The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-02
BL LIAM,
b S. B. CROCKETT.

x&0O EuS SIG<AtSI dQIaUSI VI tUS PO11SO-
mans ordinary clients. He could often
& be seen walking aleEg cle Pieasance or
past the breweries IN the Laigh Calton,
attended by dozen dogs, which had
followed Bilhanl far from their wonted
haHnts On the chance Of q word from
him and which departed obediently if
rnwiIliingly when he bade them retur2.
TO their own places IN peace.
Year by year Biniam studied and
practiced, never penny the richer, but
more and more loving and beloved. Els
gauet, however, grew somewhat better
furnished. Through the mediation Of
s his soldier brother, his father became SO
far reconciled to him that he Increased
his allowance. but Billiam lived in 10
greater comfort thar befoze. He bought
cheap bedstead, it is true, and for q
month or two dwelt in luxury, sleeping
upon a real mattress with q clean sheet
and folding his overcoat for pillow.
But even that came to en- end.
The circumstance were these:
Billam had been down at Ormi-
thwaite seeing his, s,father, and his broth
er {of the One Hundred and Tenth
hussars) insisted upon returning to
Edinburgh with him.
You'll have TO rough st. mind you,
said Ri1iam, warning him.
soldier. 2 said his brother
aoutly, ssand guess your hole can t
he worse than some places I've put up
ALI right, . sid Biniam. Mind,
I've warned yon. Dom grum5le when
yon get there. =
So at their journeys end Billiam
opened The door Of the gares and in
vited his brother te:step III. a curious
damp smell met them on the threshold.
That's all right, said Billiam re-
assuringly. I washed cut the whole
Incoming shop with chlorate of lime
the night before I came away. It's
healthy no end, If it does stink bit. -
Maybe, . said his brother the cap
tain but it certainly does smell like
stsbles 9
Well, III have the FIRE lighted, and
we'll have some supper before the peo-
pae begin to corae, = said Billiam calm
You II be picking these old rags for
lint and laying ont the bandages -
The captain and Billiam dined upon
IS rasher Of bacon and eggs which Bill
Liam fried IN the pan. along with sliced
potatoes and butter. The hussar, being
exceedingly hungry, thought he had
never tasted anything more delicious.
They don't do anything Like this at
the club. It is such jolly flavor, too;
quite unique, 2 he said with enthusi-
asn,. Seems as If it were seasoned
with anchovy or some French sauce
quite Partisan, n fact :,
Ass Yes, Billiam answered simply,
ss That is the red herring I had in the
pan last week. With Us coming in SO
quick, hadn't time to clean him out
properly
The outer room was filing upal1 this
time, and the yelping, whistling and
mewing grew louder than even the cav
ing Of the rocks IN the old trees above
0rmishWaite.
xTarantara! Tarantara..n cried the
hussar cheerfu1y. Turn out for kennel
parade. e And for two hours he was
kept brsy enough with his lint and
bandages.
But where does the money come in:''
he said when it was all finished. He
was smoking q cigarette, and Biiliam
swas polishing up his instruments.
Do it for nothing. Don't they even
pay for all that vaseline and plaster.
You are blamed young fool, Billiam,
anlwiu die in the workhouse. -
Then the captain yawned little.
It S too late for the tkeater, /" he said,
sesen if ycu knew where one was,
which I don't believe. I'm deuced tired.
Let usgo to ted.''
Billiam locked about him dcubtfully
Ind then suddenly threw up his hands
with gesture of despair.
ST forgot, cid chap; on my life and
honor, I quite forgot. lent my bed to
Peter Wilkins, the water color man. He
had rawned his to Pay hls rent, but he
thought he could get it out again before
i ca8e back -
You bet be ccnldn't, - said the hus-
sar, twmling his handsome nustache.
I've seen that kind of nsD- There are
several In my regiment. .
Let's goand look Peter up anyway, .
said Billiam Perhaps we can get the
bed after all J"
So the hussar accompanied Billia.a
through the dimly lighted street, under
gloomy archways, past great black
rhasms yawning between lofty houses,
I'LL they arrived at the dwelling CT Will
kins, the water color nan, as Billiam
said. It was room upon the ground
Hcor with sunken area in front.
sit does not look promising, y said
Billiam. ''The beast isn't lighted Up.
guess old Wilkins iseither drunk OF has
gone to the country"
tsPerhaps he bas pawned yocr bed.