The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-14

dress parade. As the wagon was about TO
move on, he spoke:
Amt that the young chap that works IN
the priptin' office dow by Phoenix school
house r. he asked, nodding his head toward
Joe, without looking at him.
'Yes,'' said one Of the young officers.
"Well. SIR said Mr.. Pruitt, drawing a
long breath, II wish you'd please tell him
down in the Yarberry settlement that |
won't have q chance ter come home IN q
week er more, an she'll halter do the best
she kin till I git back"
Joe said he would be glad to do so.
IT 'low'd he would said Mr.. Pruitt, still
speaking to the young officer. FAN I'm
mighty much erbliged.'
Then the little procession moved on to-
ward Hillsborough, and the hunters went
homeward. Miss Nelly Carter was very
much interested.
He doesn't look a bit like a deserter,'
she said impulsively. 'and In sure there's
some mistake. I don't believe a deserter
could hold his head up"
then made bold to tell her what he
had heard-that Mr.. Pruitt and several
other soldiers had come home because they
heard their families were suffering for
food. Miss Carter was very much inter
ested and wanted to go with the lad to visit
Mrs. Pruitt.
"But l can't 60" said Joe: ''there's no
body to do my work in the printing office.
I'll send Mrs. Pruitt word tonight by some
of the negroes"
mo, no!'' cried Miss Carter. 'That will
never do. Til see my cousin and tell him
about is. You must go to-day, and I'll go
with you. Oh, it mustn't be postponed;
you must 90 this very afternoon! Why,
what is this little newspaper you are print
ing out here in the woods? The woman
may be suffering"
Miss Carter saw her cousin. the editor,
and lost no time in telling him about Mr..
Pruitt and his family. The editor. who
was one of the best of men, was so much
interested that, instead of sending Joe with
the young lady, he went himself, taking in
his buggy a stout hamper Of PROVISIONS.
When they came back Miss Carter's eyes
were red, as if abe had been crying, ana the
editor looked very serious
Ppm very glad you didn't CO." he said to
Joe, when Miss Carter had disappeared in
the house.
WAS anybody dead?" asked Joe.
mo" replied the editor. ''Oh, no; moth
ing so bad as that. Bnt the woman and her
children have been in a terrible fix. | don't
know who is to blame for it, buG | shall
score the county officers and the Ladies'
Aid society in the next paper. These peo-
pie have been actually in a starving con-
dition, and they look worse than if they had
gone through a spell of fever. They are
nothing but skin ana bones. The main
trouble is that they live in such an out-of-
the-way, place. The house is q mile from
lut HADlAt 1OAtA diiA A0AN w AAAN
II hear" said Joe, that the provost mar
shall had something to do with holding back
supplies that ought to have gone to Mr..
Pruitt's family
.sHow could hop asked the editor, and
then he added quickly: "Why, of course
he could; he is in charge of everything.
He is Judge, jury, lawyer and eeneral-direc
tor. Who told yon about it2"
II heard it in town" said Joe.
'sWell, he's n mean rascal said the
editor. He bade Joe good evening, and
started in the house, but half way up the
steps he paused and called to tho lad.
Here's something | forgot to ask you
about he said, taking n letter from hit
pocket. ut is Il note from Dec about you
What do you know about DeoY'
about me?'' said Joe. II used to know
Mr.. Deo when l was a little boy
well, you are not such Il big boy now,
said the editor. smiling. Here is VIVA
Dec says: You have n boy working II
your printing Office who can make himsel
very useful in a good cause when the time
, comes. His name lis Joe Maxwell, and ~
is Il very good friend of mine. At least III
used to be. Before long | shall send To-
/ him, and whether | send in the day or il
the night, / want YOU to let him come. i
/. were to tell yon now what | want Will
| him You would Ianph and say that nl ia
Z men are foolish. What l want him to d.
can only DO done by 4 woman or u boy. !
4 woman il not to be thought OF, and | know
, of no boy l can trust except Maxwell. Jus
give him your permission beforehand, ~
: that there will be no delay
! Now what do yon think about itln in
!, nuirafl the editor.