The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-06

tains canttep OF whiskey. Would II be
safe to tell Charley in the hearing OF
the guard that the canteen across my
shoulder was full OF whiskey2 Suppose the
Johnnies should learn OF II. drink II and
get hghting mad and kill us7 / answered
Brainard. No
Then, remembering some jar inscrip-
tons that he and / had spelled out to-
gether I'm our village store and persuaded
the druggist 10 translate, j continued.
trusting the sergeant did not understand
Latin, "Bpiritus frumenti."
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
whom seemed to amount TO least. he
was a .-..n. rather feeble looking fellow
with a stupid face, tho lower han ~
which had been left unfinished soon after
II was begun He threw fresh wood on
the fire so as to keep the room alight.
then he sat down with the gun and ya~n-
ed so fearfully that i feared he might
asleep with his hand on the trigger ain
rouse the house. perhaps to our serious
injury Finally. however, he got entire
ly awake and then he seemed
20 chat with us. He was a poor talker.
but Brainard helped him along TO the
best OF his ability. They drawled along
Tor an nOur, ana unuef tne rOOtuiuB ha-
f1uence OF their momotones, the snoring
OF the sergeant and wheezing OF the other
Johnny / began to drop asleep again just
as tho guard was explaining @ lot OF bad
feeling he had from time to tins.
! could cure you. I think. II you
wouldn't get me into trouble" said Brain
ard
"Ef you've got any medicine OF any
kind. stranger" said the guard 80 the
Lawds sake, gimme some. / don't keer
what It is. know It'll do me good some
way"
Wouldn't whiskey be the best msdi-
cine you could have7" Brainard asked.
The mans face looked like beautiful
saint IN a fourteenth century picture az
he placed a hand on his waist and muir
INJURED "6h"
IF flnd you some right hero without
stirring, will you promise TO leave me
little OF it?" asked Brainard.
"of co'se I WILL" said the guard SOFT
ly. But how Shot, Quit you fol-
I'm not fooling." said Brainard. You
promise, too, not TO wake your friends 70
help drink IL all? don't believe In whas-
Ky except for sickness and your friends
don't look or act as IL they had any bad
feelings"
Stranger" said the guard hoarsely.
I'D promise anything exoep' TO be q
yank or to let you git out. TO one drink
OF whisky"
"All right" said Brainard. taking the
captains canteen from my neck. draw
ing the cork and holding It out to the
guard.
What Brainard was up to could not
imagine, and ] closed my eyes as the
guard stepped toward him. I feared
Charley had some desperate idea of seiz-
ing the mans gun as he passed the cam
So T. -
the better part OF valor-for the rest OF
us. But there was no scene. The guard
quickly resumed his seat. and opt OF a
mere slit OF my eye could see heehad his
gun ready for us with ono hand while
he raised the canteen 10 his mouth with
the other.
"All I want. you said7" he whispered
after he had ascertained that II really
was whiskey.
All you want" was the reply $50 you
leave me a little in case Of sickness
How that canteen did gurgle for q full
minute! When the drinker was com
Jelled to stop for breath, he held the can
saved my life'' expression Of countenance
that was really touching Then he be-
gan again and drank for full minute
longer, II seemed TO me. As he breathed a
tsen at his fest and said:
Stranger, you're gentleman. Nobody
ever done me SO much good befo'
I'm glad to have been OF service" said
Brainard. MY friend here helped your
friend there TO a good drink OF coffee
about three months ago, and I'm glad to
be about even with him"
fYuure a gentleman. I say IL again.
and Til say II always"
Evidently whisky really was the medi-
ns SDR he tSos.s . . he ssn to s.S SShs
peared to go Into brown study Finally
he closed his eyes and ioosened his grasp
knees i looked toward Brainard to
wink. but TO my horror saw him loosen
ing the strap at his feet and mouonins
took the guards gun. handed " to me
and proceeded to tie the fellows feet.
Then / understood what Charley was up
tS and sithosEh on WAS ase, so tfish1sned tSs n
covered the sergeant and my rebel friend
with II. wasn't going 20 be cutdone In
appearance Of bravery by any nve foot
happened to be my particular friend. New
ertheless as I stood there with that gun I
devoutly prayed that the slumbers OF the
recumbent Johnnies might continue to be
Meanwhile Brainard carefully unbound
the two other men OF our party. won,
dered why he didn't wake them and tell
them to loosen themselves. but oner9d
no suggestions. l don't believe i could
have spoken had I tried. With the belts
taken from our boys Brainard softly
bound, or hobbled. the feet OF the sleeping
graycoats. Then he cut the sling strap
from our captains canteen and bound
their hands also. They became somewhat
restive under this operation. and the SER
geant suddenly opened his eyes. The IRE
that shot from those eyes when the ser-
geant saw me with his gun at point
made me tremble and when he strained
at his bonds I recalled the story OF Sam
son.
We're awfully sorry, sergeant" said
Brainard, that Il had to be done, but
duty Is duty, you know"
The sergeant was speechless. Perhaps
twas Just as we'll for | learned after
ward that he was member OF the
church He did. however. arouse my old
acquaintance by nudging him with his
tied feet, but when that matter OF fact
fellow Grasped the situation he ejacu-
lated Well I'll be-.
Charley took one OF our boys and went
out OF the hut. They came back in about
half an hour and said they had the boat
ready. In the interval my old acquaint-
ance had exclaimed about once In I'VE
minutes, and each time apparently after
profound thought We'll. I'll be-"
I finally told him hoped not. and II
wasn't his fault We had turned the ta-
bles on him.