The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-23

which lay on the road, and pushing it
| into his ulster pockets with trained
! alacrity. His brother endeavored to
| initiate him, but he was unaccustomed
and clumsy, and got but few pieces,
and those small. 1t was interesting
work, however, for the wagons surged
and roared like maelstrom between
| the high walls and the tall houses.
The Hussaf found that it needed
| much quickness to seize the prey and
bag it, evading, meanwhile, the sue
! ceeding carts, which came on at a pace
which was almost brisk trot
Presently huge coal carter, stand
ing up on his wagon, caught sight OF
the Captain lifting piece of coal from
the side Of the road. He sent ready
missile after him, which took effect just
| between his shoulder blades.
Get DOT O that, ye-slSulker YET"
he shouted.
Cap. Ormithwaite of the 10th Hus-
sai sprang towards his assailant to
take him by the throat; but the watch
full BilHam had his brother promptly
by the arm.
mind what you are about!" he said
See; stand in there, and wen soon get
enough to last us three or four days.
The brothers took shelter in a cellar
| doorway, both Of them grimed to the
eyes. Billiam produced a hldaous mask
out of his side pocket aud pat it on.
Then he slid off the doorstep aud took
up his position ON a little mound OF
hard trodden earth and engine ash.
"Ho Hal" he cried. We are a set OF
dirty, lazy Gilmerton cairters!"
Every pQaphfnuu yBaopr1t
leaped up at the word as if he had been
stung, and the rain of coal cobs which
fell about Billiam was astonishing and
deadly; but by long practice he eyaded
every one Of them, letting some Slip
past him, and catching the straight
ones as cleyerly as ever he had done
the ball when he kept wicket on
the green play fields
Presently the Captain found Billiam,
now a very swollen and bulky Bitliam
once more beside him.
You go and fill up at the back Of the
mound, where / was guying en-" he
said; there's quite half a ton there"
And very obedently the Hussar went.
with a grim delight in his heart 10
think OF the fit his G. o. would have, il
he could only have seen him. Present
ly he had filed up, and, leaving the roal
of the coal avenue for the quiet Of the
house, Billiam and his brother skunk
laboriously upstairs TO their garnet.
Lord, shall l ever be clean again?'
groaned the Captain, looking at his
hands. "To think what you have led
an officer of the Queen into-you bless
ed young gallows bird, Billiam'
Empty the Goals here" commanded
Billiam; and his brother poured out
his hoard into a large compartment
built beside the window How Billiam
could have carried so great a load was
a puzzle, but certainly there could not
have been less than a hundred weight
of coal in his canvas pockets alone. lie
FASTENED to fill pot with water, and
in little while he had a shallow bath
full of warm water. This he set out in
the corner, behind a screen made OF
grey sheet which hung upon a cord.
go in there, he said, and get your
self clean, you horrible Sybarite! III go
round the wards. Dogs don't object
to a little CRIME"
When he came back To take his turn
at the bath, fresh pot full Of water
was ready, and the. room was bright
and warm. The Hussar had attended
to the fire and had swept the floor
The brothers were in the inner room
in which Billiam usually camped There
was a sofa in it now, and an easy-chair
of wicker work.
"I'll toss you for the sofa, young un,
said the Captain.
Right" said Billiam, promptly
"Tails!'
Heads it isl cried the Hussar with
some relief.
"Glad of that" quoth cheerful Bill
liam. II prefer the floor anyway. You
can make quite decent thing out OF
rugs and oyercoats Aud besides. sleep
ing on the floor makes you so Jolly glad
to get up in the morning"
So they turned in and slept the sleep
of the just Blliam was up by day
highland had a cheerful fire burning
when his brother awoke He brought
him a cup Of tea and told him to roll
over again. But the Captain was now
wide awake and eager for talk.
why do you keep on at this kind
of thing?" he said, land why don't
you buy your Goals like an ordinary
being"
.Well," said Billiam, this is the
sort of thing | take to, you see. It's
interesting all the time / suck in
oceans OF learning all day until I'm
tight, and then / practice it all the
evening. And as for coals-weIl, some
times / do buy them. But $50 year
doesn't spread far in rent, classes, and
yictuals not to speak Of the dressings
an lint And picking up Goals in the
lane down there is just about as eX-
citing as soldering, ] guess"
..spe here, said the captain, II think
| could get over the governor to double
your allowance I've been pretty light
on him lately and he thinks me good
little man. If / do, will you leave
off pigging up here and live decent?"
Billiam seized his hand.
You are a good chap, sure he said.
"Try it ON the dad, Heb! could get
proper cubicles for the beasts then, an
operating table, and perhaps / might
even afford to hire a yard"
The captain leaped from his sofa,
and began to pace up and down in his