Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-05-12
In Hard Straits.

Nine O'Clock, sor, an the hot wather
an is it the rest of the bacon ye'd be afte
havin' for breakfast -
'Will it nol be too much. Bridget?'
''Sorra bit, sor.r
"Nery WE'LL
And with half groan, /, Basil Hatha
way, sprang out of bed, and proceeded &
array myself in unexceptional costume
trowsers, vest and frock- coat. NY only
ones, alas! an accommodating retativ,
some twenty doors of had taken charge o
shabbier garments, one by one, kindly ad
vancing sundry moneys thereon
Three of us were in the same plight-anC
school-fellows and old chums, now thrown
together In manhood by the caprice o.
Dame Fortune, and fighting shoulder t.
shoulder the great battle of life in the grea
city.
As dressed, one of the THO, Hal Trevour
came bounding by three at a time up tht
worm-esten stairs.
He was fresh from morning lecture Al
the hospital, and hungry as a hunter,
thought with q shudder. Iheard his cheer
ful greeting of Jack Hornsey, hard a
work since daylight on ''Coke on Little
ton"
We'll, old bookworm, ready for break
fast. Where is the captains''
The captain." How the old title, be
slowed, set me dreaming. l was reused
by the dull thuds of a poker hammerine
violently at the Intervening wall
'All right shouted. Ring for the
bacon"
In q minute there were three of us gaz
ing with rueful looks at the breakfast ar
rangement. A loaf of stale bread, piece
of butter about the size of walnut, anC
three tiny rashers, that either could hav,
put out of sight with ease
''ls that all, Bridget.'
Every line of the girls honest IRISH facs
was eloquent with sympathy.
Not bit more, sor.H
Hal laughed.
Turn out your pockets, lads. There i.
my las; CON-
And he produced an exceedingly shiny
siIpence.
Jack, after much rummaging, showed 9
quantity of fluff and brace button. Ihad
three-pence half-penny in coppers.
''Odd man out for the bacon" 9uoth
Hal.
mo, divide it between you, said l. "a
man has been rash enough TO invite me &c
dinner. Hand over the Leaf
Jack gave me one keen glance. / think
he suspected the pious falsehood. Hal
bless the boy-was quite unconscious, a,
happy as though he had not care. The
frugal meal had just been disposed of wher
we heard great putting and blowing or
the third floor. That had but one possible
meaning-a creditor.
"Whose turni' asked Jack. laconically.
It was an ancient arrangement now that
on the advent Of a dun only one of u:
should receive him. the others being in the
city-that is, in the adjacent bedroom
"Your own," cried Ha' as We decamped
leaving the door ajar 10 watch the course
of events. 81 wish you Joy, Jack; it |:
old Blunderson, snorting like grampus, as
usual
Old Blunderson was general provision
merchant, who had let himself be beguiled
into supplying miscellaneous goods unit
his bills really frightened me. He was the
exception that proved that old rule, 'Laugt
and grow tat :" as crusty, ill-comlitioned 6
wretch as ever read one particular portion
ton OF the Lords Prayer backward. A
modern Fallstaff, minus the wit, he alway.
ascendcd slowly. resting On each stair.
We were safe for about five minutes
JACK employed them in preparing for hi.
reception, and We watched the proceeding!
with amused curiosity.
The first was to produce huge tobacco
pouch, taking from it about half an ouncs
of tobacco. From this he filed long clay
pipoJack's merschaum had preceded oul
clothes to the pawnbroker's-depositine
the remainder carefully on the table.
'An alarming sacrihce!' murmurec
Jack shaking his head over it with re
gretful sigh
The next move was 70 grasp the fir
shovel and tongs.
"Weapons of offense. a" whispered Harry
s'Hc meditates assault and battery"
Hal stopped abruptly in sheer amaze
ment. Jack was deliberately removing
live Goals from the fire to the shovel, anc
upon these he swept bis cherished tobacco
Then he placed the shovel upon the bot
tom ledges of two chairs at the furthe
corner of the room, threw himself into tn
oue nearest the fire, and complacentl.
lighted his long clay.
OF course the room filled fast with smok'
and most pungent odor.
"Old Blunderson hates tobacco as Ger
tain parsonage hates holy water!" grinnet
Hal.
"Bad policy, though, to rritate him,
grumbled l..
By this time our enemy was in the door
vay gasping for breath, and shaking
sreat barry fist at Jack by way Of fllinl
the interval till speech returned.
.sYou abandoned young profigste!" ]"
Jack removed his pipe, nodded AM
quietly resumed II.
"Where sre the other scsmps!
sNOpe gone for the doctor; the other
and Jerk of the speakers thumb towar'
The door behind which be stood completes
the sectsuce.
eld glandsr,op made two unwielG