The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-10-28
IN HARD STRAITS.

an is it the rest Of the bacon ye'd be
afther havin' for breaktast9'
"Wll it not be too much, Bridget?"
"sorra bit, sor."
"Very well.''
And, with halt groan, I, Basil Hath
away, sprang out of bed, and proceeded
. to array myself in unexceptlonal COS
tume-trowsers, vest and frock-coat. NV
only ones, alas! an accOmmoda rela-
tive some twenty doors Oft had taken
charge of shabbier garments one by one,
kindly advancing sundry moneys thereon.
Three Of us were in the same plight
old school fellows and old chums, now
thrown together III manhood by the ca
price Of Dame Fortune, and fighting
shoulder to shoulder the great battle Of
OF life IN the great city.
AS dressed, one Of the trio, Hal Ire
vor, came bounding by three at time up
the worm eaten stairs. He was fresh
from morning lecture at the hospital, and
hungry as a hunter, I thought, with a
shudder. heard his cheerful greeting
of Jack Hornsey, hard at work since day
light on Cooke on Littleton.
"Well, old bookworm, ready for break
fast? Where is the captaln?"
!'The captain' how the old title, be-
slowed still in honor Of my three years
seniority, set me dreaming. was reused
by the Gull thuds of poker hsmmering
violently at the intervening wall.
Gall right" I shouted, ''r1ng Tor the
bacon!"
In moment there were three Of us
gazing with rueful looks at the breakfast
arrangement. A loaf Of stale bread, a
piece of butter the size of walnut, and
three tiny rashers that either could have
put out OF sight with ease.
els that all, Bridgetz''
Every line of the girls honest Irish
face was eloquent with sympathy.
''Not bit more, sir9'
"Hal laughed.
"Turn out your pockets, lads. There's
my last CON-
And he produced an exceedingly shiny
sixpence.
Jack, after much rummaging, showed
a quantity of fluff and brass button. I
had threepence halfpenny in coppers.
"Odd man out for the bacon,'' quoth
Hal. .> f.
''No, divide it between you;' said I.
IA man has been rash enough to invite
me to dinner. Hand over the loaf"
Jack gave ME one keen glance. I
think he suspected the pious talsehood
Hal-bless the boy was quite uncon-
scious, as happy as though we had not a
care. The frugal meal had just been dis.
posed of, when we heard a great putting
and blowing on the third floor. That
had but one possible meanings cred
itor.
"Whose turn?" asked Jack, laconic.
ally. It was an ancient arrangement
now that on the advent of dun, only one
of US should receive him, the others be-
ing in the city--that is, in the adjacent
bedroom.
"Your own,' cried Hal, as we decamp.
ed, leaving the door ajar to watch the
course of events. II wish you joy, Jack
it is old Blunderson, snorting like q
grampus, as usual"
Old Blunderson was general provis-
ion merchant, who had let himself be be-
guiled into supplying miscellaneous
goods until his bills really frightened me-
He was the exception that proved that
old rule, "Laugh and grow fat;'' as crus-
ty, ill-condltioned wretch as ever read
one particular portion of the Lords
prayer backward. A modern Falstaf,
minus the wit, he always assembled slow
ly, resting on each stair
We were safe for about five minutes
Jack employed them in preparing for his
reception, and we watched proceedings
with amused curiosity.
The first was to produce huge tobac.
co pouch, taking from it about half an
ounce of tobacco. From this he filed a
long clay pipe-Jack's meerschaum had
preceded our clothes to the pawnbroker'
-depositing the remainder carefully upon
the table.
SAN alarming sacrificed" murmered
Jack, shaking his head over it with re
gretful sigh.
The next grasp was to grasp the fire
shovel and tongs. a.
"Weapons of Defence" whispered Har
ry. He meditates assault and battery
Hal stopped abruptly IN sheer amuse
ment. Jack was deliberately removing
live Goals from the fire to the shovel, ane
Upon these heswept his cherished tobac
co. Then he placed the shovel upon tn
bottom Lodges Of two chai1s at the fur
Their corner of the room, threw himsel
into the one nearest the fire, and com.
pAaCens1y 1lSnteu MS long clay. ~
course the room filed fast with smoke
and most pungent oder.
sold Blunderson hates tobacco as Ger
tain parsonage hates holy water" grin
ned Hal
bad policy, though, to irritate him,
grumbled I.
By this time our enemy was in th
doorway, gasping for breath, and Shaking
a great hairy fist at Jack by way Of fill
ing the interval till speech returned
You abandoned young profigate!'
Jack removed his pipe, nodded, the
qnietly resumed it. 4
"Where-are-the- other- scampsl''
"One gone for the doctor; the other
and a jerk Of the speakers thumb towar
the door behind which we stood complet
ed the sentence.
Old Blunderson made two unwieldin
steps toward us.
"Better not" said Jack.