The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-22

afle on it and blow away all the head in a
flash. Losson had no right to be sleek and
contented and we'll to-do when he (Sim-
mons) was the butt of the room. Some
laughed at the Simmons, ye so-oor," joke
that he was as good as the rest and held a
mans life in the crook of his forefnger.
When Losson snored Simmons hated him
more bitterly than ever. Why should Los
son be able to sleep when Simmons had to
stay awake hour after hous, tossing and
turning, with the dull pain, gnawing into
his right side and his head throbbinR and
aching after canteen? He thought over
this many many nights, and the world be.
his naturally fine appetite with beer and
Tobacco, and all the while the parrot talked
at and made mock of HIM.
| The heat continued and the tempers
wore away more quickly than before.
sergeant's wife died suddenly of heat ap-
oplexy in the night, and the rumor ran
abroad that it was cholera. Men rejoiced
openly, hoping that it would spread and
send them into camp. But that was a false
alarm.
men were waiting in the deep double veran-
das for Last Posts,' when Simmons went
to the box at the foot of his bed, took out
his pipe. and slammed the lid down with a
bang that echoed through the deserted bar
racks like the crack of rife. Ordinarily
|
tice, hut their nerves were fretted to fiddle
strings. They jumped up, and three or
four clattcred into the barrack-room, only
to find Simmons kneeling by his box.
"Ow! it's you, is it," they said. and
laughed foolishly; we thought 'twas''-----
had SO shaken his fellows, what would not
the reality do?
'You thought it was, did you? And what
makes you think?'' he sail, lashing himself
| into madness as he went on, ITO - with
your thinking, ye dirty spies.''
.'Simmons, We so-oor," chuckled the par
rot in the veranda, sleepily, recognizing n
we'll known voice. And that was absolutely
all.
| The tension snapped. Simmons fel!
back on the arm-rack deliberately; the men
were at the far end of the room, and took
out his rifle and ammunition. Don't go
playing with the goat. Sim!' said Losson
"put it down." but there was a culver in
his voice. Another man stopped, slipped
his boot and hurled it at Simmons's head.
random. found its billet in Lessons throat.
Losson fell without Il word and the others
scattered.
You thought it was!' yelled Simmons,
''You're drivin' me to it! l tell you you're
drivin' me to i'll Get up, Losson, an don't
lie shammin' there-you and your blasted
parrit that druv me to it!'
But there was an Unaffected reality about
Lessons pose that showed Simmons what
he had d,ne. The men were still ciamor-
ing IN the veranda. Simmons appropri-
ated two more packets OF ammunition and
make night Of it. Thirty roun's an the
last for myself. Take you that, You dogs"'
He dropped on one knee and fired into
the brown OF the men in the veranda, but
the bullet flew high and landed in the
brickwork with vicious phwit that made
| nf m n
as musketry theorists observe, one thing to
fire and another to be fired at.
Then the instinct OF the chase lared up.
The news spread from barrack to bar
rack, and the men doubled out, intent on
the capture of Simmons, the wild beast,
who was heading for the c avalry parade
ground, stopping now and again to send
back a shot and curse in the direction OF
his pursuers.
"I'll learn you to spy on me!' he shouted
Come on, the 'ole lot o. you. Colonel John
Anthony Deever, y. B.!'-he turned toward
the infantry mess and shook his riAe-'You
, think yourself the devil of man-but tel
you that If you put your ugly old carcass
outside O that door I'll make you the poor
est lookin' man in the army. Come out
{ Colonel John Anthony Deever, G. B.! Come
out and see me practiss on the range Tn
. the crack shot of the ole bloomin' battal
ion." In proof of which statement Sim
mons fired at the lighted windows of the
mess house.
."Private Simmons, Il comp'ny, on the
cavalry p'rade ground. sir, with thirt,
rounds" said a sergeant, breathlessly, tc
the colonel. ''Shootin' right and lef', sir
Shot Private Losson. What's to be done,
sir?''
Colonel John Anthony Deever. B. c., sal
lied out, only to be saluted by asplit Of dust
at his feet.
"Pull up!'' said the second in command
II don't want my step in that way, Colonel
He's as dangerous as Il mad dog"
"Shoot him like one, then" said the col
onel bitterly, "if he won't take his chance.
My regiment. too! If it had been the Tow
heads could have understood"
Private Simmons had occupied strong
position near we'll on the edge of the par
AIDE ground, and was defyihg the regiment
to comply with the request, for there il
small honor in being shot by fellow-pri-
vate. Only Corporal Slane, rifle in hand
threw himself down on the ground ant
wormed his way toward the well.
Don't shoot" he said to the men arount
him; like as not you'll lit me. I'll catcl
3 the beggar livin'.'
' Simmons ceased shouting for awhile, ant
I the noise of the trap-wheels could be hears
/ across the plain. Major Oldyne, oommand
: from dinner in the civil lines; was driv
ing after his usual custom--that is, as fas
9 rs the horse could go.
4 "An OFFICER! A blooming. spangle,
q orf'cerr' shrieked Simmons. "I'll make
J. scarecrow of that orf'cer!'' The ira
d Whats this?' demanded the major G
: gunners. You there. drop Your rifle"
g "Why. it's Jerry Blazes. l amt got n
: quarrel with YOU. Jerry Blazes. Pass, frien
v an all's well!''
+ But Jerry Blazes had not the faintest il
4 teution of passing a dangerous murdere
II He was. as his adoring battery swore Ion
d and fervently, without knowledge of fea
II and they were surely the best judges, Il
', Jerry Blazes, it was notorious, had done h
II best possible to kill a man each time IL
It battery went out.
He walked toward Simmons with the il
d tention of rushing him and knocking hill
1t down. Don't make me do it, sir,'' sal
II Simmons; / amt got nothing aQin yo,
m All! you would?''-the major broke into
Is run-",fake that. then"'
a The major dropped with bullet throue
~ his shoulder, and Simmons stood over hin
"a He had lost the satisfaction of killing Lo
1t son in the desired way, but here was hell
"a less body to his hand. Should he slip
10 another cartridge and blow off the head,
with the butt smash in the white face?
10 stopped to consider, and cry went up fro
ne the far side of the parade ground: He
ID killed Jerry Blazes!" But in the shelter
&c the we'll pillars Simmons was safe exce]
y: when he stepped out to fire. I'm blow v
70, handsome cad of, Jerry Blazes," said Sir