Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-10-18
LAPoRTE. PA. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1s, 1896.

dozen times he felt Minervy's hand on
his coat collar, and he knew that if it
were there he would have no choice
but to go back. Such time was never
made since the days of Tam O'Shan-
ter. Over fallen tree trunks, around
upturned roots. vaultlng over gullies,
lodging low hanging limbs, dragging
himself free from the embrace of too
affectionate briars, away he weht down
the hill, pursued by the avenging
ST. '-w nf Minervy.
A. foot of the slope, where the
hill and valley met, he emerged into
the road. It was quite dark, and the
fear of pursuit haunted him no longer
that is, not to any great extent. He
didn't run now; he only walked rap
idly. He carried his hat in his hand,
and mopped his perspiring brow with
his handkerchief, and remarked in an
amazed undertone:
'By Ned!"
In the little town vacant store
building was thronged with men, many
of whom had just enlisted as volun.
teers, and many others had come to
look on, filed with curiosity, but not
overaowing with patriotism. The war
was but few months old, aud only
vague rumors of it had penetrated to
those remote districts. This was the
first company of volunteers to go
from this section, and it was made MP
wholly of those more daring spirits
who were willing to risk anything in
tho mere love of adventure.
A commotion back by the door told
of new arrival, and the crowd will
ingly made way for him. A little man,
rumpled as t hair and tattered as to
garments, struggled into the clear
space in front of the enrolling officer
and said:
"Ef the comp'ny ain't made up yet
you kin put me in"
Everybody knew him, and every
body laughed. The laugh was
CHEEKY one, brimming with amuse-
ment, and it filled the room and ex-
tended out into the street.
"How'd you manage to git off from
Minervy, Jim?" asked tall fellow
who was going to stay at home, pre-
sumably because he couldn't 'git of
from" the wife over whom he domi-
neered.
'Does Minervy know you're out?"
shouted another ieeringly.
''Jist think OF it, boys" drawled q
third. "Think O. Jim Carroll i'inin'
the Smithville Tigers He's whale
of tiger, amt he?"
"Never mind" interrupted the en-
rolling officer grimly. "He'll make
as good food for powder as any Of
YOU"
With which cheerful suggestion Jim
Carroll was duly enrolled as a private
in the Smithville Tigers, and by dawn
the next morning the company was on
the road, marching gayly off to the
tune of "rhe Girl Left Behind Me- 7"
About a mouth later one of the
Tigers, Sile Colburn, remarked in q
general way to several of tho others !:
"Wall, boys, fur's I'm concerned,
you kin leave off laughin' at Jim Car
roll an pokin' fun at i'm. Jim, he
never growls at the marchin', nor the
weather, nor nothin' else, an he does
more'n his sheer O. the work, you all
know that blamed well. An he sleeps
ON the groun' without any kiver SOS
to give me his extry blankit all O. last
week, when want feelin' SO mighty
vigrls. I'll bet they wouldn't none O.
the rest O. you a, done it"
''Jes' wait till q battle comes up, I"
said long Ben Finks scornfully. "You
never hear of Jim Carroll again
alter the fust gun .'-ss. He'll pitch
out a-runnin', an h Y be a.runnin'
yit when the trumpit 'nds for the
merlennium."
Within three days there was a bat
tie; battle for which some Of the
Tigers had longed, and which others
had awaited with dread. The weak
little man who had fled from Minervy
found himself. with the other Tigers,
and dim, gray-coated ranks beyond
charging up hill, in tho face of a
battery that plowei through their
ranks and laid rows OF slaughtered
men along the slope behind them, but
still they rushed on, their faces set
grimly. Jim Carroll was one Of the
first to leap upon smoking cannon
and snatch away the fuse, and then on
in the pursuit, rs the enemy retreated.
stubbornly lighting their way inch by
inch.
Tho next day something happened.
jim Carroll was offered promotion for
bravery on the field of battle.
"I'm much obliged" he said. fumb.
ling with his hat in an embarrassed
manner, "hut il it's all tho same to
you. Id rather not. III lots ruther
do Jest plain tightin'."
So Jim Carroll was left to do plain
tightin, and there is no denying that
he did it we'll. II came TO be aeknowl-
edged as settled fact that the little
mau whom Minervy had ruled with q
rod OF iron dill not know what fear
was. The first guns OF battle fired
him. Us the sound of tho trumpet
reused the biblical warhorse. lie
rushed iuto charge with head mp and
eyes flashing. Ills only trouble was
that ho could not bear 10 retreat. aud
I tla A. Han. Ia.I