The record-union., 1896-10-11
THE LITTLE GENERAL.

1t being a Saturday afternoon, Tim
othy Mccarthy. senior, was 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 a match to
light his pipe.
year ago Young. Tim might have
stood this. but he was married now a
six months married man with a one
roomed house of his own, and having
only looked in to pass the time of day.
and having also had glass or two, he
felt 1T to be a breach of hospitality.
"Ye onmannerly ould sinner!" heard
him shout out through the open win
dow. here's for yez!" and the clout was
returned generously.
The free fight that came after Is still
remembered In Rutherford's Close, oft
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 fire.
place, as youth or experience proved
the stronger, until Kathleen had
screamed herself hoarse, and even the
hardened children playing in the dirty
court below looked up astonished from
They fought back again to the door,
tugging and straining, at too close quar-
ters to do all the damage they wished,
While / watched them from my window,
one fiat higher on the opposite side Of
the court
Then cunning back-fall sent Young
Tim against the door, which flew open,
and staggering out of my sight together
they rolled down the dark stair, fight
ing into the High street through
crowd of interested neighbors, who were
Tar too sportsmanlke to interfere.
l, having some weeks of hard read
ing behind me, and an examination very
near, was not SO liberal-minded as the
neighbors. and, going through the wynd
presently, expressed my opinions freely
to them concerning MeSsrs. Mccarthy
Another such row." I said, "and I'll
get old Mccarthy to the police station.
Some of you can tell him so when he's
sober"
They told him apparently before that
desirable state was reached, and stand
ing under my window a little later,
| 1ushed 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 cOwardly water-drinking viper,
saying there were none such in ould
Ireland. thanks be to st. Patrick, and
went away to drink again, with the re-
suit that little before midnight Kath-
leen Mccarthy was yelling murder for
all she was worth.
I was awake and dressed and reading,
and l had not forgotten Ould Tins con-
| temptuous sarcasms. 1t sounded as
though Kathleen was suffering for my
shyness of encounter. and that stung
me badly. Beside, twice, to my knowl-
edge, killing had been done within a
hundred yards Of that place without
any attempt at interference, and / had
no mind to risk being a party to third
such affair. The screams continuing,
ran out and knocked up neighbor.
Fetch the police for your life!"
said, "and bring them to Tim McCar-
| thy's!" and then 1 bolted down my stair
and stumbled up Tins until I had
groped my way to his door.
| There l paused and listened, lurking
on the threshold with no thirst for un-
necessary risks. Kathleen was now
scolding and crying at the same time
| SO the danger was not pressing. / did
| not know how many might be in the
| room, but / calculated that they were
| likely all to set upon me together, if
1 presented myself as an unbidden
guest, and here / thought would wait
for the police. listened lest any sud-
| den outbreak should force me to go
in alone, but the first fresh sound came
from below. A quick step sounded In
! 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 it's tread. moved
! to meet 1t. and was at once challenged
| in a clear firm voice, as a shadowy fig
| ure rose.
"Ah! Your neighbor met me- the
voice broke in directly I began to ex-
| plain. You frightened him, and he
has insisted on going for the police,
though / told him / didn't think they'd
be needed. Let's go in!''
They're quieter now" I whispered; /;
| "shan't we waltz"
| ''Why?" said the voice brusquely; and
| without waiting for the answer which
l was cudgeling my brains to shape as
| concisely as the question, the figure
threw the door open and stepped in
confidently with Pax vobiscum"
/. ashamed, followed close upon his
| heels, and was Immediately put on
my guard. for Ould Tim whose whisky
sodden intelligence I believe, the salu-
| tation had not yet reached, scented
treachery, and came for me as straight
and as swiftly as his condition would
| allow.
Pax vobiscum," The slight straight
| figure stepped swiftly between us, one
hand upraised, and Tim came no fur
| ther.
Stand back, Tim Mccarthy" said
4 the little man severely, .or if you can't
stand. then lie, but don't come a step
this way, or twill be bad night for
you.'
But there was no thought Of rebellion.
| When two tall and sturdy members of
the city police tramped stolidly up a few
| minutes later, there was nothing for
| them to do. Tim lay asleep and snor-
Ing In the corner; Kathleen moaned
and WINGED little under the deft
| fingers of the priest, who was dressing
a cut over one well-blackened eye. while
1. medical-though 1t is true only in
my second year-was humbly holding
the candle. The men grinned and sa-
luted, getting a quick little nod in re-
turn, as my companion, safety-pin in
mouth, made neat reverse of the
bandage round Kathleen's head
| Were no needit" said one of them
with conviction: and l saw little dry
smile develop, as well as it might. round
| the safety-pin
1 Int tad In,