Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-07-17

eyes Oh me. All, I'd bless your hammer
all the days Of my life, and the childer
should learn to pray for you, and the old
mother that's almost in the grave shall
entreat the Queen of Heaven for your
soul"
was young and soft-hearted then; |
couldn't withstand the sight of so much
distress. l gave him the sovereign, which
he handed over to his wife Now, Ter
ence," | said, II shall trust to your honor.
BY ten O'Clock tomorrow morning you
must be at Dublin Castle gate; if you
fail me, l am ruined by my kindness to
you"
"I'll be there, your hammer, by the holy
cross" said Terence crossing himself de-
voutly, to give effect to his words
l didn't feel comfortable either, but
wouldn't go back from my word; so l
made my way across the heath. Terence
showed me my route till we came in
sight of the Dublin road, white streak
in the darkness, and then he went Looping
on his way by some inscrutable tracks
across the hills.
After I'd waited some time, the coach
came up; the front seats were full, and
took my place behind, where there was
nobody but an old woman, who was fast
asleep, propped up by some boxes.
seated myself beside the old woman, and
went to sleep too. The coach stopped at
Montmellick to change, and that reused
me, and then | heard my own name
called
"McAlister! Saunders McAlister, are
you there?"
"Sure enough am" l said, jumping
up and rubbing my eyes; ''who wants me? -
A man clambered up to the roof of the
coach with dark lantern in his hand,
which he flashed full upon me and the
old woman-still asleep.
You've got your prisoner all right,
them" said the man.
What do you know about prisoners"
said sulkily; land what do you mean by
routing fellow about just as he's com
fortably settled?'
"Oh!" says he loftily; no hairs with me
Pm your new supervisor"
Now I'd written just note to our SUI
pervisor, old Blathery, a decent old fellow
as ever lived: Dear Bladder-Im go
ing to take prisonerAo Dublin tonight,
and as | come back I'll come and see you,
and We'll have gey willie waught for
auld lang syne."
''Yes," said the man, a tallow-candle-
looking kind Of chap, with big teeth,
that made quite shine, as you may say,
eyes, Pm your new supervisor, and Pm
astonished that you should make so free
with your superior officers as to write
such "a letter to him as that | got tonight.
But Pm glad to see you've got your pris-
oner all right. I'm going up to Dublin
too. Tee got a prisoner, and there's no.
body else to take him, so I'm going my
self.''
why, where's Blathery?" said I.
suspended; sure to be dismissed.'
"And Tomkins and Jones, the officerss"
suspended too''
"Gude save u.s." said 1; ''and what's
that for?"
Il can't tell We all, but I can tell you
this much: they were constantly taking
prisoners to Dublin Castle, and getting Q
paid for their coach-fare and expenses,
and all the while they'd be driving them
up in carts they'd borrow from their
friends for nothing; and there was one
impident fellow made his prisoner walk,
and claimed his fare just the same"
"And was it for that they suspended
'em?"
Wasn't it enough-to be defrauding
the Revenue? I'm glad to see we've got
your man safe alongside you, for by Jingo,
if I'd caught you at those tricks, I'd have
been the dismission of you"
Well, | felt my heart 60 down into my
boots What on earth was to do? Sure
enough the next time the old woman
woke, I'd be discovered, and then what
would be the end of it! I'd be dismissed
in disgrace, and ruin my prospects for life
and then poor Katie Stewart, who was
waiting for me up in Kirkcaldy, waiting
till I'd get my next rise in my salary-Oh,
whatever would l do? Just catch me
doing work of mercy and charity again
80 Lordn' | said, breathing a mental
prayer, ''let me off this once; I'll never
offend any more"
The Chandler his name
was, queer enough, seeing he was for all
the world, as I've said before, just like a
tallow candle-he clambered up with his
prisoner to where | was sitting, and took
his place just opposite me, at the very
back of the coach, you know, with his
face to the horses Just the jerk of start
ing the coach woke up the old woman
and she, looking about in wonder for a
moment, threw up her arms and began to
cry.
"Oh, sure I'm past the place entirely
Oh, sure I'm left behind, Oh, I'll never
find my way back!' and she tried to Jump
off the coach.
/ threw my arms round her and held
her down; but the more l held her the
more she struggled, till in the end l man
aged to pinion her arms, and, fairly over
powered, she became quiet at last
Mr. Chandler was all of a shake
"Wwhat's the meaning of that extra
ordinary scenes" he cried
Prisoner trying to escape" l said
BLESS me, that was very courageous
resistance on your part. III make note
of that" and Chandler pulled out a biz
notebook; but between the jerking of The
coach and the shaking of his hands hi
couldn't write word However, il
wasn't long before we were at Portarling
ton, which | was thankful to see wa.
tired of hugging my old woman. Wha
I'd do after that, didn't know But a:
luck would have it, the moment the coacl
stopped, Chandler leaped down.
III get drop of something hot" h,
cried, 'to stop this shivering Look afte
the prisoners, McAllister''
! Mother, amt you thankful to me
saved your life ?" l said to the olC
woman, unclasping my embrace Sh
| gave ME look and curse, and stepped
| off the coach. And then bright though
! came into my brain. Come over here
l said to the prisoner opposite, who ha,
been stolidly looking on; you'll b
warmer and more comfortable in this col
ner, and you'll get a bit of sleep, per
/ haps"
The man came over, and sat down il