The National tribune., 1888-12-13

and said he hadn't been far away; only down
TO the next town.
He's my brother" said Harry, "and the
doctors say the only thing TO cure him is to
take him home. We've been down South, IN
Arkansas, and we're going home to Bourbon
County Kansas, where mother lives"
" Say, father, I'm real hungry and thought
you'd have breakfast ready" said Jack. You
know, you've always had breakfast ready long
before this time"
There was method in Jacks madness that
might have reused suspicion, but the very
boIdness Of the suggestion was calculated to
disarm it
That's the first sensible thing he's said to-
day." remarked Harry; " fer I'm sure the poor
boy must be hungry, as be hasn't eaten any
thing since yesterday. The doctor told me he d
come TO his senses some time when he wanted
anything real bad"
The women had crowded around the group
aud were joined by half dozen tow-headed
children, that one after another put in an ap-
pcarancC from inneT-r0ouns or the rear OF the
house. Great sympathy was shown for the
poor crazy boy, and a breakfast of cornbread
aud bacon, the best that could be offered, aud
very acceptable it was. was set before them
Jack, while they were preparing breakfast,
had gone about the house cIiticizing every
thing and commenting freely on the appearance
of its occupants. He was shrewd enough TO
make his comments of hattering character;
he praised the beauty Of the unkempt chill
dren; thought one of the women looked ike
the Governors wife at Little Rock, and was
sure she was his sister. When she denied the
relationship Jack assumed anger, and harry
whispered to her that she had better humor
him, as she certainly did resemble the Govern
Ors wife enough TO put the idea IN the boy
head.
Jack insisted that the Governors wife was
the charmingest lady in Arkansas and rs
+I,a bn
not received unkindly. Instead of eating their
cornbread dry they had molasses on it, small
Jug of that precious article being hshed out
from some place of eoncealment by the woman
who resembled the heroine of the Gubernatorlal
Mansion of the Capital of Arkansas.
The boys could not pay for their breakfast,
as they had nothing TO pay with. At signal
from Harry. Jack assumed an air of sOmuolence,
while the sane brother told the news from Ar
kansas and answered all questions about the
Yankee soldiers down near the frontier. lie
explained that he had no difficulty in coming
right through the Yankee lines, as they took
pity on his poor crazy brother, but they would
not let them stop anywhere in the camp nor
/ look around to see what they had there.
Harry made up his mind that the family was
! Union in sentiment, but had been so prosecuted
/ by their Secession neighbOTs that they dared
not say what they thought. The husband OF
/ one of the women was away ia the army, but
| IN which one the youth was unable TO asceF-
/ tain. He asked the name of their host and
/ obtained 1t, with a determination that some
/ day he would make return for their hospi-
/ taiity.
Soon after they had finished breakfast they
| continued their journey, accepting with many
4 thanks goodly parcel Of the bacon and bread
4 which had been left over from the meal and
would form an excellent supper. Until long
! after they were out of sight of the house Jack
81 DF
countenance by which he had so successfully
/ carried out his deception.
g / was half ashamed of myself, in fact good
/ deal more than half, said lie, when / found
! how kindly they treated Us. They took pity
/ on me and gave US good breakfast, which We
sadly needed, and they couldn't have been
! more sympathetic if we'd been of their own
! kith and kin"
And to think dattered that woman into
believing she looked like the wife of the Gov
/ eTnoT of Arkansas, whom I've never seen, aud
don't know how she looks. Well, anyway. she
had a good, pleasant face, and If the Govern
/ ors wife has as kind heart His EXcellency
may be proud Of her"
well get even with them and make p re-
turn for their kindness one Of these days, said
Harry; aud perhaps wei 90 il very soon. But
| il will never do TO let them know how they
were imposed upon as it would be reflection
on their disceTnment."
Nothing of consequence happened to the
youths until late ia the afternoon, when they
were suddenly confronted by 10 or II rough
looking fellows, armed with shOtguRs and
squirrel-rifes after the usual style Of the scout
ing parties they had already seen. But If there
was any difference between this party and its
predecessors, it was in favor Of the earlier ones,
as the crowd they were now facing seemed 10
be decidedly worse lot. With their weapons
I aimed at the heads OF the youths they ordered
4 L. l. Il
shoot them If they didn't get down at once.
Now I'll do the crazy, idiotic trick" whis-
pered Jack.
Harry got down from his horse, but Jack SAT
still and stared vacantly and with open mouth
at the rangers.
Get of that horse!" said one Of the men
and be quick about it,"
Don't mind him :" exclaimed Harry; he;
my crazy brother, and Pm taking him home
He don't know what he's doing"
This seemed to amuse the strangers, and they
drew down their weapons and waited to SET
what the lunatic would no next.
Jack continued to hold his mouth open anG
look foolish as possible. He stared at the
strangers for two or three minutes, shifting hi
gaze from one TO another. Finally pointing t
one Of the men, he said:
That's Gen. Price; ] know tits"
The men laughed heartily at this suggestion
and not the mildest Of the laughers was the in
dividual who had been thus designated 1t i
not always that the victim of joke can enjo,
: ii as we'll as do those about him.
The y-c0mmissi0ued General wa
mounted on a fine horse which was not brand
! ed with his initias), and suddenly Jack took
fancy 10 the animal and proposed trade. Tn
I General iccliGed, aud Jacl; insisted. To prov
his earnestuess he descended from his owl
steed and tried TO pull the General down frou
the horse that he coveted; but it is fair to pre-
I sumo that he did not pull very hard, as tn
a / General retained his place.
q All this time the men laughed heartily at tn
: antics Of the supposed unatic, and they con
tinued 10 laugh when Jack asked one of thei
r to shoot the General because he wouldn't swa
horses. As the man wouldn't comply with hi
wish, Jack begged for gun, that he might d
l the shooting himself, and when that was II
4 fused he threatened 70 find somebody VIII
: would lend him cannon or a whole dozen {
: them, and he would come around and shoe
!, everybody that tried 20 stop him.
] Harry begged the men not TO oppose Jack
! il only made him worse Then Jack propose
\ to 60 along with them, So that he could get I'll
i Generals horse whenever be got of; sugge
y tioB that did not meet with approval. Bl
= Jack insisted TO such an extent that the Gei
i eral lost his temper and began to swear roundI
q at both the youths, till he Was stopped by Il
= one who appeared to be the leader.
= ITO be coattnaed.l
" Write IN = A Armstrouo DptraiF Mich 6