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THE

GUARDSMAN

Ster drill, and helped them, so far as they to be helped, in disposing of their arms and Jutrements.

He was looking on now at Hal, talking with him, making suggestions and comments, commending him for the excellence of his work. Of the two boys he liked Hal the better. For Hal was always kind to him, and very considerate, and treated him just as though he were already the bona fide enlisted man that he expected some day to be; while Ben, aside from directing him, on occasion, to perform some small service, was dignified and distant, and had little to say to him.

So to-night, save for an occasional side glance, Chick was paying little attention to Private Barriscale. But when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ben, with his rifle resting across his knees, begin to rub the spot of rust on the barrel with a square of emery paper, the boy's attention was in-. stantly attracted, and his interest aroused. He looked on increduiously for a moment, then, apparently unable to restrain his criticism, he walked across the room to where Ben was sitting.

"Excuse me!" he said, saluting as he approached, "but that ain't no way to git rust spots off'n a rifle bar'l."

Private Barriscale looked up in amazement. He was not accustomed to being criticized by a company hanger-on, and, besides, things had not gone

well at the drill, and he was not in a particularly genial mood.

"What? What's that you say?" he demanded sharply.

"I say," responded Chick, “as that ain't no way to clean a rifle bar'l. You shouldn't ever ought to clean a rifle bar'l with emery."

"What business is it of yours how I clean my rifle?"

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Why, I s'pose 't ain't none o' my business. But I know 't no one can't clean his rifle bar'l with no emery paper, cause it's ag'inst the rules."

Well, when I want your advice I'll tell you. In the meantime suppose you confine your admonitions to your friend across the room.'

Chick was not angry nor resentful. He felt that he had done his duty by a new recruit. If his advice was not acceptable it was not his fault.

"Excuse me!" he said. "I didn't have no intention o' buttin' in. I just wanted you to know what I know about cleanin' rifle bar'ls. I al'ays try to help the rookies out, best I kin."

Then, indeed, Ben's wrath blazed up. To be called a "rookie" by this inconsequential camptrotter was more than he could stand. He jumped to his feet and brought the butt of his rifle to the floor with a crash.

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"You leave this room!" he shouted. You've no business here! You're a meddler and a fool!"

Chick stood staring at the angry youth in amazement. He could not understand why his well-intentioned advice should have brought forth such a burst of wrath. Still less could he understand why he should be ordered to leave a room in which, so far as he knew, he had been welcome as a friend and helper for the last three years. Nor could Halpert McCormack understand it. Or, if he did dimly understand the cause of Barriscale's wrath he could have no sympathy with him in his angry outburst. Up to this moment he had been a silent witness to the affair. Now he felt that it was just to Chick, and due to his own self-respect, that he should take a hand in it.

"You don't have to go, Chick," he said quietly. "I've as much authority here as Barriscale has, and I tell you to stay."

Ben's face, already flushed with anger, turned scarlet now. For a moment he could not find words with which to express his indignation. But when he did speak it was apparent that the current of his wrath had changed and was setting violently toward Hal.

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What business is it of yours," he demanded, "what orders I give to this intermeddling runt?"

"It's my business," replied Hal, " because you've no right to give such orders. Besides, Chick wasn't intermeddling; he intended to do you a favor."

"Me? Do me a favor?" He spoke in a voice and manner of infinite scorn.

"Yes. He was entirely right when he said it was improper and against the rules to use emery paper on your rifle barrel. A little oil, a piece of soft wood, and a woolen rag will remove a spot of rust effectually and save the finish on your barrel.”

If Hal had thought to appease his comrade's wrath by this explanation, he soon discovered his error. Barriscale was more violently angry than before.

“ Who set you up,” he shouted, " as an instructor in the care of arms?"

McCormack was still calm.

'No one," he replied. "I've simply studied my regulations, and Chick taught me, a week ago, how to remove rust."

Oh, Chick taught you, did he? Major-General Chick! No wonder you've made a bosom friend of him! It seems to be the height of your ambition to make boon companions of anarchists and fools!"

This was his parting shot. He put his rifle in its place in the rack with a bang, flung his cleaning appliances into his locker and snapped the door shut, and then, white with unreasonable rage, he left the room.

IT

CHAPTER VI

was late in the spring following the enlistment of Halpert McCormack and Ben Barriscale in Company E. Ben's father, for whom the boy had been named, was well satisfied with his son's predilection toward military service, and looked to see him make rapid promotions. Mr. Barriscale was still favorably disposed toward the National Guard. As president of the Barriscale Manufacturing Company he was a large employer of both skilled and unskilled labor. There had been times when differences of opinion between him and his employees had reached the verge of a strike, with possible violence and disorder looming up in the distance. Such times might occur in the future. No one could tell. If they should occur, and if there should be any serious outbreak, an outbreak beyond the power of the local police or the state constabulary to quell, then the safety of a half million dollars' worth of property might depend on the prompt and efficient action of the soldiers of the National Guard.

It had been demonstrated, time and again, that the military are always masters of the mob. This fact may have accounted to some extent for Mr.