The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-27
The Line Of Least Resistance.

I long ribbon of smoke coiling through
the air. The engine on the switch
gave three shrill whistles, the bell
ing and pulling 1t rolled slowly for
ward.
The noise broke Carew's sleep. He
Strengthened up and peered through
the water-stained windows.
II say, Dunk, where in the deuce are
we?"
"Pretty near Rochester, I reckon"
replied the tall soldier. Let me take
your folder, Billy, and I'll find out just
where we are. / was never over this
road before"
He studied the green sheet, whlstling
softly the while.
"Humph! this things all mixed up.
Buffalo branch, Seneca Falls branch,
Willard branch, where in the name OF
common sense Is Rochester? These
railroad maps are about as clear as a
Chinese cryptogram. Oh, here we are.
We left Geneva at 7.40, and it's now
S35. That brings us to Rochester
Junction. That's the place we just
stopped at We'll be in the city in
twenty-five minutes"
~ suppose there's a deputation of
citizens to meet u.s." said Carew.
"And gang of G. A. RS with a
brass band, followed by the mayor and
aldermen in carriages" added Billy.
"The procession headed by squad
of policemen, with drawn clubs to keep
back the crowds" continued Carew.
Don't build your air castles too
high" cautioned Dunk.
81 don't imagine there'll be more than
half the population out to meet us. not
in this kind of weather. And this re-
turned soldier business is about played
out by this time. We're the third to
get back, you know. And you must
remember that we haven't done any
lighting
"Worse'n blooming old home-
guard commented Billy, in disgust
ed voice.
THAT isn't our fault" said Carew.
But you can't make the people be-
lieve that we're worth our salt" said
Dunk. "If we were, why didn't they
put us on the firing line? That's what
people say
"And that's right" commented Billy.
We're tin soldiers, and that's all
there is to it."
Similar thoughts seemed to be in the
minds of most of the men as the train
drew nearer home. They became silent
and pre-occupied. Cards were put
away and pipes allowed to cool. Their
resentment was coupled with feeling
of shame. A year before they had
boasted of the great things they would
flf, I, h,,t ID bod I,,l -
with Haunting pride, the heroes of the
hour, their ears deafened by the shouts
and cheers of thousands. And they
We're coming back untried, to take up
the struggle of life where they had
dropped it year ago.
These thoughts were in Carew's mind
as he lay back in the seat and watched
the swaying bell-cord, and the rhythm
of the wheels seemed to click over and
over the words, Didn't fght~fght-
didn't tisht--fight--didn't tight-fght."
In his home coming, at least there
was little reason for clation. His
mother had died since his enlistment,
and his only relative, a sister, lived in
a distant western city. He had few
friends, none of whom was intimate
enough to feel deeply on the subject Of
his return. He thought of the few
years he had been bookkeeping in the
bank. and he experienced a feeling of
dread at the idea of returning to such
A mOnOtonous existence. But he had
his living to make. He could not shirk
this stubborn fact. He remembered
the eventful day he joined his regi-
ment. His fellow clerks were effusive |
in their good-byes, and even the presi- |
dent, a weak-faced little man. who
tried to impress everyone with his i'm !
portance. patted him upon the back, |
and made n few stereotyped remarks, |
assuring him, in many unnecessary |
words, that the institution was hon |
ored by having him numbered among |
ts employees, and that his position |
would be filled but temporarily until |
MS return. Carew had thought of |
Ihem at night rolled up in a blanket,
under the Southern stars. as he listened |
TO the wind in the pines. He had
thought of them in the thick, greasy
nights that shut in Havana, when the
wind was city-ward and the lonely
to which the DUH throb-
oing of the city's life only came faint
y. He thought of them now. and the
'ancies of his brain seemed to find ex-
preston in the clickety-click-clck OF
he wheels. Through the blurred win
low he caught occasional glimpses of
sodden fields and gaunt trees, and
.hese, too, were symbolital of the pres
mt, and suggestive of the future.
The engine grunted up long grade,
swept around a sharp curve, and
plunged across the unprotected rails
If siNty-foot trestle that purred un-
Ter the weight of the wheels.
The tall soldier turned to Carew.