Connecticut western news., 1880-12-15
IN HARD STRAITS.

"Nine o'clock, sor, an the hot wather; an is it the rest of the bacon ye'd be af- ter havin' for breakfast ?''
 "Will it not be too much, Bridget ?" "Sorra bit, sor.
 Very we'll"
 And with half groan, I, Basil Hath away, sprang out of bed and proceeded to array myself in unexceptional cos tume-trousers, vest and frock-coat. My only shoes, alas an accommodating rel atiye some twenty doors off had taken charge of shabbier garments, one by one, kindly advancing sundry moneys thereon.
 Three of us were in the same plight and school fellows and chums, now thrown together in manhood by the ca- price of dame fortune, and fighting shoulder to shoulder the great battle of life in the great city.
 As I dressed, one of the trio, Hal Trevor, came bounding by three at a time up the m-eaten stairs.
 He WAS fresh from the morning lec- lure at the hospital, and hungry as a hunter, I thought with 8 shudder. heard his cheerful greeting of Jack Hornsey, hard at work since daylight on Coke on Littleton. "
 Well, old bookworm, ready for breakfast Where is the captain ?'
 'aThe captain p How the old title, bestowed still in honor of my three years seniority, set me dreaming. l was aroused by the dull thuds of poker hammering violently at. the intervening wall.
 "All right P I shouted. 'Ring fo1 the bacon" In minute there were three of us gazing with rueful looks at the breakfas, arrangement. A loaf of stale bread, 8 piece of butter the size of a walnut, and three tiny rashers, that either could put out of sight with ease.
 "Is that all, Bridget?"
 Every line of the girls honest IrisI face was eloquent with sympathy.
 Mot 2 bit more, sor.'
 He laughed.
 Turn out your pockets, lads. There is my st coin. ,
 And he produced an exceedingly shiny six pence.
 Jack, after much rummaging, showed quantity of fluff and a brace button l had lthree-pence half-penny in cop pers. s
 "odd man out for the bacon," quotl Hal.
 No, divide it between you," said I "A man has been rash enough to invite me to dinner. Hand over the loaf. .''
 Jack gave me one keen glance. think he suspected the pious falsehood Hal-bless the boy-was quite uncon scious, as happy as though we had not care. The frugal meal had just beer disposed of when we heard great pufins ands blowing on the third floor. Tha had but one possible meaning credi tor.
 Whose turn ?' asked Jack laconic ally.
 It was an ancient arrangement nov that on the advent of dun only one o lls should receive him, the others bein, in the city-that is in the adjacent bed room.
 "Yor own," cried Hal, as we de camped, leaving the door ajar to watcl the course of events. "I wish you joy Jack it is old Blunderson, snortin, like grampus, as usual"
 Old Blunderson was general pro vision merchant, who had let himsel be beguiled into suppl lying miscellaneou goods until his bills really frightene, me. He was the exception that prove, 7 that old rule, "Laugh and grow fat i; as crusty, ill conditioned wretch a ever read one portion of the Lord prayer backwards. A modern Falstaf minus the wit, he always ascended slow ly, resting on each stair.
 We were safe for about five minutes Jack employed them in preparing for hi reception, and we watched proceeding with amused curiosity.
 The first was to produce a huge to bacco pouch, taking from it about hal an ounce of tobacco. From this filled long clay pipe-Jack's meel chanm preceded our clothes to the pawn broker's-depositng the remaining care fully on the table.
 An alarming sacrifice" murmere Jack, shaking his head over it with re gretful sigh.
 The next grasp was to grasp the fir shovel and tongs.
 Weapons of offence" whispere, Harry. He meditates assault and bal