TRW'
. j , w (.-". rr s
.'!'.' ,HiJ
4 J
7-'X
J P"
Vl
v
W
H 4
1(J
THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE-SATURDAY, 3EPTEM&ER 27, 190&
j Tb? Lin?
i.
THE accommodation shambled on
to thn siding to give the right
or way to the cast bound lim
ited. There . were three sharp
blasts from tho whistle, a
wheezing ot the brake-hose, a crash
of couplings, and the Manges Bnubbed
the rails until the croaking wheels
came to n stop. Several passengers
ventured out on the platforms, where
they stood with collars turned up,
hands deep In pockets, shivering nnd
discussing the cause ot the delay. The
coach following tho tender was a
smoker, and was occupied by a com
pany of United States volunteers, re
turning home after a year's service In
the South. The men who came out ot
this car smoked cigarettes and pipes,
and swore Impartially at the weather
and at the engineer.
It was not an Inviting scene? The
atmosphere was raw and the wind bit
ing. The rain was falling In u steady
drizzle, and the clouds of blai'k smoke
that rolled from the locomotive huddled
near the ground like a heavy fog. The
flag depending from the roof of the
smoker was water-soaked, and wagged
to and fro In the wind. The sky was a
monochrome of dull gray, which blend
ed naturally with the color of the earth.
The clearing on each side of the track
was covered with UlacKcneu stumps
and dead undergrowth. To the left, on
the ridge of a low hill, against thn
sombre sky-line, was rt fringe of-applc
trees, their outlines so obscured by the
blue of the rain that they looked like
.the faint traceries of figures on ancient
tapestry.
The air Inside the smoker was heavy
With the funics of tobacco. So thick
was the hnze that the soldiers, In their
uniforms nf a shade not much darker
than smoke, looked more like silhou
ettes than human beings. Faces were
Indistinguishable at throe yards, and
the sharpest eyesight could not pene
trate the length of the car. Out of this
rilve of smoke Issued a constant buz,
of voices, subdued to a drone by the
vibrant bass nf the swaying trucks.
When the train stopped this sound
swelled Into a strident claifior, one part
laughter, three parts grumbling.
In one corner of the car, near the
water tank, four soldiers were playing
pedro. They talked loudly and gesticu
lated wildly, after the manner of men
that hazard small sums on games of
chance. A soldier with mors curiosity
.than caution opened a slndow near
the' players. A "brisk puff of wind
swept In, gathered up the cards, and
distributed them to different corners
Jbt the car. The four gamesters closed
Mn for an attack. They pushed for
ward, shoulder to shoulder, grappled
with the offender, and forced him to
the lloor where he squirmed, wriggled
and exhausted valuable breath In the
Invention1 of curious phrases.
"Quit yeh foolin' and shut that win
dow," bawled a voice from one of the
rear seats. ,
"Want to freeze us out?" demanded
another.
"You fellows must think we've been
summering on the North Pole," said a
third.
"Cheese It here conies the sergeant,"
warned a distant voice.
The battle came to an end as a tall
form loomed up through the smoke.
The tall soldier had chevrons on his
sleeves and he closed the disputed win
dow with an air of authority.
Trjc five soldiers did not look upon
this" act with the spirit of resignation
and obedience that privates are sup
posed to exhibit In the presence of a
superior ofllcet'.
As they had been mustered out they
considered themselves no longer under
the tyranny of a man whose only claim
to distinction was the possession of
three white qtrlpcs.
"What did yell shut that window
lor?" demanded one of the belligerents.
"To keep the wind out," answered the
sergeant, calmly.
"It's none of your business, Dunk,"
growled another member of the quin
tette. "Yes it Is, old man," was the smil
ing retort.
"No It isn't." mocked a third.
"Well, what are you going to do
about If.'" inquired the tall soldier,
With a provoking Inflection of the voice.
"We'll show you," said one of the
men.
"Show me what?" continued the ser
geant, In the same exasperating man
ner. "Show you that you're not bossing
this train," said a short soldier as he
took hold of the window catch.
"Don't raise It, Billy," warned the
sergeant.
Billy made no reply, but tugged at
the window.
"Because If you do," said the ser
geant, "I'll toss you through It."
The short soldier wheeled around In
stantly, and started to peel hl.s blouse.
His tanned face was russet with rage.
"That kind of talk means fight," he
raid, speaking quietly with an effort,
"and you ought to know by this time
that a fellow don't have to hunt very
far for trouble In this crowd."
"t Just as soon tight, nilly. If that's
all you want. Rut what's the use?"
"Well, why. don't you mjnd your own
business then?"
"Far'a I'm concerned personally," ex
plained the tall soldlor, "I'd Just as
soon you'd open all the windows and
doors, so you needn't get rambunctious,
J, shut it on Carew's account the cold
ar won't do him any good,"
He nodded toward a thin, hollow
, faced soldier, sleeping in a tiinrhy seat,
his head pillowed on n rolled blanket,
"I forgot all about the Kid," said
JBIHyi sWearlng apologetically, his face
lighting up with good nature. "We'll
call It oft this time, Dunk."
"Just as you say, Rllly," laughed the
sergeant. Ho returned to his seat,
lighted, his pipe and leaned back with
a' grunt 'of satisfaction. Billy came
ddwri' he aisle and took a seat besldo
his late 'antagonist.
"What do suppose s the matter with
hjm. .'anyway ?" he asked, Jerking his
inumn ov?r nis. snouioer in tho dlree.
tlon of1 the sleeping Carew, "Fever?"
"Move, likely starvation," answered
Dunk,' "When a fellow's oft his feed
he doesn't relish sowbelly six days In
the week, and horse meat on Sunday,
Prime lilrn with some genuine grub
and he'd be as flno as felt In no time."
"Clreat guns, Dunk, don't talk about
real grub. I won't act natural at a
table again. I'll bet I've forgotten how
to handle a knife and fork."
"Il's something like swimming,"
laughed Dunk. "Once you get the
Sing Of it you'll never quite forget It.
i'n a little out of practice myself, but
'
of Least Resisfaoce;
I'll put In a few dnyn training to get.
back Into shape again."
"When I was, In the hospital last
month," said Billy, "I used to lay
awake nights thinking o' real things to
cat beefsteak and onions, pumpkin pie
and dumplings. ; Ever that way,
Dunk?"
"Well, I guess. I've been feeling that
way bo long now that 1 begin to think
that 1 wasn't cut out for a fighting
man."
"My slnte of mind, exactly," Bald
Billy, lighting a cigarette.
"However It ain't done us any harm,"
continued the tall soldier, "nnd It will
be something to boast about when we
"You can boast about It until you're
red In tho fnct," said Billy; "but I'm
not hankering after that kind of
amusement. Four months ut Chatta
nooga, In the rainy season, marching
thirty miles every day through the mud
to get Into shape, and doing guard duty
half tlie night; three months nt Tampa,
broiling like a terrapin; four months
nt Havana, half-starved, hnlf-slck,
worked out. What do you get out of
it? Thirteen per and glory enough to
swell a toy balloon."
"Ought to be satisfied you're allve.j'
commented ,the tall soldier.
"It's no fault of the government that
I am," Billy retorted. "When time's
up they pack us like a lot of blooming
lobsters In n leaky old scow. They
stow us away In a cow shed at Sa
vannah till we're mustered out; then
they send us North .In a rickety old
car jerked by nn engine with the asth-
ma, and here we are, boxed up like
tramps, ten days on tho road, when
they could have sent us home in three."
"What do you want, Billy, the
earth?"
Billy grinned expansively.
"Nope," he answered, "Just Monroe
county. You can have Cuba and all
the rest of It."
"You're nn ungrateful cub," growled
Dunk. "You ought to he thankful
you're coming home with a whole
skin."
"That's just the point," said Billy,
with a scowl. "I've had enough of this
tin soldier business; and I'm tired of
playing marbles. If we had only done
.something down there, this year's
work would have been worth while. I
can't express just what I mean, but
damn it nil, Dunk, I'd rather be rot
ting in the trenches at Santiago than
streaking back home without having
fired a gun and I'll bet there ain't a
fellow In the company that doesn't feel
the same way."
Tho tall soldier did not reply. Simi
lar thoughts lurked In ljls mind. Ho
peered through the water-seamed win
dows at the squat stumps in the clear
ing, and as he gazed, these charred
boles became transformed. The gray
and black landscape dissolved Into a
mob-like body o'f men rushing bolt
wise across a soggy field, under a low
sinister sky. From the distant fringe
ot trees flashed dashes and dots of fire,
th" signal code of death, and above the
branches of the trees trailed long gos
samer scarfs of smoke. Then the scene
slilfted. The clearing still stretched
before his eyes; but there were no
long lines of men sweeping like blue
waves across the spongy sod, no smoke
eddying above the treetops on the
slope of the hill. But, scattered over
the field, were fantastic shapes, ghast
ly, motionless. Arms were bent and
heads were twisted in Incredible posi
tions. Here and there were heaps of
mangled bodies. Mired In the mud
were dismantled guns nnd shattered
caissons, over them lay the huddled
carcasses of horses fallen in harness.
Suddenly a black shape soared over the
distant treetops, followed by a second
shape, then a third; until the sky was
crowded with an ebon army of scaven
gers, croaking lustfully In anticipa
tion of the feast. The tall soldier shiv
ered and shu his eyes from the horror
of It all.
His companion touched his arm.
"wonder how long we're going to
stay in this God-forsaken place?" he
asked.
The tall soldier started at the touch,
and he looked through the. window a
trifle timidly, half expecting to be
hold tho buzzards at their banquet.
But there was the clearing with the
blackened stumps, and the hill with the
trees In the distance.
"I'm glad," he muttered enigmatic
ally.
"tilad of what?" gunted Billy.
The tall soldier faced about In his
seat.
"I'm just glad that I'm alive and in
this train," ho said, simply.
The long crescendo of a whistle float
ed down the track, and the signal was
answered by two staccato blasts from
tho engine on the siding. There was u
sudden swish, that swelled Into a roar
like that of a cataract, and tho Black
Diamond Kxpress shot by as If hurled
from a gigantic catapult, leaving a
clanged, and with a good deal of snort-
HISTORICAL PUZZLE
FOB THE LITTLE ONKS.-Cut
riVii '"5u Pencil mHrunroimrt tho hidden object, save them until Saturday
ftffn ntl tfV"1? t0, TilB '1'rlbl',no ""Ice' In an onve ope , "ddwewd &
T?fbue0Mondarn?o"nl0ngfl,St ln- W,M Lv the,r PufcaVThe
An American woman protects the American Hag. Kind her husband and
slater.
long ribbon of smoke colling through
the nlr. The engine on the switch
gave three shrill whistles'," tlie bell'
Ing nnd putting it rolled " slowly for
ward.' The noise broke Carew's sleep. Ho
straightened up and peered through
the wuter-stnlned windows. '
"I say, Dunk, where In the deuce are
we?"
"Pretly near Rochester, I reckon,"
replied the tail soldier. "Let me take
your folder, Billy, and I'll find out Just
where we nre. I was never over this
road before."
He studied the green sheet, whistling
softly the while.
"Humph! this thing's nil mixed up.
Buffalo branch, Seneca Falls branch,
Wlllard branch, where In the name of
common sense Is Itochester? These
railroad maps arc about as clear as a
Chinese cryptogram. Oli, here we arc.
We left Oeneva nt 7.40, and It's now
8.33. Tljnt brings us to Itochester
Junction. That's the " place wc just
stopped at. We'll be In the city In
twenty-five minutes."
"I suppose there's a deputation of
citizens to meet us," said Carew.
"And a gang or G. A. B.'s with a
brass band, followed by the mayor and
aldermen In carriages," added Billy.
"The procession headed by a squad
of policemen, with drawn clubs to keep
back the crowds," continued Carew.
"Don't build your air castles too
high," oautioned Dunk.
"1 don't Imagine there'll be more than
half the population out to meet us, not
In this kind of weather. And this re
turned soldier business Is about played
out by this tlmp. We're tho third to
get bac'k, you know. And you must
remember that we haven't done any
lighting."
"Worse'n a blooming old home
guard," commented Billy, In a disgust
ed voice.
"That isn't our fault," said Carew.
"But you can't make the people be
lieve that we're worth our salt," said
Dunk. "If we were, why didn't they
put us on the firing line? That's what
people say."
"And that's right," commented Billy.
"We're tin soldiers, and that's all
there Is to It."
Similnr thoughts seemed to be in the
minds of most of the men as the train
drew nearer home. They became silent
and pre-occupicd. Cards were put
away and pipes allowed to cool. Their
resentment was coupled wltn a feeling
of shame. A year before they had
boasted of the great things they would
do in battle. They had inarched forth
with flaunting pride, the heroes of the
hour, their ears deafened by the shouts
nnd (,'heers of thousands. And they
were coming back untried, to take up
the struggle of life where they had
dropped it a year ago.
These' thoughts were in Carew's mind
as he lay back in the seat and watched
the swaying bell-cord, and the rhythm
of the wheels seemed to click over and
over the words, "Didn't fight fight
didn't fight right didn't fight fight."
In his home coming, at least, there
was little reason for elation. His
mother had died since his enlistment,
and his only relative, a sister, lived In
a dlstunL western city. He had few
friends, none of whom was Intimate
enough to feel deeply on tho subject of
his return. He thought of the few
years ho had been bookkeeping In the
bank, and ho experienced a feeling of
dread at the idea of returning to such
a monotonous existence. But he had
his living to make. He could not shirk
this stubborn fact. He remembered
t ho eventful day ho Joined his regi
ment. His fellow clerks were effusive
in tlinlr good-byes, and even the presi
dent, n weak-faced little' .man, who
tried to Impress everyone with his Im
portance, patted him upon tho back,
and made a few stereotyped remarks,
assuring him, in many unnecessary
words, that the Institution was hon
ored by having him numbered among
its employes, and that his position
would be filled bi(t temporarily until
his return. Carew hod thought of
them at night, rolled up In a blanket,
under the Southern sturs, as he listened
to the wind In the pines. He had
thought of them in the thick, greasy
nights that shut in Havana, when the
wind was city-ward and the lonely
battlements to which the dull, throb
bing of the city's IJfe only came faint
ly. He thought of them now, and the
fancies of his brain seemed to find ex
pression In the cllckety-cllck-cllck nf
the wheels. Through the blurred win
dow he caught occasional glimpses of
sodden fields and gnunt trees, and
these, too, were symbolical of the pres
ent, and suggestive of tho future.
Tlie engine grunted up a long grade,
swept around a sharp curve, and
plunged across the unprotected rails
of a sixty-foot' trestle that purred un.
der the weight of the wheels.
Tho tall soldier turned to Carew.
out the pictures anncorlnc on this nacn nnh
"There's the old Genesee, as yellow
aa over," he remarked.
"Home now," said Carew. "There
aro the 'Flats' over yonder. Used to
go swimming there when I wnj a kid."
"Whero nre you going to put up to
night?" Inquired the tall soldier, sud
denly. "Some temperance hotel, I gucssj
they're the cheapest."
"Better go home with me." suggest
ed Dunk, "and rest up for a couple, of
nays neiore going to work."
Carew hesitated.
"I d.on'1 know as 1 ought to," he said,
but the tall soldier brushed away fur
ther objections with a laugh. "You'll
have to, old man. You've got to obey
orders till you got those togs off. Be
sides, there's some A 1 cooks up at
the House, nnd they'll lay themselves
out on today's dinner."
"That argument's too strong for me,"
said Carew.
II.
It was not far from the Lehigh sta
tion to the arsenal; but to tho unkempt
men In shabby uniforms, slouching
through the muddy streets, the march
seemed Interminable. They did not
present a military appearance, burden
ed with baggage, marching In lines of
threes or fours, In ragged nllgnmcnt,
keeping In step only from force of
habit. They carried no guns, nnd the
absence ot weapons made them look
more like a company ot hop pickers
than soldiers. They swore, solemnly at
the rain that drizzled upon them and
nt the mud that clogged their feet.
There was no demonstration of any
kind to' welcome the men back. The
people In the streets through which
they marched paid but little attention
to them, and as for tho men themselves,
they walked wearily along, with .their
heads down and looking neither to the
right nor the left, oppressed by the
weather and by their own thoughts,
liven the captain trudged along at tho
head of his men, his eyes fixed moodily
on the mud, his sword huddled In the
hollow of his arm.
Onco in turning Into a aide street
they delayed a trolley cor, and the mo
torman shook his fist ana swore pic
turesquely. They paid no attention to
this; but when a newsboy called to a
companion, "Say, Jimmy, what's a
soger without a gun?" they winced as
It pinked by a spent bullet.
The gray Avails of tho armory were a
welcome sight, and the men rushed at
a double-quick through the great door
way with the eagerness of sheep that
scramble Into n barn after a long day's
drive. Blankets and bundles were
pitched In all directions, and the men
drew up in a very Irregular line and
answered listlessly to their names as
the adjutant called them from the mus
ter book. . This duty performed, there
Was an awkward minute that seemed
to stretch Into an hour. The men
looked at each other helplessly, and
nervously shuflled their feet. The cap
tain, standing three paces In front of
his Wn, was ill at ease, and he toyed
childishly with his sword.
The alienee became ominous.
The captain cleared his throat, as If
preparing for an oratorical effort. The
men observed' the signal and approved.
"Speech," said a voice.
"Speech," went down the line.
The captain's hand trembled just a
little on the sword hilt. He glanced
longingly at the open door of the offi
cers' headquarters.
"Speech speech speech," Insisted
the soldiers, highly gratified at these
pvldences of their commander's em
barrassment. There was no escape,
"I don't know as I have anything to
say," he began, huskily. "Anyway, not
nt this time. I guess you're all as dis-t
appointed as I am over the way things
have turned out, but we won't com
plain, boys. Hvery one of you has done
his duty, and I don't know but what
It's Just about as fine to serve by wait
ing as it Is t. light. I know what
you've all done, even If the people
don't, and I feel sure that every man
of you would be willing to go through
the same thing again and for no other
reward."
The captain wheeled around and
faced the faded colors that draped the
wall. There was no embarrassment In
his manner now. He stood erect, mo
tionless. Then his right hand, holding
the sword, swept above his head. His
hand was lowered slowly to the level
of his face; it moved outward, thn
blade describing a downward curve. It
was a soldier's salute to his flag.
The crooked file straightened Instinct
ively. Boot heels clicked, and shoul
ders were thrown back." Then,' with the
precision of a machine, every arm
swung upward to salute, and every
head was bared.
The captain faced about. The arms
of the men fell like levers to their
sides.
"Attention, company!"
There was a slight ripple In the thin
blue line.
"Break ranks!" v
But before the command was obeyed
the center of the line bulged outward.
One of the soldiers staggered forward,
his hands clutching at tlie blue hand
kerchief about his throat. He reeled
like a drunken man, and then dropped
headlong to the lloor.
tThc men crowded around the pros
trate figure. The captain forced his
way through tho blue circle.
"Fall back, men!" he ordered, "ulvo
him nlr."
The soldiers obeyed instantly.
"Who Is It?" he asked.
"Carew," answered a dozen voices.
Tho captain made a hurried examina
tion. When he rose to his feet his face
wns very grave.
"Sergeant," he said, "telephone at
once .for the ambulance. And don't al
low a man to leave the building."
III.
It was well Into the middle of tho
summer before Carew was discharged
Jrom the isolated building In which the
out-patients were confined and pro
moted to the convalescent ward. On
pleasant dnys he was strapped In an
Invalid's chair and trundled over the
closely cropped lawn; and when his at
tendant became too Indolent for this
exercise, ho was left under a wide
spreading maple, where ho lay baclc
contentedly, watching the blue patches
nf sky that showed between the
branches, listening to the chatter of
sparrows and tho strident minstrelsy
of mid-summer Insects. It had been a
long and gallant struggle against the
ravages of yellow fever, but Carew's
naturally vigorous constltutlpn won
the light. Wind and sun medlclncd
him back gradually to health, and with
each day he felt an Improvement In
his strength. The blood welled slowly
Into the shrunken veins and arteries,
bringing a color to his drawn face, like
the sap that brings the green back to
tlie trees In the sprlifg.
With tho return of health came the
old desire to tako part again the af
i ' i -. i
INVAKIIA
for .K&vfgirFOR
mm m K?' mam
K IPi-W W
IhftBITA F00
BATI LE CREEK, MICH.
Don't accept inferior products that are counterfeiting the name. A startling novelty, a sample
package of Tryabita and a Doll Receipt Book FREE for your grocer's name and a 2-cenJ: stamp,
TRYAB1TA FOOD CO., Ltd. - - ' - Battle Creek, Mich
fairs of the workVa-day world; so tho
day after leaving the hospital Carew
went down to the bank, cheerful In tho
anticipation of the welcome that would
be his from his old business associates.
There wns Brown, the assistant ac
countant. They used to lunch together
every day. There was Wilson, the toll
er, and Jephson, his assistant, and
l.oomls, tho note-teller all good fel
lows. Then he thought of tho pompous
speech with which the president would
Install him Into his old place. Such
reflections were In harmony with the
mellow brightness of the morning, and,
as he walked toward the business cen
ter of the city, he squared his shoulders
and dropped into the familiar military
swing.
It was with a feeling of getting back
home that he climbed the narrow
brownstono steps ot tho Cits bank, and
he found pleasure In lounging In tho
hallway and gazing at the busy scene
before his eyes. It was a familiar
sight to watch Wilson, in tho teller's
cage, raking In and shoving out gold
and greenbacks with the rapidity and
precision of a machine. There was no
hesitation In his movements; the flex
ible fingers skimmed each note as light
ly as a swallow's wing flecks the sui'J
face of a stream. In the rear of the
room, Jephson was struggling with a
ponderous ledger, Brown was perched
upon a high stool, intent upon a page
of figures, l-oo mis was sweating in
his cell-like oflice, arguing with delin
quents who wanted their notes re
newed. There wns a lull In the business at
the teller's window, and Carew crowd
ed eagerly up to the grntlng.
"Hello, Will, how goes It?" ho said,
his lace beaming with pleasure.
AVIIson was scribbling llgures nn a
small pad. He looked up with a frown.
"What can I do for you?" he asked,
coldly.
"Don't you know me, Will? Oh!
That's rich."
The teller looked nt him sharply.
"I never, saw you," was his curt re
ply, as ho returned to his figures.
Carew was Just a little embarrassed.
"I haven't looked in a glass for sev
eral months," 'he said, slowly, "hut tho
last ,tlme I did I recognized myself as
Jliuiiiie Carew."
The teller looked up quickly.
"You .Ilmmlc Carew?" he exclaimed.
"Well, I never would have. believed It."
Carew laughed.
"Well, I guess a year's soldiering and
three months In the hospital nre enough
to change anyone's looks," ho ex
plained. "Is that so? Been In tho hospital?
What was the trouble?"
"Yellow fever,"
"Phew! you don't say? AVcll, you're
lucky to be on earth."
"So the doctors said,"
"How're you feeling now?"
"Tip-top nev.er hotter In my life,
And I'm anxious to get back to my
desk again. I've come to the conclu
sion that there are worse places than
a bank, .if tor all. It'll seem a little
strango at first to buckle down to regu
lar business hours, but I'll soon got tho
hang of It."
"I suppose you know that Brown's
been doing your work?" Wllhou asked.
"I'm glad nf that," answered ('a row,
"for ho won't mind my coming back,"
"1 don't believe Brown will like It
any loo well," said AVIIson, dubiously,
"Just move aside a minute, plcahe,
What can I do for you, Mr. Johnson?"
A large, pompous man, flourishing a
heavy cane, strutted up to the window
and presented a check.
"(live mo thoXcnsh for this, AVIIson,"
"Yes, sir," said the teller, politely,
picking up a bulky packugo of green
backs, nnd moistening his fingers on a
sponge. "Small or largo bills?"
Carow was a llttlo crestfallen as ho
backed away,, from the plate-glass
ledge; for ho was not Insensible to tho
lack of cordiality In Wilson's manner
and words, but he did not attach any
particular significance to them; so put
ting unpleasant thoughts usldo ho mado
his way back of tho glided grating and
announced himself to his friends. Jeph
son was glad to see him, and asked him
two or three perfunctory questions:
then tho conversation flickered and
went out. laiomls had time only to
shake hands nnd say he would see him
later. Brown was vlslhly uneasy,
"Aro you out of the army for good?"
he Inquired.
"Oh, yes," nnswered Carew, "I was
mustered out four months ao."
"What aro you going to doV" asked
Brown, rather nervously,
"Coming back to the bank," an
swered Carew,
-rHm m m jjm
BBl BBBBB BBBBBBBBBBJr BBBBBBBBr
D COoLIMITEfc
"And put me out of a Job?" ex
claimed the accountant, flushing angri
ly. "That'll be a dirty trick, Jimmy."
"How so, Fred?" Carew replied, sur
prised at his friend's words. "You'll
go back Into your old place, of course."
"Not much I won't," retored Brown,
with a bitter laugh. "I filled your place
all right and I'll quit the bank if I
have to give It up."
"I'm sorry, old man, that you feel
that way about it," said Carew, grave
ly, "but you know that I went away
with the understanding that I was to
como back here."
"Well, 1 won't argue It with you,"
said Brown, "and I won't give it up
without a fight."
Carew made his way quickly to the
president's olllce. That official did not
appear to recognize him, so Carew In
troduced himself.
"Carew? I'm-ah, yes, let me sec
what did you do?'1 he asked, fingering
his watch chain.
"I was bookkeeper, sir," nnswered
Carew, shortly.
"Yes., yes, to be sure. Stupid of me
to forget. That was some time ago, I
believe."
"A year and a half ago."
"Yes, yes; and why did yon leave?"
Carew's pale face flushed crimson.
"I enlisted for the war," he answered
brusquely.
"So you did, so you did," said the
president, serenely. "I remember. H'm
very creditable very."
"I would like to resume my duties
In the bank," said Carew, coming to
the point without any further delay.
The president leaned back In his
chair and studied his russet shoes as
if they were financial charts. He
rubbed the palms of his hands together
softly.
"Ah, yes; quite natural, quite nat
ural," he said, blandly.
Carew waited In silence.
"Let me see," murmured tho presi
dent, "who Is filling your old place?"
".Mr. Brown."
"Brown, yes, sn he Is. I believe that
he fills it acceptably, very acceptably.
Ho does alone what It usea to toko two
men to accomplish."
"I can do the work alone."
"No doubt, no doubt; but I do not
think It would be just fair to Brown,
to remove lilm. Ho has done his work'
faithfully, and"
"Under the circumstances I can see
no unfairness in It," Carew Interrupted.
"And what nre the circumstances,
may I ask?" The president's expres
sion Implied nervous annoyance under
a thin veil of polite Indifference.
"Thn promise that I should have my
old position when I came back."
The president raised his eyebrows
slightly.
"Ah, Indeed," he said, coldly. "And
did I promise you that?"
"A'ou did." Carew's face was nllnmc.
"Itcally, I have no recollection of any
such .matter," continued tho president,
with the faintest suggestion of a sneer,
nnd raising his eyes till they met Ca
rew's like leveled lances,
"I have n distinct recollection of It,
sir," replied Carow.
The banker shrugged his shoulders.
"Quite likely It would be to your-in-
terest to hnve," he snld with sarcastic
emphasis.
"What do you mean by that?" de
manded Carew, clinching his hands,
anil resisting a surging Inclination to
strike the man before him.
"You may make your own Inference,
Mr, Carew," was the cool rejoinder, as
the president resumed his writing,
"But I don't understand," began Ca
rew, but the president cut him short,
"There Is nothing more to say on tho
subject," he said, tartly, "my time is
valuable, (iood morning."
After a month of tramping about the
vlty In search of work t'arew came to
the conclusion that ho was not needed
In tho world except as they need su
pers In a big production Just to till in.
Ho had learned In this short timo that
the earth's big brown breast Is not al
ways kind to the children who cling to
it for sustenance.
It had been a long day and a dis
agreeable one, tho cold autumn rain
having fallen since daylight. He had
spent his last money for a roll and a
cup of coffee, early In tho day, and
now It was late In the afternoon. Ills
pa co slackened, his shoulders began
steadily to droop, and his arms hung
listlessly besldo him, and every move
ment betokened weariness great
wearlnets. His clothes were wet
through and. heavy, and he was faint
from hunger. As he shuflled along the
slippery pHVcipents, there was In his
BATTLE CREEK
THE GREAT
PURE FOOD TOWN
Has a population of 26,00Cf.
Over thirty Pure Food Con
cerns are located there. Il'
follows that Battle . Creek
people know all about Pure
Food, and it may interest
you to know that ovr
20,000 Battle Creeklaru
breakfast dally on
TRYABITAFOOD
It is the only ready -to -eat
wheat flake cereal that is
scientifically prepared and
impregnated with pipsll) and
CBfory, and its the only food
that employs specially selec.
ted Union Labor in its manu
facture. A Great Big Pack
age Costs 15c and con
tains more substantial
nourishment than 10 lbs.
of Porter House Steak,
and any stomach can di
gest it.
crouching gait a desire to escape un
noticed. He was slouching along when his ey
was attracted by a brightly colored
poster in the hallway of a business
block. On a pink background wag
printed In black letters the following
words:
WANTED Men of good character, b-
tween the ages of 18 and 35 to enlist In
the United States army.
Below this sign was a small placard
which read:
Recruits wanted for the Philippines.
He glanced swiftly up and down
the street, as if ashamed of what he
was going to do. But no one was
watching him, and he slipped Into the
building, and climbed carefully up a
flight of creaky stairs.
The door of the recruiting office was
open, and a young officer was writing
at r$ desk. He glanced up hastily as
he heard the sound of footsteps In the
room.
VWell?" he questioned, sharply.
Carew saluted.
"I want to enlist," he said. Rochester
Post-Express.
A CLEAN JOB OJ7 IT.
The Bank Cashier Got Away witE
the Whole Assets.
From the New Orleans Times-Democrat.
Speaking of bank robbe'rles, the most
remarkable case I have ever known was
In a small Texas town near the Mexican
line," said an old reporter, "and the
man who figured In it was an old
schoolmate of mine. He was a good fel
low, and had worked his way up to the
position of cashier. It was in one of the
more prosperous towns and the bank
was doing an Immense business on ac
count of the adjacency of some of the
largo cattle ranches. The bank was
under the supervision of the federal
government, and the Inspectors had
been around at intervals, and had al
ways found the institution in a flourish
lug condition, and with the accounts
of the cashier In good order. But it
was all a trick In bookkeeping, yet one
of those tricks which frequently fool
the examiners. The fact wasthat the
cashier had been carrying on a system
of speculations for four or Ave years,
nnd was hopelessly In the hole. One
day the examiner dropped In, and went
over the books, counted the cash on
hand, checked up the bills receivable,
and all that sort of thing, and found
everything on the square apparently..
But the cashier was feeling a little wor
ried. Ho thought the examiner had a
suspicious look. The examiner left for
some little town near by. The next
evening the cashier happened to be near
the depot when tho train came in. He
saw tne examiner get ore. He Knew
tills meant something. He told his wife
about tlie whole thing, told her he, was
hopelessly In the hole, that he was near
ly a million dollars short, and he would
have to leave. But before going he
visited tlie bank nnd opened tlie vaults,
and when he got through he had $300,000
or 5400,000 In his trunk. He left for
Mexico. There was no treaty at the
time covering the offense of embezzle
ment, and he knew besides that he
could protect himself ut all hazards.
Tho examiner went nround to the bank
the next morning, thinking that he
would surprise the cashier. The cashier
had switched the tables. Tho vaults
were empty, I think the examiner
found, air told, about $1.85 In the bank,
The cashier had the balance, and was
out of reach, (lullty conscience had
quickened the cashier's sense of danger,
and he leaped Just In time to miss the
penitentiary, He was finally located In
Mexico, and an ofllcer from Texas ar
rested htm. but the Mexican authorities
would not give the olllcer a place to
Imprison the fugitive, and I suppose he
Is still across the border, prospering on
the money he pilfered,"
A DUMAS STORY,
Among the numerous Dumas stories1
that have been resuscitated because of
the recent centenary, says tho New
York Commercial Advertiser, Is that
which tells of tho time when the man
who made 1.000,000 francs by his pen
and spent It all lay on his deathbed,
attended by his son,
"Look through my escritoire," said
tho dying man, "and see how much
money there Is In It."
A thorough search produced the sum
of .thirty francs.
"Theic!" exclaimed Dumas, with a
flicker of his old triumphant fun,
"When I first came to Paris I had Just
forty fruncs, and you see I have thirty
left. And yet they Bay that I have been
extravagant!"