Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-18
Lydia put up her gloved hand ana

Don't, don't!' she said gently, almost
 reverently, as she looked straight into 1 his eyes. "Dontv'
 He had not been introduced to her companion. and the fact seemed to
 have escaped her. The three walked to l the door.
 T am Miss Cosby, MT. Buckley l Kitty said sweetly. Lydia has com
 pletely forgotten that we don't know each other"
 1 T am delighted to meet you,' he l faltered, red in the face. "This is a l rather rough and tumble camp meet | ing reception to offer you the first time ] you honor the old warehouse with your l presence, Miss Cosby" he managed to
 get out, ''but we are an emotional peo- ! pie and'-
 | "Hush!'' suddenly exclaimed Lydia, l facing him with her great, wondering ! eyes. Don't speak lightly of that" l Then her voice sank into ineffable
 sweetness Show me, Mir. Buckley, l where 1t happened I mean from
 which direction did the mob come, and | is this the door-where the poor boy where you gtood-this here?' George grew redder; he essayed light laugh, but she was persistent. She laid her hands on his arm. Tell me-" she urged, lis this the very spot?"
 That's right, miss," said Truitt,
 coming up. "The gang come runnin'
 right down that walk after Jeff He
 hain't a plumb coward, but mob O fifty bloodthirsty men would rattle
 any boy that's been made a pet of all ' I14 c. .msz. Hl.a.s
 heels, an he seed George Buckley's
 open door an made break fer it. George let i'm in an then stood right on that sill thar an dared one of 'em
 to pass i'm. He had gun, but they could "a ground i'm to sausage meat. One man cooked revolver, an George
 heard 1t an yelled out an dared i'm to shoot i'm while he stood in the light, an bemeanedl i'm fer coward an all he could think of. His pure grit, an the respect they had fer i'm.
 shamed the gang, an they left. But thar's hero, miss. You young ladies
 study about leaders of great battles that are this an that, but I'm a old
 soldier, an what George Buckley done
 last night was the bravest thing ever
 seed or heard tell of" We thought Major Cranston was
 here" Miss Cosby explained when Tru- itt had gone. We have been looking all over town for him."
 George accompanied them to the car
 riage and helped them in. He was still flushed and embarrassed. Lydia was quiet and thoughtful.
 "You must come up and see us very
 soon,' she said. "I want you to know
 Kitty.'
 Buckley turned back to the office, an gry with himself, the Truitts and ev-
 erything pertaining to the recent hap pening.
 ''Oh, what an ass made of myself" he thought-"what deplorable, help less assv'
 He had just seated himself at his desk when Jeff Truitt came in.
 George" he said, ''Kenner has offered me job at the compress, and'-
 "Welr'-George looked up from his
 work, with a frown-'t that's all right, guess.''
 Their eyes met, and Truitt's fell to the ground He turned out of the door, meeting Kenner on the sidewalk.
 T made George mad jest now," he said to Kenner. T wouldn't "a done it fer the world, but
 'sYou didn't make me mad. old boy" said George, coming up, with smile.
 ''I was worried about calculation I was making. I hardly knew who was speaking to me-"
 Well, I'm glad" said Jeff, with smile of relief 'sI wouldn't bother you fer the world"
 "Tll bet he was mad" said Kenner to himself as he moved on. George Buokley's as hard to understand some times as a woman. He didn't like the way the Fruits carried on fore them young ladies Lord, he don't know which side his breads buttered on! Eff live hundred years I'll never forget Lydia Cranston's face while old Truitt was a-talkin', an George is as blind as a bat-kickin' himself right now"
 He went into the office few minutes later. George was at his desk, dry pen in his hand, the flush still on his face 'I met Bob Hanks uptown awhile ago." Kenner observed.
 George did not seem to hear.
 "He's put on 8 new two horse deliv
 cry wagon, painted up with his sign on 1t, jest like city wagons" Buckley was still inattentive.
 'sBy the way, the little devil told me
 he was goin' to let up on that school
 girl racket O his. He told me of his
 own accord, so reckon my talk did some good t'other night" "I suppose it did," said Buckley, with start, and he went to work. Kenner stood watching him for several min
 utes. The flush remained on Buckley's face all that morning, and he seldom
 answered when spoken to. Even Hill yer remarked upon his strange con- duct.
 He's guar boy,' said the old man.
 'T don't pretend to understand i'm, but