Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-01-07

of introduction. MY father is Colonel
Moulton, and l am wishing him on
leave"
Il am Lucy Treadgear," announced
Lucy in response. 1t is my brother.
James, whom you have injured"
Moulton stepped aside to permit her
to enter, and after closing the gate
he led the way into the house, where
Jimmie lay on sofa in the library
with the white haired old soldier lean
ing over him and trying to soothe his
fear.
He seems to be more frightened
than hurt" explained the colonel as he
gave place to Lucy. land Il broken leg
is no joke at that"
NO wonder" was the indignant re-
sponse. when it is known that You
have shot at several boys. 1t is for
tunate that you did no more than
break mis- leg-fortunate- for you I
mean. she added In explanation.
! Bless your pretty face, / had moth
| ing to do with IT," declared the colonel
AS for the shooting, few blank car
tridges and my consequent bad reputa.
tion have been the salvation of nv
fruit trees. This little fellow will tell
you himself that neither Paul nor
was in the garden when ne fell and
| broke his leg
/ Lucy looked inquiringly at Jimmie.
| who nodded.
THE boys pushed me up too fast"
he explained II went right on over.
And didn't get the ball. he added in
] tt.,1I II.
him for losing it, and Don Fraser said
he'd lick me if / didn't get it,"
/ III find it," volunteered the lieuten-
ant, and he slipped out, leaving Lucy
with the colonel.
MY bark is worse than my bite"
! explained the old colonel, with red
! dening face Il had to do something
to keep the boys from overrunning
my garden, but / did not suppose that.
the grownups would take my threats
seriously | shall have to make Paul
my deputy 20 clear my reputation"
The arrival of the physician inter
rupted the conversation, and present
~ the colonel himself tenderly carried
the boy TO the waiting carriage and
insisted that Paul ride on the box
with the driver in case he might he
! needed
1t was perhaps only natural that
Paul should call frequently to ask
after the invalid and that he should
select Lucy as his first proselyte in his
missionary work in behalf of his father.
Forty years in a garrison would
ruin the temper of any man." he de,
clared. "and you cannot very well
blame dad for wanting to be let alone
when he had the chance. He loves
gardening. and the boys were wreck
ing his grounds He simply had to
scare them off"
He was very effective in his meth
DDS" agreed Lucy, almost too much
so. For Il moment I supposed that he
really had broken Jimmie's leg"
81 wish that | could make you re.
alizc what a splendid father he is"
said Paul, with enthusiasm.
II do not remember my father very
well" said Lucy rcmi-is"cntly. He
died just after Jimmie was born.
was only eight"
let me share mine with you" Of
! ItGeu aul generously. W Ill you,
dearf"
From coign of vantage on the far
side of the street the gang watched
the wedding procession emerge from
the church and set up shout as Jim
mie, resplcndent in white satin coat
and knickerbockers. preceded the hap
py couple as their page.
Jimmie looks like stick of can
dy." declared the captain contemptu-
ously. but he's got an all right sis
ter. There amt many girls that would
marry a man just to save their little
brother from Il man like Colonel Moul-
ton. He was Just goin' to kill Jimmie
when she rushed in and said if he
would spare Jimmie's life she would
marry the lieutenant"
The gang looked with awe upon the
brave bride. and Lucy. radiant in her
new happiness. never realized that
they were cheering her with such en-
thusiasm because she had sacrificed
herself to fate to save her little
brother