Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-18


 l in a fighting mood tonight and will satisfy just as many as will apply" 1 An he'll do it, too, boys" said an admiring voice. 'Buckleys got the 1 right stuff in i'm! Come on, let's go
 home. George seems friendly to the cuss, an any friend O his is safe as 1 fur as I'm concerned"
 l Same here,' joined in another voice.
 "Buck, yo're all right, but that's a dern slack wad yo're takin' up fer, as shore as yo're knee high to duck" ] Well, he's my friend, and I'm his l mothers friend" said Buckley. "A ] mob like yours shan't send his corpse home to her if can help it.'' He'd be about as much use to Ter l that away as in his natural condition ]! laughed man near the front. "But 1 eff she hankers after i'm, an Buckley i wants i'm to live on, I'll withdraw my claim. This is the sort of rabbit hunt ] I don't much like nohow.'' i A laugh rose and went round. It was favorable sign. George lowered his revolver. Go home, boys" he said wearily. I'm sorry spoke as I did 1 just now. You are all my friends; can see that Good night" | They stood for an instant as if un- certain what step to take, but Buckiey's last words had completely disarmed them. Slowly they disbanded and struggled away. When they were all lost in the darkness George closed the door and locked It. Just then Jeff Truitt emerged from the darkness in the interior of the building and, with hanging head and downcast eyes, drew near.
 ''Oh, George" he faltered, ''I wish they had killed me. I'm coward. I was afeard of 'em-afeard of 'emr'
 Tt wasn't that, my boy: don't you be lieve it." said George consolingly. You were simply stampeded. The best sol diers are that way when, they see overwhelming numbers approaching. You've got grit, but they tell me you have to fill up with whisky to float it."
 "But you wasn't afeard of 'em,' vail ed the boy.
 "Yes, I was-at first" said Buckley 'I shook all over, and then got drunk with rage, just like you do on whisky. It's the same hingjust as wide as it's long. Don't you bother; you'll fight, Jeff. If I'd thought you were a coward I'd never been the friend to you am. My Lord, don't remember, away back at the log schoolhouse, how Press Triton bullied you all day, pinch ing you, calling you names, and finally, when he began to bump your head against the wall, you turned in and gave him the worst licking he ever had9 He had black eyes and puffy jaws for a week. Some men are that way-just don't like trouble and stay away from 1t till it's showed on them. How did they happen to come here for you?"
 "They went home after me, reckon" said the boy, ian when they found out was here they come on to get liquor an settle with me. Eff you was me, | George, what would you do-go home tonight? You know the folks will bs a-worryin'."
 "No; you stay here and sleep with me-" said George. I'm not going to risk you anywhere else tonight" l They went back to the bedroom,
 Buckley carrying the light As they l passed the big flreproof vault in the
 office Jeff said, Looks like 1t would be resky to leave jest one man here | with a whole lot O money in safe
 like that, George"
 Tt has a combination lock-" Buck
 ley told him. 'It would take an ex- l pert burglar several hours to open it,
 and the noise would wake me. That's l why I sleep here. Nearly all the poor | fv hoi ud h0z ir1
 town deposit their savings with us. 1 It's big responsibility, but the safe
 and vault are the best in the state.
 They are better than those at the bank l uptown, an that's why the people want to deposit with us. It's lot of trouble, but MT. Hillyer likes to accom- l modate them"
 "And thars always lots O money in the safe, I reckon" said Jeff.
 "Thousands of dollars, my boy" re- piled Buckley; 'but it's freproof, and
 the risk is very little, as told you. I am in this room every night, and when 1 go away Kenner sleeps here"
 "But thar's another thing you hain't thought off," said Jeff. Robbers some times slip up on man, git i'm we'll covered an then force i'm to open a safe. What would you do in a case l like that GeorgeT
 Buckley laughed. T haven't thought of that, I'll admit" he answered; but,
 with the responsibility on me like 1t is, I believe I'd die fighting rather than 1 voluntarily give in."
 ''That ud be fooiishness," said Jeff. l t'What's money-even a fortune-to a mans life?''
 "It's different with me, my boy" George placed the lamp on the little table. "You could give in and many others could and nothing would be said about 1t, but if did it they would say 1t was-my fathers weakness cropping out in another generation. That would
 be the general verdict, Jeff. Folks are thatsway."
 'Do you reckon so, George?"
 "Yes, that's the way of the world. s-- N