The weekly Butte record., 1867-10-05
Bullet-MaIks.
A WIMBLEDON STORY.

VII, myself We were drinking pale ale, and >fn0-
king every one else in the hundreds around
Here's to nv last bulls eve" snd the sergeant
produced from his shot pouch a fattened bullet,
turned inside out as neatly as possible.
Whats the cause of all that wonder, said the
corporal.
You see,' said the captain-being engineer
be bound to knoy-"when the point of the
bullet strikes the target, part of the lead is melted
by the development of heat caused by the sudden
arrest Of the bullets motion. and goes OF in the
splash the rest of the bullet is softened by the
heat and inasmuch as the parts must stop in their
order of succession, the edge OF the cup Of the
bullet is driven in level with the base OF the cup.
Is that so. Major.
Yes, quite right; but if you like can spin you
yarn about these said bullets, that may just last
out these weeds"
"Well, let's have it,
had sort of second cousin. Gerald Ashton
who had been brought up with myself and sister
my father being his guardian.
We had all been like brothers and sister, when
one day he woke up TO find he could not live with
out nearer relationship to her. He spoke TO the
old gentleman and there little family fracas.
He had only hundred year and my father did
not think that was enough, though Gerald did;
there was no objection at all in other aespects-let
him earn some more and they would see-wait
ttlc-you know the kind Of thing an old gentle
man would saw Well. it was of no use. He said
his energies, and he would gO-and GO he did.
| urged upon him that he should get something
to do. He had been well educated. and cerkship
or something of the kind. could be got for him if
he still resolved not to go on at the hospital.
No-he would go. There was one thing he did
do well. that was shoot; and he would carry his
abilities to market where they would be appreci-
ated. And so, at the mature age OF twenty-five, he
left US, his profession, his home and his prospects.
He disappeared. and six months afterwards We
arl he W. he Ira
We wrote and offered TO buy his discharge. but
he would "have none of us. He liked it very well;
was already c0rporal expected the three stripes
soon; and was Gentleman Jack with his COM
rades.
Some six months after this | was sent out to In
dia with a company: and as my sister was getting
thin, and showing other signs of the Gesirabilty of
a sea voyage, and OF a warm climate, 1t was agreed
that should take her
We reached Calcutta, and in few weeks settled
down.
There was war going on and | was placed in
charge Of one of the chief depots for small arms
and ammunition. besides having my regular duties
with the company.
One day was down at the store. when my sis
ter arrived pale and breathless
Look Charles, poor Gerald is in dreadful trou
ble.''
put her into an office chair, AMI took the news
paper and read
yesterday evening an officer of the 10th dra
COON guards returning to camp. he shot
ftam behind clump Of bushes; the bullet struck
him in the thigh and lodged in the saddle. Altho
wounded severely, he had sufficient presence of
mind to ride straight to the bushes and there found
of his own men, corporal of the troop. nick
named Gentleman Jack by his comrades whose
rifle still smoking from the discharge. Furtu-
nately. al the man was at once arrested. court
martial will of course. be held at once and. atho
the man has previously borne a good character
and is reported to be respectfully connected, it is To
be hoped he will receive the proper reward for so
abominabe crime.
co. said. this is all nonsense Gerald S no
murderer, else he very much changed I'll see
what they say at hsadqusrterS.'
"Do for Gods sake, go. II anything happened
Gerald should never forgive myself for if had
runaway with him when papa was so cruel, he never
would have enlisted at all"
| went to head quarters; they gave me permission
TO use the telegraph for question or two The re-
port was not encouraging.
II was our Gerald.-an officer had seen the flash
and heard the report,-an extremely loud report
as it there had been two charges of powder in the
carbne.
The ballet was found in the saddle and one car.
fridge was missing from his twenty rounds. Conrt
martial had declared him guilty and the generals
confirmation oi the sentence had just arrived. Fif-
ty lasheS in the camp square and four years I'M
prisnnment in the civil il. Sentence 10 he car
RED ont on the 18th. Everybody was sorry bat
quite convinced that he tried to murder his superior
officer. No one could understand with what mo-
tive.
did not know what to think: there was more
evidence forthcoming in day or two, when we had
the papers
His statement in defence was that he had ius:
been returning from guard, when he remembered
that he had forgotten t. bring in book one Of the
officers had asked him to bring in from the town
some three miles distant. Without stopping TO
think he walked off at once got the book. and was
within a halt mile OF the camp. when he fancied
he saw tiger. He got behind the bushes 10 watch,
and saw one making for the distant camp. Anx-
ous TO secure the prize he incautiously broke open
one Of his packages and loaded, to have shot at
it. He had covered the beast. and was firing at
the tiger. when he heard another report simulta-
neously with that Of his own carbne. He the
tiger roll over As if shot, and then bound away. In
another instant the officer came round the slope
hlee ling. sna ordered him INTO arrest. He was
quite sure he hit the tiger, and equally sure that
a other rife fired At the same moment that be
pulled the trigger.
of course such a lame statement had no effect.
and he was sentenced.
| could not help thinking that there was flaw
in the evidence. How was it. il there was, As
agreed A loud report which meant fall charge
OF powder,-that the bullet stopped at the saddle,
instead of going through both saddle and horse
That was great diScrepancv,-a ful charge would
have made loud report. and sent uSht through
anything at distance OF 200 yards felI there
was something wrong and made up mind to 20
on the spot | had hut six days to go in. but much
might De done. Margaret INSISTED on gong with
NE in spite Of all l could do TO keep her away.
Have ] not done all YOU wished me to do since
we have been out here Do, for Heavens sake
let me have my way in this
So we went up the country in post haste.
] was of course as one of the staff admitted to
to see Gerald. whom | found terribly cut up.
- don't mind the Imprisonment It's the dis
gracel The lashesl BY Godi | shall Kill myself
directly get loose after it. know SHALL
No no, said MeCgie don't, for my sake.
O Gerald, If YOU knew how ! have Suffered for
weeks past. you would live for my sake. do not
care about the brand Of the lashes. | know you
buuder committed in this matter. o. Willie dear
do think Of something to save him.
20, do, there's 4 good fellow! set me some
stuff that will make an end Of me-
Don't talk Ike that. Gerald there's some in
fsraal mistake in il. Don't despair vet Let go
over the ground again. step by step" and l made
him tell ne the whole story over again.
Ii seems 10 ne. Gerald, We want not few
things Ia show YOU not guilty. We want the tig
you shot at and that We sbaat get and We want
the clew 10 the mystery Of the other rifle"
90 I've thought Of il all till I'm sick. don't
care What happens now. TIL wait till the day he
fore its 10 come of, and thea break my head
assir>. the walls
:. Dent be q fool, Gerald! In snre You are III
noceut. So Is Margaret.
Yes 50 are 4 hundred others; bat its all no
Use. In three days ! am disgraced tor life. il
live
Well, must leave vou now. and see Whist
can do
Let me have i've minutes with Meggie. will
you, =
/ LETT them alone some ten minutes, and then Iold
Mecgie She mast 20 home with me.
E., -Ar- - r--a-