Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-06-12

AoHs u lis Ieet ana Str0ll1ng down 9
the river bank, both hands In his pOck
cts.
Alden and Conner crawled out O
their i'll smelling dust wallow, leavin,
their rifles behind them.
"Whew! It's hot, Johnny" said AL
den pleasantly. He pulled out stain
ed pipe, blew into the stem, polished
the Dowl with his sleeve and sucked
wlstfully at the end. Then he went
and sat down beside Conner, who haG
improvised fishing pole from his ram
rod, bit Of string and rusty hook.
The Confederate rifeman also sal
down on his side of the stream, putting
luxuriOusly on fragrant corncob pipe
Presently the Confederate raised his
head and looked across at Alden.
whats yewr name, sonnyY he ask.
| ed.
Alden" replied the young fellow
briefly.
mines Craig" observed the Confed-
crate. whats yewr regimentY
1.-TWO Hundred Sixtieth New York.
What's yours, Mr.. Craig"
"Ninety-third Maryland, Mr.. Alden"
"Quit that THROWN sticks In the wa
teri growled Connor. "How do you
s'pose I'm goin to catch anythin?"
Alden tossed his stick back into the
brush heap and laughed.
"How's your tobacco Craig?" he call
ed out
"Bully! How's yewr coffee n tack,
AldenT
"First ratew replied the youth.
After silence he said, SIS 1t goT'
"You bet" said Craig, fumbling in
his pocket. He produced heavy twist
Of Virginia tobacco, laid it on a log,
hacked off about three inches with his
sheath knife and folded 1t up in a big
green sycamore leaf. This again he
rolled into cOrnhusk, weighted with
a pebble; then stepping back he hurled
1t into the air, saying, Deal squar,
Yank.'
The tobacco fell at Alden's feet He
picked 1t up, measured it carefully with
his claspknife and called out: Three
and three-quarters, Craig. What do you
want, hard tack or coffeeT'
TACK" replied Craig. Don't stint"
Alden laid out two biscuits. AS he
was about to hack quarter from the
third he happened to glance over the
creek at his enemy. There was no mis-
taking the expression on his face.
Starvation was stamped on every fea-
ture.
When Craig caught Alden's eye, he
spat with elaborate care, whistled q |
bar Of the "Bonny Blue Flag" and pre-
tended to yawn.
Alden hesitated, glanced at ConnOr,
then placed three whole biscuits in the
cornhusk, added pinch Of coffee and
tossed the parcel over to Craig.
That Craig longed to fling himself
upon the food and devour 1t was plain
to Alden, who was watching his face.
But he didn't. He strolled leisurely
Down the bank, picked up the parcel,
weighed 1t critically before opening It
and finally sat down to examine the
contents. When he saw that the third
'racker was whole and that a pinch Of
'ofee had been added, he paused in his
and remained motionless
IN the bank, head bent. Presently he
ooked up and asked Alden II he had
made a mistake. The young fellow
hook his head and drew a long puff of
moke from his pipe, watching it curl
ut Of his nose with interest.
Then I'm obliged to yew, Alden"
aid Craig. "'Low I'll eat snack to
ee it amt pizened."
He filled his lean jaws with the dry
iscuit, then scooped up tin cup full
t water from the muddy river and set
he rest of the cracker to soak.
"Good?" queried Alden.
Fair" drawled Craig, boiling an I'M
hewed segment and choking little.
How's the twist?''
"Fine," said Alden. TASTES like sta
lie sweepings."
They smiled at each other across the G
lream. q
"Sa-a-y," drawled Craig, with his
outh full, when yew're out of twist (
st yew sing out, sonny" '
"All right replied Alden. He stretch I
] back In the shadow of a sycamore r
nd watched Craig with pleasant eyes. b
Presently Conner had a bite and
rked his line into the air.
"Look here" said Craig, ''that amt t
} way fob to ketch 'redhorse' Yew II
ant cartridge on fob sinker, SON Ii
y" n
Whats thatY inquired Connor sus-
ciously.
''Put on sinker." c
go on, Connor," said Alden.
Common saw him smoking and shifted
Alden tossed him the twist, IL
Hing him to fill his pipe. &
Presently Conner found small peb- n
e and improvised sinker. He swung ri
) line again into the muddy current, ri
tn a mechanical sidelong glance to A
what Crais was doing, and settled p
wn again on his launches, smoking
d granting.
Emmy news, Alden?" queried Craig s.
ter silence.
Nothing much, except that Rich
md has fallen" grinned Alden.
Quit foolin," urged the southerner. W
int thar no news?" m