The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-13
D'ri and /
BY IRVING BACHELLER
Aufhor Holder Darrell Of Blessed siss ETC.
CHAPTER XIX.

D'ri and left the chateau that aft
ernoon. putting up In the red tavern
at Morristown about dusk.
My companion rode away proudly,
the medal dangling at his waistcoat
lapel.
"Jerushy janet" said he, presently,
as he pulled rein. "Ain't a-goin t hev
tibet ftoppin' there so-meks me feel
lux bird. Don't seem nohow nat'ral.
Wha' a We s'pose he gin me tibet air
thing fer?'
He was putting it away carefully in
his wallet.
AS a token of respect for your
bravery said I.
His laughter roared in the still
woods, making my horse lift and snort
a little. 1t was never an easy job to
break any horse to D'ri's laughter.
It's reediclous." said he, thought
fully, in a moment.
"Why?
Cause fer the reason why they
don't no man deserve nuthin' fer dom
what he d orter." he answered, with
serious and determined look.
You did we'll" said |, and deserve
anything you can get"
Done my damdest!" said he. But
did MT do nuthin' but git licked. Got
shot an tore an slammed all over
tnet air deck, an could MT DO no harm
I nobody. Jes LUX boss tied n the
stall, an a lot o men whalin' i'm, an
a lot more tryin' t scare i'm { death ,"
'Wha' d ye s'pose thet air things,
made uy?' he inquired. after a little,
silence.
Silver" said |.
Pure silyer%
Undoubtedly. was my answer.
Judas PRIEST" said he, taking out
his wallet again, to look at the trophy.
Thet air mus be wuth suthin,."
More than years salary" said l.
lie looked up at me with a Sharp
whistle of surprise.
Ain no great hand fer sech funny
dlddles, said he, as he put the medal
away.
IT'S a badge of honor" said |,
1T shows you re brave man"
Got 'nough ON EN-" said D'ri.
This ere rip n the foreheads bout
all the badge | need"
IT'S from the emperor-the great
Napoleon" said. 1T s a mark of his
pleasure"
Wall. by Judas Priest!" sain D'ri,
Il would MT jump over a stump or
a or MA ~
would MT cnt off my leetle finger fer
a hull bushe basket o. them air
hain't a-fightin' fer no honor"
What then?" said /.
His face turned very sober. He
pursed his lips, and spat across the
ditch then gave his mouth wipe.
and glanced thoughtfully at the sky.
Fer liberty" said he. with decision.
Same thing my father died fer"
Not to this day have | forgotten il.
the answer of old D'rl. or the look of
him as he spoke. was only reckless
youth fighting for the love of peril and
adventure, and with too little thought
Of the high purposes of my country.
The causes of the war were familiar to
me; that proclamation of Mr.. Madi-
son had been discussed freely in our
home, and | had felt some share in
the Indignation of D'ri and my father.
This feeling had not been allayed by
the bloody scenes in which I had had
a part Now began to feel the great
passion of the people, and was put to
shame for moment.
"Liberty-that is a grand thing to
fight for" said I. after brief pause.
Swap my blood any time fer thet
air" said D'ri. Il can fight sassy, but
not fer no king but God Almighty.
Don't pay { git all tore up less it Is
fer suthin' purity middin' vallyble.
My life amt with much, but, We see. 1
I hain't nuthin' else"
We rode awhile in sober thought, |
hearing only sough of the wind above
and the rustling hoof-beat of our
horses in the rich harvest of the au-
tumn woods. We were walking SLOW I
iy over a stretch of bare moss when, at |
q sharp turn, we came suddenly in |
sight Of a huge bear that sat facing |
us. drew my pistol as we pulled rein. |
firing quickly. The bear ran away |
into the brush as fred another shot |
He s hit" said D'ri, leaping off and !
bidding me hold the bit Then. with a
long stride. he ran. after the fleeing |
bear. | had been waiting near half an /
hour when D'ri came back slowly, with |
a downhearted look.
ct ain no use" said he. Cant |
never git thet bear. He s got flesh |
wound high up in his him quarters, an
be s travellin' fast"
He took fresh chew of tobacco and !
mounted his horse.
Terrible PITY" he exclaimed shak- |
ing his head with some trace of linger- 4
ing sorrow. Ray" said he, soberly,
after a little silence, when ye see a
bear lookin' your way. eff We want i'm
always shute at the end thet's toward /
ye."
There was no better bear-hunter in I
the north woods than D'ri, and to lose
a bear was. for him, no light affection.
Cant never break bears neck by
shutin' i'm in the hin quarters" he
remarked.