The morning times., 1896-05-24

ter be right scarce,' Kit said, excitedly,
looking up the hill path as he spoke
Johnny at once darted into the brush
wood OF the hillside above the spring,
calling in deep, cautious tones, Men,
steady! Ambush, and wait for the word /"
Three minutes later the Center boys
We're pottering about the embers, picking
up here feather, there a haIf-gnawed
bone, their eyes wide with wonder and
tiinorous with d fear of tramps. They
had heard nebuousIy of such lawIess
men-but so far the Center knew them
not experimentalIy. But / Just visa
we'd a-come up with en- the biggest
Centerite said aloud. Wed aFan .'em
so far and so clean they'd a-forgos the way
back here, ever
That chap wants soaring badly-any-
body got a box of percussion caps?''
Johnny asked cautiously, beginning 10
clear the surface of ledge in front Of
him.
"Yes-and Kit has got a giant cracker
In his side pocket Petey whispered
back at the sama time handing over the box
Good as wheat" Captain Gaines re-
turned, deftly ranging the caps in a row
upon the stone The rest OF you get
little pebbles-aud when ] smash these
| fellows, and Kit sets off the poppin' fellow,
let drive at that crowd down there
they'll be scared out of a years
growth"
Crack! Crack. Crack. Bang. whir-r-rl
went the missiles Their noise was 3s
nothing to the yell the Centerites set Gp.
Taken thus nawares they took also to
their heels all but one " no was so
frightened he flung himself down and
rolled into the spring braheR---In a
minute the defenders were upon him,
clutchlng his arms and legs and shouting,
Surrender! You's our prisoner!'
".
About three hours later Miss Hannah
Thurston. driving up to her open door, said,
with knitting OF the brows: Il do wOnde i.
where Lion Is? If L find l can't trust
him.
\ deep bark from the orchard back of
the house cut short her speech. In two
minutes she was standing at the foot Of
an enormous cherry tree, peering up into
its branches, then down at its trunk and
saying. Land OF Mosesi What is az
thiS2''
Seven lads chung or perched at all
angles amid the bOughs, which We're red
with luciOus fruit. About the great trunk
seven wooden muskets had been stacked
and nthe ground beneath were the hayer-
sack and the surviving eaDteeps. At
sight of the paraphcrnaIia. a sudden dim
ness came over Miss Thqrston' s bright
eyes There was almost a break IN her
voice, too, S she said
You seem TO be soldier boys-why did
you steal my cherries when you might have
had them for asking?''
Indeed, ma'am,'' Johnny said eagerly
I'VE are not stealing-we-are on a raid.
you know-and-we have to live on the
enemy
But can't be your enemy-wes i've un-
der the same flag" Miss Thurston said
still gently; II suppose you mean Lion
, he Is not an enemy to be deSpised-but
come down now-he shall not harm you
you must have dinner with me, in honor
of the day
1t was very meek and shanie-face ced lot
of guests, their hands and faces shinin e
| with soap and water. that sat down to
| devour cold ham. poachsd eggs, delicious
| gingerbread and cherry pie Ravenous as
| they were. at first the good things seemed
| to choke tben-but by and by they grew
| more at ease. Eat all you can, it does
me good to see you" Miss Thurston said
| with shining eyes. Then she pointed to a
| picture over the mantel-a drummer boy
| beating the rally-and said very low: HE
| was all had, my brother Dick, not so big
| as any of you. and he ran away to the war.
| / got him back--it almost broke his heart
when he ran away again. l was wiser.
| But he-he never came bacS-and SO i
| have tender spot for other boys who are
| wild to go soldering"