise of a man's income? Jinks—Y..e; just take the figure he gives to the unu'nsor, add it to the figure be Mils his friends, and then divide the result by two, and you'll have it neer enough.—Town Triples. natural Reel .elle.,•—^...«„ i A Believer. "Senator (:oogie helievei in expan- sion, doesn't he?" 'eked the common voter. "i think he dews." replied the re potter. " At any rate he (Jew me np when 1 at` Molest hind at 2 a tn. to find out snout it's•.,tlnrinnnti 1•:ngnirrt. He -1 want to gat some blank oar Midget She—Are you going to blow your brains oat?—Jody. Bamboo grows very thriftily 1n ChM - forma mottom lauds, and is found to be a very useful plant The seed of many species resembles rice, and is almost as valuable for feed. The stook may to used in the building of bridges, fames and berm and in the manufacture a water pipes, furniture and boxes Oalae overs Wet. "Footteil 1e a Met flame fee diger, S " n0 i,,,w ' kteei loo."-- Chin•gn Record. °hely opher Columbne, who was an admiral in the Spanish navy set the time he discovered America. was paid et the rate of 4.338 a year. Hurrying Him rp. Gerald—What would you say 1f I erre to kiss yon? Geraldine -1 don't know, bet I cars worse a speech if yon think 11 wards while to wait. --Town Tnntes. t. mother's ----~- medicine. What distress and anguish comet° the mother when her little one wakes up .a right with a nasty croupy cough. With mothers always keep on hand a bottle eir Dr. Wood's Norway Pins Syrup. to pleasant to the taste the youngster". take it without any fuss, and at the same time its promptness and effectiveness' are such that the cough is checked before anything serious develops. From one end of the Dominion to the other people are praising Dr. Wood'. ?eigrway Pine Syrup as the best remedy her Coughs, Colds, Croup, Whooping Conga Bronchitis and all Lung Affections Dr. wood's Norway Moo Syrup. 1113.2. at aY druggist..