Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-21

keep 70 This side If you even put your
hands to your feet yOu!i be shot, SO
don't do it,
said something to the effect that
we weren't fools. Meanwhile my
friend and the third man dropped upon
the floor. with their guns and our car.
binos. while the sergeant sat down
upon Il box in front of the fire, cooked
a double harreied shotgun and kept his
eyes upon us. Converse ton languish-
cd after that. 1t is hard TO talk to
man whom you know is ready to take
your life on sufficient provocation. We
exchanged remarks occasionally with
one another. but they weren't at all
hilarious. was just dropping asleep,
still sitting Oh the bench, when Brain.
ard whispered;
ANY water in your canteen, Jack"
/ hadn't Thought before of the cap.
tain's cantpcu of whisky. Would it he
safe to tell Charley in the hearing OF
the guard that the cantccn across my
shoulder was full of whisky? Suppose
the Johnnies should learn Of it, drink
it and get fighting mad and kill us?
answered Rrainard. NO"
Then. remembering some jar inscrip.
tons that lie and | had spelled out to-
gether in our village drug store and
persuaded the druggist to translate,
continued. trusting the sergeant did
not understand Latin. "Spiritus fru
mcnti."
The surprise that cleaned through
Brainard's eyes would have startled
the sergeant had he seen it. Before ]
dropped asleep again the guard was
changed by the sergeant rousing the
man of the three who seemed tc
amount to least. He was thin, rath
or feeble looking fellow, with a stupid
face, the lower half of which had been
left unfinished soon after it was be
gun. lie threw fresh wood on the fire
so as to keep the room alight. then he
sat down with the gun and yawned SC
fearfully that ! feared he might fall
asleep with his hand on the trigger and
rouse the house, perhaps to our serious
injury. FINALLY however, he got en-
tirely awake, and then he seemed to
feel dismal amid so much silence. so he
tried TO chat with us He was a poor
talker, but Brainard helped him along
to the best of his ability They drawl
ed along for an hour, and under the
soothing influence of their monOtoneS,
the snoring of the sergeant and the
Wheeling of the other Johnny | began
to drop asleep again just as the guard
was explaining a lot of bad feelings he
had from time to time.
II could cure you, l think, If you
wouldn't get me into trouble" said
Braiuard.
"Ef you've got any medicine of any
kind, stranger" said the guard, 40
the Lawd's sake, gimme some. l don't
keer what it is. | know it'll do me
good some way"
wouldn't whisky be the very best
medicine you could have" Brainard
asked.
The mans face looked like beatified
saint in a fourteenth century picture
as he placed II hand on his waist and
murmured "Ohw
IF find you some right here with
out stirring. will you promise to leave
me Il little Of it, asked Brainard
"Of co'se | WILL" said the guard soft.
~. But how Sho! Quit your fool.
in"
I'm not fooing," said Brainard.
friends to help drink it all? l don't be.
licve in whisky except for sickness.
and your friends don't look or act as
if they lad any bad feelings"
"Suanger" said the guard hoarsely,
"Td promise anything. eXcep to be a
Yank or to let YOU git out TO one drink
OF whisky"
"All right" said Brainard, taking the
captains cantecn from my neck, draw.
ing the cork and holding it out 80 the
guard.
What Brainard was up to I could
not imagine, and closed my eyes as
the guard stepped toward him. | fear
ed Charley had some desperate idea OF
selling the mans gun as he passed
the canteen. In such case discretion
would be the better part Of vaor-for
the rest Of US. But there was no scene.
The guard quickly resumed his seat,
and out of n mere slit of my eye
could see he had his gun ready for us
with one hand while he raised the can
teen TO his mouth with the other
"All | want you saidf' be whisper.
ed after he had ascertained that 1t
really was whisky.
"All You want" was the reply, 80
you leave me little in case of sick
ness"
How that canteen did gurgle for a
full minute! When the drinker was
compelled to stop for breath, he held
the canteen In front of him with a
you have saved my life" expression of
cOuntenance that was really touching
Then he began again and drank for q
full minute longer, 1t seemed to me.
AS he breathed long sigh of content
he placed the canteen at his feet and
said:
Stranger, you're a gentleman. No
body ever done me so much good be.
TO-"
I'm glad to have been of service"
said Brainard. MY friend here helped
your friend there to n good drink OF
: coffee about three months ago, and Pm
glad to be about even with him."
you're gentleman. | say it again
an I'll say it always"
n.