The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-21
[CoPYRIGHT.1
CHAPTER V-(continued).

The worthy sextet turned and sur
Veyed the newcomer
1t was first apparent to them that b.
was an Irishman.
Next that he was six feet high, if al
inch, and as quick and strong as he wa
tall.
Then that he moved his hands in 6
way that showed much skill in the ar1
of quitting his daddles up" as Inky
would express it.
Lastly, that he had just whisky
enough in him to make him yearn for
a good sharp scrimmage as the one
thing to complete bis happiness.
"Peory" and his crowd were excel
lent judges of human nature-in some
respects. They had a full share of their
class's instinct as to whom it is safe to
become. involved in a row with, and
whom not They needed no telling that
this person was emphatically one of the
latter class.
GOOD awning, jintlemen," he re-
peated, with a steely, uncertain smile in
his wide-open blue. eyes, while one man.
moth hand toyed with his stubby red
mustache and the other twirled switch
cane, that looked as much out of place
in his stalwart grasp as q straw in an
elephants trunk. Since We don't
know me, Oh must introduce mesilf
Me name it is Patrick O'Nale. The
O'Nales, as We know, are the first family
In Oireland, and Ohm wan Nv thin.
Me father is second cousin of The
O'Nale hinsilf. Olive belonged for
the last tin years to Company Say CO,
Sexth United States Enfantry; you've
certainly heard of ii, because the Sexth
Enfantry is the foinest regiment in the
United States Army. She's got thir-
tame honors on her flag, and livery wan
Nv thin rale ginooine honors, too; and
Company Say is the best Company in
the Regiment, and Ohm First July Sarr-
gent of the Company. My tonnes
just out, an Ohm takin' little turn
around to say the soights, like, afore Oh
ray-inlist."
Concluding these personal reminis-
cences, the switch-cane was shifted into
the left hand, and the right took up the
hopeless task of persuading the red bris-
tie on his upper lip to assume the waxed
nattiness of Napoleonic mustache
The blue eyes fell on /" Peory" with a
smile of aggravating banter.
"Oi've just bin hearing the awful
news from Charleston. Olive several
friends in Fort Sumter: Me mither's
sisters own child, Phelim Rafferty,, is a
Sarrgint in Maj. Anderson's artillery
company. Dim very much afraid he's
hurried. Don't you think this is .
scoundrelly pace of bizniss, this foirring
on the United States fag?"
1t was Peory" who was asked this
question, and who must answer it cate
gorically and instantly. Not detail of
the situation escaped him. The ex-
Sergeant was just four feet away-the
best striking distance for his long arm !;
bis hand still toyed with his mustache,
but in position TO deliver blow with
lightning swiftness not one of the crowd
was in place TO make diversion in the
rear before Peory would be knocked
into the deep mud Of the middle of the
street But his position as leader de-
manded that be make one effort to
bluster out of the affair, and he began
savagely:
"Well, p
A grin of exultation frightened up
Mr.. ONeiPs face, bis fingers abandoned
the mustache and clenched into fist
which started TO draw back.
1t was too much. "Peory" weakened.
AS he told some friends afterward, be
was no blank fool, to 90 into a game
where be had no show, and SO bis voice
and countenance dropped, and he said ::
Yes; think it very bad thing"
But don't We think it a -
name thing?"' said the merciless ONeil,
still retaining bis fist in its threatening
attitude.
"Peory" choked down a rising in
his throat, and said with the calmness of
a crushed spirit:
les, / must say, it is"
{" Yer not very hearty in yer remarks"
said ONeil, disappointed at having no
excuse for striking man who, to use his
own words, "stud SO fair and illigant for
a knockdown." "But Oh suppose Oh
must take yer wurrd for it"
"Tbis gintleman here" he continued,
fixing bis blue eyes hopefully on "Mis-
sissippi." This jintleman here | know
agrees with me intoirely that they are a
set Nv beggars and vagabonds who are
doing this dirty work. at Charleston"
Mississippi" was in as easy range of
that dreadful fist as Peory." He stam-
mered out:
perhaps-O-certain-
y."
Ye haven't remarkably fray deliv-
cry, Oh must say" said Mr.. O'Neil; "but
Ohm afraid OIL hev take your wurrd."