The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-12

The youth turned toward him so fierce
ly that the corporal threw up a knee
and an elbow like boy who expected
| to be cuffed.
The girl pleaded with the captain.
''You won't hurt him? Will you? He
don't know what he's saying. He's
wounded, you know. Please don't mind
him.
II won't touch him." said the cap
tain with rather extraordinary earnest
ness. 'Dont you worry about it at
all. I won't touch him.
Then he looked at her and the girl
suddenly withdrew her fingers from his
arm.
The corporal contemplated the top OF
THE stairs tnd remarked without sur
prise: There's another of 'em COM
ingw
An old man was clambering down the
stairs with much speed. He waved a
cane wildly. Get out of my house, you
| thieves! Get out! won't have you
| cross my threshold. Get OUT" He
| mumbled and waged his head in an old
mans fury. 1t was plainly his inten-
| tion to assault them.
And so 1T occurred that a young girl
| became engaged in protecting stalwart
captain, fully armed. and with eight
grim troopers at his back, from the at
| tack of an old man with walking
| stick.
| "A blush passed over THE temples and
| brow OF the captain and he looked par
! ticularly savage and weary. Despite
! the girls efforts he suddenly faced the
| Old man.
'LCok here" he said distinctly. eve
came in because we had ben fighting
| in the woods yonder and we concluded
tb,ot Snn,a Of tho anamv yvara i'm thiS
house. especially when we saw a grey
| sleeve at the window. but this young
man is wounded and I have nothing to
| say to him. ! will even take 1t for
granted that there are no Others like
him upstairs. We will go away leav-
ing your damned old house just as we
found it. And we are no more thieves
and rascals than you are"
The old man simply roared: II
haven't got a COW nor a pig nor
chicken on the place. Your soldiers
have stolen everything they could carry
away. They have torn down half my
fences for flrewood. This afternoon
some of your accursed bullets even
broke my window-panes!'
THE giTl had been faltering: Grand
pa! Oh, grandpa!
The captain looked at the girl. She
returned his glance from the shadow
of the old mans shoulder. After study
ing her face moment. he said: "Well,
we will go now." He strode toward THE
door and his m.en clanked docilely
after him.
At this time there was the sound of
harsh cries and rushing footsteps from
without. Tine door flew open and
whirlwnd composed of blue-coated
troopers came i'm with a swoop. lit was
headed by the lieutenant. "Oh, here
you are" he cried. catching his breath.
I'VE thought-hi! look at the glrl"'
The captain said intensely: "Shut
up. you fool"
The men settled Ito a halt with clash
and bang. There could be heard the
dulled sound of many hoofs outside of
the house.
Did you order up the horses?" in
quired the captain. ..
Yes, we thought"
"Well, then, let's get out of here"
interrupted the captain, morosely.
The men began to filter out into the
open air. The youth in grey had been
hanging dismally to the railing of the
stairway. He now was climbing slowly
up to the second floor. The old man
was addressing himself directly to the
serene corporal.
'TNot a chicken on the place." he cried.
"Well, 1 didn't take your chickens,
did II"
"No, maybe you didn't, but
The captain crossed the hall and
stood before the girl in rather a cul-
prits fashion. you are not angry at
me, are you?" he asked timidly.
NO" she said. She hesitated mo-
ment and then suddenly held out her
hand. you were good to me-and I'm
much obliged"