The Advocate and news., 1898-12-07

they came by. She and every other
woman there distinctly heard the words
and marked the effect
Sir Galahad's face flushed crimson.
he caught his little friend up in his
arms and held him close TO bis burning
cheek. Hush, Jimmy boy. He meant
nothing, and soldiers never repeat such
nonsense. Run to Sister Ada and help
her get everything ready for papa's COM
ing. Think, Jimmy, he'll be here by
tattoo" And with a parting hug he
set the youngster down at his doorstep
and started him on his way. Then,
Courteously raising his cap to the gather.
ing on the nearest porch, and noting, AZ
did they, that Mrs. Winn had disap-
peared within her hall, Barclay quickly
entered his own portal, and nabbed
Brayton as he was making palpable
"sneak" for the rear door. The young
ster found escape impossible Willy
nilly, the boy told the story 40 it had
been told to him, Barclay standing look
ing straight into his eyes, as though
reading his very soul, yet never saying
a word beyond the original, "YOu heard
what Jimmy said. Itis another instance
Of out of the mouths Of babes and suck
lings, Brayton. Now, tell me exactly
what you know"
Itwas a warm May evening. A hot
southwestern had been blowing from the
broad valley Of the Rio Bravo, and the
few Insn In the clubrOom at 0 O'Clock
were demanding cooling drinks. Bral-
ligan was there, looking somewhat sol
emn and sheepish. he knew that moth
ing but the presence Of senior officers
had prevented a serious fracas as tho
result of his asinine bray that morning,
but now that Winn was out Of the way
and the matter In the hands Of his cap
tain ne had no dread Of the thrashing
he deserved and was disposed to an ex-
hibition Of bravado. A drink or two
&dded to his turbulence as we'll as to his
desire to resume the game interrupted
that morning. There were always in
those days few reliable gamblers at
the big frontier posts, and presently
Bralligan, in his shirt sleeves, was
contemplating o sizable pile Of chips
and bantering a burly captain to "see
his raise" when suddenly he became
aware of distracted look in the eyes
Of the group about the tables, and, glano-
ing toward the door, his own bloodshot
Orbs lighted upon the trim figure Of
Captain Barclay, standing calmly sur
veying the party-Barclay, who never
smoked, drank or played cards and who
was reported TO have started move.
ment for prayer meetings among che
enlisted men. His very presence in that
atmosphere was ominous, especially as
the gaze Of his usually soft brown eyes
was fixed ON Bralligan. One or two
men said, "Good evening, captain, in
an embarrassed way, but the Irish SUBJ
Sltern only stared, the half grin on his
freckled face giving place TO an uneasy
leer. On q bench to the left Of the en-
trance stood q huge water cooler, with
gourds and glasses by its side. Under
meath the spigot was big wooden pail
two.thirds full Of drippings and rims.
ings. Without word the newcomer
stepped quietly within the room, picked
up the bucket, and, striding straight to
the table before Bralligan could spring
to his feet, deftly inverted the vessel
nver tho TriShman'a aatOniRhaA head
deluging him with discarded water and
smashing the rim we'll down ON his une
protected shoulders AN instant more,
and BrOlligan sent the bucket whirling
at his assailant's head, which it missed
by a yard--then, all dripping as he was
followed it in q furious charge. Sir
Galahad "side clipped" with the ease
Snd nonChalance Of long but unsus-
pected practice and let fly white ast
which found lodgment with stunning
owook ckvua Soy1,k xyVNHap kha TriahynaaO1a "a aap