The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-11-07

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to say, everyone
living within twenty miles OF Hancas-
tie.
10 be sure, the smiles usually ended
with signs and shakes OF the head ;
and one after another of those who
had hazarded ell they could conscien-
tiously risk in his interest, frowned as
they said: cit is hopeless, poor fell
lowl We can do no more for him. "
1t had often been said that poor
Lanty was nobody's enemy but his
own; and there were narratives Of his
having rlsked his life in Burmah, not
only for comrades in imminent danger
from the Dacoits, but Tor q poor shi-
kari, over whose PROSTATE body he
had shot the fierce tlgress which was
slowly crunching the thin black limbs
inch by inch. 1t used to be believed
that during this adventure of which
the hero could never be induced to
speak Riordan hal never let
his coarse Trichinopoly cheroot 60
out, although he had walked so close
ly up to the wounded tigress that her
fulvous coat was singed by tho powder
from the shot when she fell over.
1t YVES further asserted that q formal
charge Of "ma!ing away with Gov
eminent property, in that lie did
(date, place, etc., expend, that is to
say, fire off without proper authority,
one round OF breech-!oading carbine
Ri munition, the property" ETC., was
sent in against him by the Divisional
Sergeant on the occasion. lie was adj
monished in the Battery Orderly Room !;
but privately shaken hands with by
the Brisedier. General Commanding,
and secretly presented with S25, asum
which was collected in ten minutes in
the artillery mess.
The expenditure OF this sum nat
urally got Gunner Riordan and five
beloved friend into tho guard room,
with long spells Of confinement to
barracks to follow. Poor Lanty could
not bear SO much fame, accompanied
by SO much wealth.
Now Hancsstle, ct the period Of
this true history-the locnlity where
Lnnty Riordan was so we'll, although
not favorably, known-wes the point
at which coal trucks were
shunted, under somewhat ircom-
plete arrangements, into the de-
pot yard, then under construction.
Here they stood, Oh from five to nine
lines OF rails, alongside nearly quar-
ter Of mile of the permanent way.
The switch used when the cars were
thus to be shunted YVES at the foot Of
semaphore, which was under tho
control OF the signalman in the box
half a mile further away. Trains com.
ing up to Washington passed first the
signal box, then the semaphore, and
lastly dismounted old railroad COR at
the depot, which had been Lanty's
dwelling during the past three years.
It was impossible not to like Lanty.
Selfish, wilful, slovenly, sulky, often
absent from duty, lazy, disrespectful,
and ungrsteful at times-he period.
cally turned over new leaves, attended
to his religious and other duties, was
sorry for his faults, overfowing with
a gratitude which wss as genuine as
his wlckedness, helpful, gentle,
thoughtful, the cheer and life Of all
who knew him. His good looking head
was an Intelligent one; his heart was
warm and kind; but within five minutes
Of entering bad company his good i'm
pulses and his pledges were forgotten
IN o very chaos of extravaganza and
dissipation.
IN settling down at Hancastle Lanty
fell across lis evil genius in tue per-
son of a man named Potter. Shortly
after Lanty's arrival it had been con-
veyed to him that it rested with him
to say whether or not the person, and
one hundred dollars IN ready money,
the property Of public school nurse
in the neighborhood: should be at
tached to him matrimonielly. In the
spretn iniunia formse which his love of
liberty caused, the addresses of a less
desired but persistent sutton, Potter
to wit, were hastily accepted; and
much OF the former liking for Lenty
on the new Mrs. Potter's part turned
into angry dislike, without the addi-
ton Of a grain Of happiness or good
will to the sentiments Of the bride.
groom regarding Riorden.
To add to his troubles, Lanty at
about this time was discharged from
the service of the Grand Southern Rail.
way. It was a line upon which vast
changes of way and plant had been
taking place, and from which, chiefly
owing to the patience and co.patriotic
kindness of Mr.. Roche, the local Super
intendent OF works, Lanty had had
almost regular employment as navy
on the new coal depot works, at fog
signaling, at keeping up fires beside
hydrants in hard frosts, and so on.
But now all this was over. Whittier
should poor Lanty's staggering foot
steps lead him except toward the half