Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-05-13

ne SalQ. lt not so ulIHCuiI dS thought"
 Not one bit" Unanswered, delighted at the prospect of being able to win his favor for my scheme. Truth to tell, required his assistance in the matter very badly. Each company occupied one apartment. Mine was at the extreme end of the building. Johnny was at the rear end in de- tached wing. To pass from my room into the yard you had to go through four other rooms, down the main stairs, and pass the guard. 'Johnnys room, on the other hand. led to the yard direct.
 When are you going?" he asked.
 Tonight" I said. much pleased at his conversion in my dress. T want you to help me Johnny-for the sake Of Kilsheelan and the old days"
 He caught my hand and shook 1t warmly.
 Dear lad, will always be your true friend" he said.
 I could have embraced him at that minute, the honest, simple fellow.
 T want your assistance tonight" !" I went on "At 12 o'clock, when all is silent, shall pass down to tho closet. I have hidden my rife be- tween the closet wall and the wooden paling, where no one would ever dream of looking. My going to the closet will cause no remarks. You have charge of the ammunition of your company, and you can easily fill my haversack and hide it in your room till midnight. Then you can bring it to me-"
 "Very good,' he replied. 'Tll be there. sure enough"
 T shall never forget your kindness" I said, little knowing how true the remark would prove in way that l never suspected then.
 I was waiting for Johnny's coming a few minutes before the time ar ranged. As I stood in the shadows by the pailing began to think. I reviewed many incidents in my past life. I thought of my moth- CT and my sweetheart, and I pictured their amazed looks when they read of my adventure in the great American forest. The people in Kilsheelan would be proud of me. the greatest of their many great sons.
 As these thoughts crossed my mind the clock struck the hour of mid night, an6 ere the sounds had died away. Johnny Houlihan emerged from the barracks as arranged. He ap- preached me noiselessly, and we shook hands.
 Have you got the ammunition? asked.
 Here it is," he replied, throwing back his big overcoat and showing the haversack inside. You have a hun. dred rounds here"
 Dear old Johnny" I answered, at the same time seizing my rife and climbing to the top of the fence.
 Johnny" whispered.
 Well" Johnny. we may never meet again. It's a terrible place Is the heart of the forest"
 "Oh," he said as If with surprise. But I'm not a bit afraid, Johnny. Only if never turn up I want you to write to my mother and tell her-tell her that died nobly."
 q won't neglect it."
 God bless you" said, fervently. But there's something else. You knew little Norah O'Halloran, a daughter of old Tins from below the salmon pool. I never knew till now how much I cared for her. Would you tell her-tell her that she was in my thoughts by day and night. and-and-"
 And that her name was upon your lips at the last" added Johnny.
 I reached down and caught his hand. &
 Dear. faithful Johnny. There are no hearts so true as the Kilsheelan ones."
 He climbed up the psiling half way. and with his own hands strung the haversack around my shoulders. "Good-by. Johnny" said. preparing myself to leap over the fence. One last look around, and I prepared my self to jump. Only two miles away was the forest of my longing and my dreams. In other years men would wonder at the deeds l would do there. It was the grandest moment of my life. Already I felt myself a chief a king among the red Indians. raised the rife to my shoulders. and put my hand to steady the haversack ere I jumped. As I did so the heart sank within me. I had been duped, deceived.
 The hayersack contained nothing but broken biscuits. became frantic and threw discre- tion to the winds. I shouted a ter rible malediction after Johnny. Then. horror of horrorsl all the windows in the rooms Of the four companies went down as if with simultaneous thud that woke a thousand echoes. Scores of heads peered through. and wanted to know how liked the jungle
 Johnny. the rascal. had shameless ly betrayed my secret After that nights adventure. I had no further desire to go a hunting the red Indians. And when I had time to think calmly over matters. came to the conclusion that Johnny Houli.