Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-06

pioiously the whilo and saying some-
thing in a low tone to tho lieutenant,
DO you know what became of that
poor fellow we picked up at Willow
Springs" asked Gray of the brakeman,
who was ruefully contemplating a
ruined lantern. The man looked up in
stantly, but instead of answering turned
and glanced significantly at the con-
ductor
IF you want him. said the latter
coolly, you'll have to follow the track
FIVE miles or more Perhaps you knew
the two that went after him. Birds Of
q feather take t-bound for the Gap
and spree on what's left Of that $40
bill.
I'm very glad to hear he isn't hurt, "
said Gray, You've sent for help, l
prosume"
"lve sent message by that tramp
friend Of yours, if that's what you
mean None of my crew or the freight
could walk q mile. "
All this time Lieutenant Rawson
stood aloof, his forage cap pulled down
over his brows, intently eying tho
stylishly dressed man i'll tweeds. Gray
became conscious of the scrutiny and
it annoyed him. Of the passengers i'll
the dag Joaoh mono were men whom he
would have beer at all likely to meet
on equal terms in his past Among
those of the forward sleeper only two
or three appeared to be men of cduca-
ton or social standing, and they were
nursing their bruises back in the lava
tory The young fellows Of the rear
Pullman were laughing and chatting
noisily together as they Tummaged about
the wreck. The officer was the one man
aboard the train whom ordinarily Gray
would have felt inclined to address
But while the uniform and the assur-
ance of at least certain social stand
ing on the part of it's wearer attracted
him there was that in Rawson' s face
which repealed. Nor was this wholly
due to the fact that it lacked refinement
and was a trifle bloated, that the eyes
were somewhat dull and clouded, but
in them Gray read unerringly an cX-
preston of distrust, even Of hostility,
and the pugnacious in him was aroused
at once.
All Of sudden he recalled that the
porter had told him Mrs. Mainwaring
was an army lady; so, doubtless, was
the young lady with her. Very possibly
the lieutenant was their escort, and the
escort was wrathful over his usurpatiOn
Of an escorts functions, so far as the
damsel was concerned. Gray could not
remember the officer busying himself
in any way to aid Mrs Mainwaring.
True, he was still half stunned and was
bathing his bruises, while Gray was car
ing for tho very attractive if somewhat
dishevelcd girl in the pale blue wrap
per. Something in the contemplation Of
bis loneliness and isolation during the
earlier night-a man without home,
the would be sharer of the fireman 5
scat, the companion of the rude sol
dierv, the alder and abettor Of trampS--
and the exaltation of his present tiCkled
his sense of the humorous. Had he nc t
won the gratitude, the almost ELUSIVE
thanks, of Mrs. Mainwaring, the elo.
quent, if silent, recognition of very
pretty girl and now the undoubted jeal.
ousy and dislike Of an army officer!
There's some fun left in life, even
now" was his grim comment, as he
calmly studied Rawson' reddening
face, gazing speculatively into the lat.
ter S shifting eyes until uneasily they
turned away
The gray dawn was sheeting the
slopes about them, and farther to the
west the mountain tops doomed, dim,
pallid and white with snow. Fine. soft
flakes were sitting down even here, and
Longs prediction was being verified.
That faithful soldier of his country and
the road was now stretched on TIT
fat Of his back on the floor of the bag
gage car, with some car seats for mat
tress pluckily sitting the moan of pain
that would have forced itself through
his set teeth To him came the younger
soldier. the sergeant, full of sympathy
"You re- badly shaken, Mr. Long
WOuldn little whisky help you?
, said he, the cavalry cure all of the ole
days most naturally suggesting itself
IL don't know but what it would, )
groaned the engineer. 1.-The lieutenan
has some, hash hep
"Yes, be has, was the half hesitan
reply Then the freemasonry of tn,
: craft seemed to show in the look tina
followed, half conIical, half contiding
but all significant. "But-he ain t til,
sort of man ia ask for anything
: 'Taint like As if it was Captain Ray o.
Blake or Truscott or any Of them wa
, here, you know. Butt can find you
, some all right.
/ And, jumping from the car, Sergean
= Kearney went straight to Mr., Gray
Our engineer, sir, said he, lis badl,
stove Mp Could you oblige NE with
o little whiskyT
Q Certainly" said Gray, going dow
into his pocket and fishing up the silve
topped flask. Give him IA good swig
and, sergeant. help yourself. "
/ The serg ut grlnned, thanked him
S hurried back to his new friend AM
= gave hlm what he called an honest cav
J airy four finger1.
/ God - said Long, smacking his lips
i his ewes swapping That was an oil
/ timer. Then as the potent liquor, lon
/ stranger to his once case hardened sy,
h. tenn, began glowingly to assert itself h
t bliEked his gratitude and looked admin
= ingly at the handsome flask. That's
e swell stopper you We got to that canteeI
8 sergeant. Where d you capture it!'
s Tall young fellow in the first sleeI
& or Seems to have money and whisky