Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-02-05


fol- all sorts of mischief. from ringing
door-bells to breaking windows; but he
was terribly afraid of being found out.
Public justice was sharp and swift in
town. | had some features, too, pecu-
liar to pro-slavery districts. The board
of Magistrates were the seven Oldest
and wealthiest land-holders. They APP
pointed their own successors on reti-
ring; they punished offenders by fines,
or by putting them on the chain-gang,
a body of men who worked on the
street, chained by Que foot to great
iron ball.
lone night as | was coming home
from a school concert, | saw heap OF
wood at the foot of the statue of Cal
houn on the square. Now this was on
ly an ordinary figure, coarse enough,
no doubt, but it was our only statue,
and the town was proud of it accor-
dinghy. Coming closer, | saw the IL
CURES of two boys, one on the top of the
heap of wood. busily tying a rope
around CaIhoun's waist, the other be-
low, begging him apparently to desist.
"Ah, Master Arthy. it's hung yen
whisper from Mike.
Get away. there, Stand back"
arthur leaped town and gave the
rope vigorous pull. Down came the
figure, and, from the sound, | knew
that some part of il had been fractured.
The boys stood motionless.
II didn't think il would break :" gas
ped Arthur.
There was sound of approaching
footsteps.
Run, run" Mike cried. dragging
Arthur down the square. Its the
constable,"
But they were too late. When Shock,
the one policeman, saw the injury done
to this glory of art, his teeth actually
shattered. He started after the retrea-
ting boys, and after a though chase,
caught Arthur, and Mike at once sur
rendered also.
"A iiIblllu a. h.Oa
pay you off for this you young vipers.'
Michael turned on him furiously :
''Let Master Arthy go, 1t was l did it.
He wor persuadin me to stop" weren't
you. Master Arthy?"
Arthur hesitated looking like bea-
ten hound. Il did try to stop him, y
he said in feeble voice.
Il hurried up, Mikes keen Irish wit
read my purpose in my face. He shook
OFF Shocks hold. leaped at me, took me
by the shoulder, and said, In a fiere
whisper:
'.If you tell, III Kill you. But you
can take your '.batin" if you choose.
Shock hauled them both away. The
next morning they were brought up be-
fore the magistrates. Mike told his
story. and Arthur sustained him in it.
Arthur was discharged, with compli-
ments on his kindness TO the poor
wretch.
That afternoon, as soon Is | was clear
of school. hunted up the chain-gang.
There was Mike at the end. breaking
stone, the chain rattling with every
turn. He had taken off his jacket and
covered the ball with it. His eyes
were swollen with crying, but when he
saw me he burst into a miserable
chuckle.
THAT is what the O'More has come
to-" he said.
When met Leveridge | told him he
was sneak, hound, etc. Then l
went to the magistrates with my story.
But, to my amazement, they pooh-poo-
he'd me away. Ii was my rirst insight
into the weight of caste.
Eight years after this the war broke
out. Mike enlisted in the Southren
army. Arthur became paymaster in a
Nothern regiment. Gos would not
find that young men where any fight
ing was called for, When the army
was in the Shenandoah valley, Lever
idge, it appears, received secret offer
of high position on the Confederate
side, provided he would betray our
corps to the enemy. The scoundrel
consented. BY some chance Mike dis
covered the transaction. Leveridge
left the camp and rode down to the
riverside 10 meet the messenger from
the Confederate army, to whom he was
to give the maps, statement of the con-
dition, numbers, ETC., of the Union
troops. lie had the papers on his per-
son. 1t was late in the afternoon when
the Confederate messenger approached
and gave him the signal agreed upon.
Lcveridge handed him the packet,
when. to his astonishment, the man
tore IL in half and flung it into the
river.
"It's thrue. then, LIS an infOrmer
we'd be, | heard talk of it in the colo
nel's tint while was kapin gnard, an
I'd not behave il"
"You ruffiang Am | never to have
done with you!"
Mike was powerful Irishman, and
every nerve was tense with passion.
He caught Arthur by the collar and IL
terally shook him.
You shall not do il. The man that
sucked the breast of my mother shall
never turn informer. I've saved you
many time, but l never saved you
from anything loik this"
He turned him toward the Union pi-
cket-line, then hurled hinrfrOm him.
"There go. and fur Gods sake, be a
man, Master Arthy.''
Leveridge painted out an oath. III
was your own side was going to help,
you bound!''
whats sides to me? An informer
o holy yirgin"'
The man stalked away down to the
river bank. The boat lay hidden i'm
which he had crossed. He got into it
and padded over.
The major stopped abruptly in his
narrative.
"Well. go on, go on, we said.
"What became of him?"
The picket guard saw him as he
reached the open space where the m on
shone clearly. There was sharp ring
of bullet. The poor fellow sprang
ii fall