The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-30

but presently he said again: "Oh. yeh
didn't hear anythin'." r.
The major turned to glare at his
companion in despair and wrath.
What's the matter with yeh? Can't
yeh shet up?"
"Oh. this here hain't no use. If
you're goin In after i'm. why don't yeh
go in after linz"
We'll. gimme time. can't yeh?" said
the major, In q growL And as If to
add more to this reproach he climbed
the fence that compassed the woods,
looking resentfully back at his COM
paniOn.
Well" said Peter. when the major
paused
The major stepped down upon the
thick carpet of brown leaves that
stretched under the trees. He turned
then to whisper: You wait here. will
yeh? His face was red with deter
mination.
Well, hol' on a minnet." said Peter.
"You-I-wed better"
No" said the major. "You wait
here"
He went stealithily into the thickets
Peter watched him until he grew to be
a vague slow moving shadow. From
time to time he could hear the leaves
crackle and twigs snap under the ma
Jor's awkward tread. Peter. intent.
breathless, waited for the peal of sud-
den tragedy. Finally the woods grew
silent In solemn and impressive hush
that caused Peter to feel the humping
OF his heart. He began to look about
him to make sure that nothing should
spring upon him from the somber shad-
ows. He scrutinized this cool glooom
before him and at times he thought he
could perceive the moving of swift silent
shapes. He concluded that ne had bet
ter go back and try to muster some as
sistance to the major.
AS Peter came through the corn, the
women in the road caught sight Of the
glittering figure and screamed. Many
of them began to run. The little boys,
with all their valor, scurried away in
clouds. Mrs. Joe Peterson, however,
| cast glance over her shoulders as she,
with her skirts gathered up. was run
ming as best she could. She instantly
stopped and, in tones of deepest scorn.
called out to the others: well. It's on'y
Pete Witheby." They came faltering
back then, those who had been naturally
| swiftest In the race avoiding the eyes of
, those whose limbs had enabled them to
flee only short distance.
Peter came rapidly, appreciating the
| glances Of vivid interest in the eyes of
| the women. To their lightning-like
| questions, which hit oil sides Of the
| episode, he opposed a new tranquility
, gained from his sudden ascent in i'm.
portance. He made no answer to their
clamor. When he had reached the tor
Of the fence, he called out, command
ingly: Here you, Johnnie, you and
| George. run an git my gun. It's hang
in on tn pegs over tn bench in tn
shop"
A. this <acr;b,o ,,n+o,oo - ,,,,ddor
! ing cry broke from the women. The
boys named saed down the road, &C.
| companied by retinue of envious COM
panions.
Peter swung his legs over the rail and
| faced the woods again. He twisted his
| head once to say: Keep still, can,
yeh? Quit scufilin' aroun'." They
could see by his manner that this was
u supreme moment. The group became
motionless and still. Later. Petel
turned to say: "Sssh." to a restless boy
and the air with which he said 1t smote
them all with awe.
| The little boys who had gone aftel
the gun came pattering along hurried
ly, the weapon borne in the midst o.
them. Each was anxious to share IL
the honor. The one who had been del
egated to bring it was bullying and di
recting his comrades.
Peter said: "Sssh!" He took thu
gun and poised 1t in readiness to SWEEP
the cornfield. He scowled at the boy.
and whispered, angrily: why didn'
yeh bring tn powder horn. an tn thing
with tn bullets in? l told yeh t brini
i'm. I'll send somebody else mex
time"
"Yeh didn't tell u.s." cried the twt
boys, shrilly.
''Sssh! Quit yeh noise," said Peter
with violent gesture.
However, this reoroof enabled othe
boys to recover that peace of inint
which they had lost when seeing thei
friends loaded with honors.
The women had cautiously ap
preached the fence and. from time L
time, whispered feverish Questions; bu
Peter repulsed them savagely. with al
air of being infinitely bothered by thei
interference in his intent watch. The!
were forced to listen again in silence t.
the weird and prophetic chanting o
the insects and the mystic silken rust
ling of the corn.
At last the thud of hurrying feet IL
the soft soil of the field came to theil
ears. A dark form sped toawrds them
A wave of a mighty fear swept ovel
the group and the screams of the wo
men came hoarsely from their chokel
throats. Peter swung madly from hi!
perch and turned to use the fence a.
rampant.
But 1t was the major. His face wa!
inflamed and his eyes were glaring
He clutched his rifle by the middle anC
swung 1t wildly. He was bounding a
a great speed for his fat, short body.
IT'S all right! it's all right" he be-
gan to yell, some distance away. 'It'l
all right. "It's on'y OIL Milt Jacoby!'
When he arrived at the top of tn,
fence, he paused and hoped his brow
"What?" they thundered, in al
g. agony Of sudden unreasoning disap
pointment.
Mrs. Joe Petersen, who was a dis
tant connection of Milton Jacoby
thought to forestall any damage to he
social position by saying at once dis
dainfully: Drunk, l 'spose!'
Yep" said the major, still on tn,
fence and mopped his brow. 'Drunl
- n.