The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-18

nary swiftness. The other, standing
beside him, appeared to watch him
with great attention, and occasionally
to advise him. Finally he took rope
and began skipping like q girl. the
other still gravely observing him. AS
you may think. was utterly puzzled
as to what these people could be, and
could only surmise that one was a doc
tor and the other a patient who had
submitted himself to some singular
method Of treatment.
Well, as lay watching and wonder
ing. the older man brought out a great
coat and held 1t while the other put it
| on and buttoned 1t to his chin. The
day was a warmish one, so that this
proceeding amazed me even more than
the other. "At least" thought I, ''it is
evident that his exercise is over" but,
far from this being so, the man began
to run. in spite of his heavy coat, and
as 1t CHANGED, he came right over the
moor in my direction. His companion
had re-entered the house. so that this
arrangement suited me admirably
would take the small mans clothing
and hurry on to some village where
could buy provisions. The chickens
were certainly tempting, but still there
were at least two men in the house. so
perhaps it would be wiser for me, since
l had no arms, to keep away from 1t.
l lay quietly then among the ferns.
Presently heard the steps Of the run
ner, and there he was quite close to me,
with his huge coat, and the perspira.
tion running down his face. He seemed
to be very solid man--but small-so
small that I feared that his clothes
might be Of little use to me- When l
jumped out upon him he stopped rum
ming and looked at me In the greatest
establishment.
BLOW my dickey," said he, "give it a
name, guvnor! Is 1t al circus, or what?"
That was how he talked, though can
not pretend to tell you what he meant
by it.
You will excuse me, SIR" said I,
but I am under the necessity of ask
ing you to give me your clothes"
"Give you what?" he cried.
Your clothes"
"Well, If this doesn't lick cockfight-
ing" said he. What am to give you
my clothes for?"
Because l need them"
And suppose won't?"
'Be jabers." said I. II shall have no
choice but to take them"
He stood with his hands in the pock-
cts of his greatcoat, and most amused
smile upon his square-jawed, clean
shaven face.
you'll take them, will your" said
he, you're a very leery cove, by the
look Of you, but I can tell you that
you've got the wrong SOW by the ear
this time. I know who you are.
ou're a runaway Frenchy from the
prison yonder. as any one could tell
with half an eye. But you don't know
who l am. else you wouldn't try such a
plant as that. Why, man. I'm the Bris-
tol Bustler, nine stone champion, and
them's my training quarters down yon-
der"
He stared at me as If this announce
ment of his would have crushed me
to the earth, but I smiled at him in
my turn, and looked him up and down,
with twirl Of my mustache.
You may be very brave man, sir"
said I. but when 1 tell you that you
are opposed to Colonel Etienne Gerard,
of the Hussars Of Conhans, you will see
the necessity Of giving up your clothes
without further parley."
Look here. Mounseer, drop it!' he
cried; ''this'll end by your getting pep
per-"
You Clothes sir, this instant" I
shouted. advancing fiercely upon him.
For answer he threw off his heavy
greatcoat, and stood in singular atti-
tude, with one arm out and the other
across his chest, looking at me with a
curious smile. For myself. 1 knew
nothing Of the methods of fighting
which these people have, but on horse
or on foot, with arms or without them,
I am always ready to take my own
part. You understand that soldier
cannot always choose his own methods.
and that 1T is time to howl when you
are living among wolves. I rushed at
him, therefore, with warike shout,
and kicked him with both feet. At
the same moment my heels flew into
the air. I saw as many flashes as at
Austerlltz, and the back of my head
came down with q crash upon stone.
After that l can remember nothing
more.
ITO Be Concluded1