The Guardsman

"The Guardsman" by Homer Greene is a story set in the early 1900s, where young Halpert McCormack and his friend Benjamin Barriscale stir up trouble on Hallowe'en in their town. Their pranks begin with moving a cobbler's sign but quickly escalate when they decide to steal a marble statue from Barriscale's own fountain, leading to an accident that breaks the statue and presents them with moral challenges. The narrative explores themes of friendship, social status, accountability, and maturity as Hal and his friends must confront the consequences of their actions.