The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-13

terchange of compliments with one an.
other, varying this by an occasional
lump or coal. Great wedges and nuts
of'it were also being jolted continually
OLE the carts as they jostled and lurched
through the dark and deeply rutted
lane.
Come on" said Billlam; "we'n soon
| get enough"
And he ran off among the grinding
wheeis, nipping up every piece Of coal
which lay OH the road. and pushing il
| INTO his ulster pockets with trained
alacity. His brother endeavored to imi-
| tate 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 maclstrom between the
| high walls and the tall houses The
Hussar found that 1t needed much quick
ness TO seize the prey and bag it, eval-
Ing. meanwhile, the succeeding carts,
which came on at pace which was
almost brisk trot.
Presently huge coal carter, stand
Ing up on his wagon, caught sight OF the
Captain lifting n piece OF coal from the
side of the road. He sent ready mis-
sile after him, which took effect just be-
tween his shoulder blades.
Get DOT o that, we -- skulk err vel"
he shouted.
Capt. Ormithwaite, Of the 10Th Hus-
take him by the throat. but the watch
full Billiam 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 cellar
doorway, both of them grimcd 10 the
eyes. Billiam produced "a hideous mask
out of his side pocket. and put it on.
Then he slid off the doorstep and took
up his position on n little mound of
hard trodden earth and engine ash
"lio! Hal he cried. ''Ye' are Il set
O. dirty. lazy Gilmerton cairters!"
Every coachman on the wagons lean
ed 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 evaded
every one of them, letting some slip
past him, and catching the straight
ones as cleverly as ever he had done
the ball when he kept wicket on the
green playing fields.
Presently the Captain found Billiam,
| now very swollen and bulky Billiam
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 al ton there"
And very obediently the Hussar went,
with grim delight in his heart to
think of the III his c. Q. would have,
| II he could only have seen him. Pres
emily he had filed up, and leaving the
roar of the coal avenues for the quiet
of the house, Rilliam and his brother
SUNK laboriously upstairs to their gar
ret
lord, shall I ever be clean again.
groaned the Captain, looking at his
hands. ITO think what you have led
| an officer of the Queen intO-you bless
ed young gallows bird, Biiliam!"
Empty the Goals here" commanded
| Billiam and his brother poured out his
hoard into large compartment built be-
sides the window. How Biliam could
have carried 50 great n load was a
| puzzle, but certainly there could not
have been less than hundred-w weight
| of coal In his canvas pockets alone. lie
| fastened to Ill a pot with water, and
in little while he had Il shallow bath
| full of warm water. This he set out in
| the corner, behind screen made Of a
grey sheet. which hung upon cord.
Go In there" he said and get your
self clean. you horrible Syharte I'll
SO round the wards. Dogs don't mind
Il little CRIME
When he came back TO take his turn
| at the bath, fresh pot full CT water
] was ready, and the roam was hrIgh:
and warm. The HuSsar had attended
to the fire and had swept the flooi
The brothers We're in the inner room
in which Silliam usually camped. There
| was sofa in il now, and an casy-chail
of wicker work.
I'll toss you for the sofa, young 'un,"
said the Captain
Right" said Blliam. promptly.
Tails!
Heads it isl" cried the Huccar with
| some relief.
Glad OF that" quo,h cheerful Bill
lam prefer the floor anyway You
can make 4 decent thing out of rugs ana
overcoats. And besides, sleeping On
the floor makes YOU SO jolly glad 10 gel
up In the morning"
SO they turned in and slept the slecp
of the just Billiam was up by dayligh,
and had cheerful fire burning when
his brother awoke. He brought him a
cup of tea and told him to roll ovcr
again. But the Captain was now wide
| awake and eager for talk
ny do you keep on at this kind
OF thing? he said, and why don't
you buy your Goals like an ordinary
| being"
We'll, said Billiam. this is the sor,
lol thing | take TO. YOU see. It's inter
lestlhS all the time. l suck I'm oceans of
learning all day till I'm tight. and ,beu
| practice it all the evening. And os
ior coals-well. sometimes do buy ,hem
Eut $50 pounds a year doesn't sprcnd ro I,
III rent. classes, and victuals-not In
lsrcak of dressings and lint. And pict
ing up Goals In the lane down thor, is
Just about as exciting as soldering. I
guess" "e'
Ssna1 ,.l,.,