THE GUARDSMAN [Illustration: THE KNIFE DROPPED FROM THE MAN’S HAND] The Guardsman By HOMER GREENE _Author of “The Flag,” “Pickett’s Gap,” etc._ [Illustration] PHILADELPHIA GEORGE W. JACOBS & COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1919, by GEORGE W. JACOBS & COMPANY _All rights reserved_ Printed in U. S. A. List of Illustrations The knife dropped from the man’s hand _Frontispiece_ “I will go to-day, Mr. Barriscale,” responded Hal _Facing p. 154_ He helped to lift Chick into the car _Facing p. 302_ The Guardsman CHAPTER I Hallowe’en! Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name. But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken. It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones. But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny. Convincing evidence of such transfers may be seen in almost every block. The boys of the city of Fairweather were not different from the boys of other American cities and villages in this respect. So it was that on Hallowe’en in the year 1909, groups of these young citizens, on mischief bent, were plainly visible to the discerning eye. In the well-lighted and peopled streets they paraded boisterously, through the darker ways they stole quietly with whispered words. It was not a pleasant night to be out, rain had fallen during the day, and with the cessation of the storm had come a mist that shrouded the town, blurred the lights, and made the wet air heavy and lifeless. A small group of boys, perhaps a half dozen, ranging in age from twelve to sixteen years, moved quietly up a side street and approached the business quarter of the city. If they had been in mischief the evidences of it were not visible among them. If they contemplated mischief, only a reader of minds could have discovered that fact.