The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-25
THE LITTLE GENERAL.

1t being a Saturday afternoon, Timothy
Mccarthy. senior, very drunk.
He had beaten Kathleen. his wife much
earlier than usual, and Young Tim. coming
in soon after got stray and careless clout
on the side of the head, while poking about
| for match to light his pipe.
| A year ago Young Tim might have stood
this but he was married now. a six months
| married man with one-roorned house of
| his own, and having only looked in to pass
| the time of day, and having also had a
| glass or two, he felt it TO be a breach of
| hospitality.
| ''Ye onmannerly ould sinner"' I heard
| him shout through the open window,
| here's for yez.' and the clout was re-
! turned generously.
| The free fight that came after is still re-
membered in Rutherford's Close, off the
| High street of Edinburgh They fought
| the length of the fairly long room, from the
| fireplace to the door, and back again from
| the door to the fireplace youth or ex-
| perience proved the stronger, until Kath-
| leen had screamed herself hoarse, and even
| the hardened children playing in the dirty
| court below looked up astonished from
| their dust and mussel shells.
| They fought back again to the door tug
| ging and straining, at too close quarters to
| do all the damage they wished, while I
| watched them from my window, one fiat
| higher on the opposite side of the court.
| Then a cunning back-faI sent Young Tim
| against the door, which few open, and
| staggering out of my sight together, they
/ rolled down the dark stair fighting into the
| High street through a crowd of interested
| neighbors. who were too sportsmanlike to
| interfere.
I, having some weeks of hard reading be-
hind me- and an examination very near.
| was not so ral-mnded as the neighbors,
and, going through the wynd presently, ex-
pressed my opinions freely to them con-
corning Messrs. Mccarthy.
Another SUCH row, L SAID. ana L II get
| old Mccarthy to the police station; Some
of you can tell him so when he's sober
They told him apparently before that de-
sirable state was reached, and standing I'M
der my window a little later. flushed with
victory, he expressed his opinion of me and
my manners-which he offered to improve
in one lesson if I'd give him the chance.
This l declined to do until he should be
saner, whereupon he classified me as
there were none such in ould Ireland,
thanks be to st. Patrick, and went away to
drink again. with the result that a little be-
fore midnight Kathleen Mccarthy was yell
ing murder for all she was worth.
was awake and dressed, and reading.
temptuous sarcasms. 1t sounded as though
Kathleen suffering for my shyness of
sides, twice. to my knowledge, killing had
been done within a hundred yards of that
place without any attempt at interference.
and had no mind to risk being party to
third such affair. The screams continu-
ing !si, ran out and kaocked up q neighbor;;
Fetch the police for your life!'' / said
land bring them to Tim McCarthy's"' and
then boltsd down my stair and stumbled
door,
There I paused and listened lurking on
the threshold with no thirst for unneces-
Sary risks. Kathleen was now ScOlding and
crying at the same time. so the danger was
not pressing. I did not know how many
might be in the room, but I calculated that
they We're all likely to set upon me togeth-
er If / presented myself as an unbidden
guest, and here thought I would wait for
the police. / listened lest any sudden out
break should force me to go in alone, but the
first fresh sound came from below. A quick
step sounded on the wind and mounted the
stair. 1t was too quick and light for one of
the police, but came UP with the decided
sound of a foot that knew the place and
had no need to soften its tread. / moved
to meet it, and was at once challenged in
clear, firm voice, as a shadowy figure
rose.
"Ah! your neighbor met me-" the voice
broke in directly began to explain. You
frightened him and he has insisted on going
think they'd be needed. Let's go in
They're qui:e .8,, now L whispered;
'Why?" said the voice brusquey; and
without waiting for the answer which I was
e Gu my brains ain to shape as concisely
open and stepped in confidently with a
Pax vobiscum.'
and was Immediately put on my, guard, for
Ould Tim. whose whisky-sodden intelli-
reached, scented treachery and came for
me as straight and as swiftly as his condi-
PAX vobiscum"' The slight, straight
figure stepped swiftly between us. one
hand appraised. and Tim came no further
Stand you back, Tim Mccarthy" said
the little man severely, ''or if you can't
stand then lie but don't come a step this
way ai,,t or wv, Twill be a bad night for you:
When two tall and sturdy members of the
city police tramped stoiidly up a few min
utes later there was nothing for them to
do. Tim lay asleep and snoring in the cor
ner; Kathleen moaned and WINGED q little
under the deft fingers of the priest who
was dressing cut over one well-blackened
eye, while I, a medical, though it is. true
ing the candle. The two men grinned and
saluted getting a quick little nod in return.
as my companion, safety pin in mouth.
made a neat reverse of the bandage round
Kathleen'S head
We're needit," said one of them with
conviction, and I saw a little dry smile de-
velop as well as it might round the safety
The two men saluted again and went
leen. After that the little man. having
shaken his head sternly over the uncon-
scious Tim in the corner, gave parting
word to his wife
Send your man to me by nine to-mor-
that he comes sober. Come round yourself
after vespers, and I'll look at your head
Now, sir, if you and are going down the
stair together, might Introduce our
Selves
In that way began my acquaintance with
Father Munro.
1 walked to his door with him that night
and did rot decline so unhesitatingly as I
ought to have done when he invited me to
come in.
Its too late. SIR I said; some other
time if I may
Pooh, Nonsensev' said the old man in
his sharp, military manner Young fell
lows like you and old fellows like me are
no lieabeds. Come away i'll, man. and
went with no further ado.
He took me into a fair-sZed square room,
sparsely furnished, but having it's walls |
hidden by books from floor to ceiling. On |
the table stood plate of cold porridge and |
quaint. tall glass of milk. set out daintily |
with fine white napkin and an old silver |
found that a mixture of simplicity with |
touches of daintiness were characteristic of |
Father Munro. These things he looked al |
whimsically for an instant, first at them, |
then at me. and. making an excuse left |
the room Presently he came back trium- |
plant bottle of wine in one hand and a |
plate of cheese in the other. and, setting |
them down and paying no heed to my re- |
mon strances, went off again to fetch in |
more.
I'm hungry, and can't eat alone was |
all he said. when things were arranged to |
his satisfaction; after which, pouring out |
wine for me- he said a short Latin grace. |
and attacked his porridge with vigor and |