Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-11-20

At the postofhce the crowd of lOungers
we're just as ignorant, just az Indifferent
as were those at the other resorts. More
than that, some of them asked for in.
formation as to the officers identity.
1t was then that Beiden became an image
of wrath, that he glared with fierce eyes,
that he smote his hands and snapped his
fingers in indignation.
"Who is Leftenant Jim? Nice men
you are. I've told you forty times, but
I'll tell you again. I'll tell you who he
was and-and, thanks to grateful
country What he is. He was soldier
without fear, hero unhonored, and
sergeant without promotion, save by his
comrades--and / was one of them. 1t
was plain private jim, who got six bull
lets in his body for picking up his COM
pany's flag and holding it until the
enemy had to tear i. from him in strips
and make his body bulletp pouch. 1t
was Corporal Jim who with four men
captured six-pounder at Chsncellors-
vile and fought it until only Jim
was left. 1t was Sergeant Jim who,
in the Wilderness, while waiting under
fire for orders to advance, left the ranks,
picked up she'll that lay with burning
fuse not ten feet from him, carried it to
mud-puddle and threw it in. 1t was
then the boys made him Ieftenant. And
two hours later It was this same leften-
ant who fought like demon over the
body of bis wounded colonel, and got
two saber cuts as his reward for saving
his man. He wanted to die, he ssid,
but couldn't get killed. That's little
Of what he was. Today pve seen him
thought he was dead-and he is
tramp, gentlemen, miserable vagabond,
with clothes too mean Cor a scavenger,
and without food enough inside of him
to keep his skin in place. Give him
nothing to eaS if be asks it, and you'll
feed hero As for me, be is to noe as
brother. Nv home shall be his home,
if [ can fna him." Having delivered
this speech, he get out once more in
search of his friend.
Poor Jim, crouching in the brush,
weary and cod, had dozed little at
first. Then he began to chew Eastwood
buds ard wondered, as he munched,
how and where he should get his dinner
He disljked to venture out of his place
of concealment, for he feared Belden
more than he ever feared an enemy. Ia
all his vsgabondqge he had never asked
for more costly chali.y than drink of
water. He had worked when he could
get anything to do, snd earned his
money, TIE las5 of which had gone to
tie boy. He had avoided towns because
their people were inhuman, giving
strangers TO chance. But he was in
Winscom--the great city lay only a
dozen miles away--and he must eat
THOUGH he begged for it, and was turned
from door after door.
He rose to his feet, every motion
causing him paia, and came out into sn
open lot. The wind had freshened since
morning. The skies had darkened, and
daahes OF fine snow gave signs of bad
night. Adown the loag street into
which he emerged not person was 10 be
seen. A dull town, thought the lieuten-
ant, forgetting that its men went to the
city. Then he made q circuit to avoid
Belden, and to escape groups of people.
He began his disagresable task at
diagonal point of the town from where
he started.
At three houses the door was shut in
his face before his request for food was
half spoken. The lieutenant" swore III
this sort of treatment. That was
natural enough for a hungry man who
had beena hero; but everyb body did not
know his record. OF course not, and
they would never hear of it from his
lips. Moody and despairing, ne pre-.
pared for what ne resolved should be his
last request. A handsome cottage WAS
before HIM. 1t was well-lighted, for the
dusk was falling, He pushed up his hat
on ore side and pulled it down on the
other, that it might have a more iaunty
look. He took that trouser leg out of
his boot and deposited in his pocket the
string which had belted his coat. Those
little alterations did not change his sp-
pearance much, but they softened some
of the outlines. His timid knock at the
back door was answered by buxom
Irish girl. AS the door opened, there
rush ed out the fragrant incense of roast
ing turkey.
81 am hungry" he began. "Pve
had nothing to eat to-day"
The door began to close. He put his
hand against it.
"For heavens sake give me some
think, if it is not more than crust of
bread!"
1t was the hero Lieutenant jim"
who was pleading for just a few mouth
fuls. The door opened little.
"Ye're hard looking tramp, we are"
said the girl.
81 know it," admitted the lieutenant,