New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-28

ton and disgust expressed in his employers tone,
then fastened to smooth away his righteous indig-
nation with happy after-thought. 49,
"Come to think Of it. haven't seen sign of him
since yesterday Like as not he's gone of his own
accord. unless" The watchmans face Decame
suddenly grave
swell, unless'whatln
He's lying down there all this time lie was 2
thin, woakish looking fellow; the kind that go Oft
quick sometimes" -
"What a ghoul you are, Martini Brewster
laughed short, nervous laugh. Pleasant sugeeS-
tion this, that on his own land. not forty rods
away, dead man was lying. who had perhaps .s
persisted from lack Of b food and M wa s0
narrow souled man, but not bard-hearted ,,.-.;
"Take your lantern and como ahead. Martin;
They stepped out into the chill and darkness.
carefully locking The door behind them as precan
the Mo ooS and Border Of
Creek. maaral pOisons tlled-the air, and host Oh
unsavory odors assailed them. Recking, yapors
seemed to arise from the putrd heaps and Gluten w
| their Threats with phantom fngers ihelT Ieot
slipped and sank into the R3ssfs o. boon poon Of
his recently acquired possessions. and the th"ugnt
came to his mind that it was poor stick OF man
of such an accurscd spot on any other grounds than
that Of its total unfitness for human occupancy
suddenly Martin brought up M6n sO the spo
| for his employers inspection
Brewster leaned forward and deserted low;
irregular structure, not four feet above the Grouh
| NJ highest
the style of building operations pursued IN tnesc
| primitive dwellings were completely overtuincu.
Instead of neat and shining rows oil tin cans rlsng
| tier npon tier into q prctentous and fanclful
| structure, he behed q rude framework OF refuse
boards imperfectly covered with rusty strips oil TN
all humble defence against wind and weather. .ne
merest apoogy for q covering. lie had time 10 take
Int cursory glance al these details. when weak
voice from tho interior hailed the,visitors'
"Whos thcreT
Brewster hesitated an instant before replying.
He could not announce himself as q friend Tor ms
mission was far from friendly, Ho resolved 10
| present himself on strictly neutral grounus.
| GYour landlord" ..,...
sSorry not to give you o more Citing reception,
minc host but as I'm hardly in shape to receive
company-lf You'll be kind enough to slip your bill
Brevsters dignity was offended. 1t was al very
| oondescend to address joke TO the vagabond who
trespassed his domain; for the rascal TO presume
g Flu thonsh Of the
the increased premium, and interrupted tho iei'ow
| ansriy. .o-. and
Sorry to be unable to comply with your polite
request, sir, but don't think could.walk very far
3Humbugl want you to understand that you
AFRO on my ground. sir. Every moment You STAY
have pysp soa under a' &r @ "
Brewster had worked himself into fine rage, and
| felt that he acquitting himself with credit ms
ssf-con gratulatory installations were interruPted
| by movement within the tramp's domicile. Tho
| highest section of the roof was pushed away by
| thin hand. and n tall erect figure rose through
| the aperture like jack-in-tho-box. Something
moro than the unexpected nature of the apparlt0n
caused Brewster to fall back with start, as II he
| tho uncanny locality, the nosome smells, the
| curling wreaths of vapor. the moon struggling to
| pierce the thick veil of mist overhead coupled;
perhaps, with tho afternoons reminlscences carried
| him back twenty years and he was in the pens OF
Andersonville. waking from troubled sleep to see
tho thin form Of Lenoir stealing to his side at md
| night to thrust into the lads pocket crust Cf
| bread saved from his own scanty rations. lie put
the recollection of that, wrctched experience reso-
| Along with visionary plans OF riotous leasts ana
| glutt0nous indulgence commonly,plannedb by hungry
men in such cxtromties to be carried out IN case OF
release, he had taken ono solemn oath. lie had
| vowed that IL ever he escaped from that wretched
hole so long he lived and had it in his power
being Through all the fluctuations OF his business
career and tho manifold duties OF his busy life no
| loafer and disroputabe hummer in Steuartst.
conld attest. Resolve had grown into principle of
action. and principle into habit lilo recalled TINS
Here, sir: ths.wll get you round meal down
yonder," holding in the direction OF tae e nS
nnarter he had extracted from his trousers pocket.
carefully weighing il in his hand to make snre that
he was in no danger of giving away. q gold-piece
q Do Won think that If I wanted charity wonld
he occupying this palatal mansion and fasting
| until refuse gaTbage seems mess Tor klneI
| Brewster recalled what Martin had SAID, ana
| drew back his well-mcant offering with q sense OF
- Oh, come now! Be OF, like a good follow, and
| make no more trouble -,
| The iumberman was inpatient to bring the inter
view to a close. lie still fingered the slver-peco
with an uneasy sense that 10 would be better In the
| possession of q vagabond. The man, raised his
| fattcred hat with a hooking bow. and eSsayci 10
| stem over the walls OF his abode; but his leg.
proved too unsteady for the successful accomplish
inent of his purpose. He stumbled, reeed and sat
| down on his own rooi-t0p, which rasPed ana
| cashe1 in dismal chorus.
| Brewster knev the meaning OF the action. How
| many tiincs had he seen some moor fellow. reduced
to the last limits of inantion fater and fall by the
way on forced march. " reflections expio1ed ~
| two words, each possessed OF three sylaples' ana
| followed by al exclamation point The nrst Vas
starvation ." the second differed only in the ilrst
syllable and represented very essential article OF
| faith in the orthodox creed. Io supplemented the
remarks with an imperative order 10 the Waterman.
| who forthwith seized one OF tho vagrants arms
| half leading. half supporting him, ignoring his
Office and placed him on a chair before the fire.
As they progressed on their, slimy path, Brewster
| inoon sequepty recalled the battle of Shiloh. when
| Lenor badly wounded and thrown from the saddle
of dying horse had been led 70 the rear. protest
ing aud fighting every step OF THO way; hs ne came
! info the light Of tho Office windows, he accounted
| for tho sensation by the discovery that the nlan
wore cheap ovcrcoat of militlry cloth aud cut, OF
| tho stamp usually affected by the hay-bunkcrs.'
They placed him in "a chair before the IRE ana ne
| sat there mutipous captive his felt hat with its
battered brim drawn down over his eyes ana ma
partially shading his face. The first glance nj the
| stranger in the honest light of tho Office lamp had
in measure treasured Brewster and put to Hight
| his absurd fanccs. There nothing striking or
uncommon in the spare figure, or the old face with
| its lines of care and pain. 1t was very ordinary
face an enincntly prosaic face ho assured himself;
OF the same type as ten thousand others in the CITY.
but he coud not resist crazy desire to see tho lore
| head barred. TO look at the left temple and
| BAH Back to those old memories OF the war
! aeainl SO much for the pcrncious effect OF tho
| afternoons associations. Well what was 1t, after
| alif Only young fellow his blue suit in tatters,
| crazed with fever crawling past the dead line
| strong hand stretched ont to save him, dnii
report. a bullet leaving bloody track across tho
| Jennie and along the SCALP of the rescncr.
| And why had he lost sight Of the gallant old soul