Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-07-03

way. colonel. He's as dangerous as
mad dog" =,
"Shoot him like one, then" said the
colonel bitterly, .'if he won't take his
chance. Ny regiment, tool II 1t nad
been the Towheads | could have under
stood
Private Simmons had occupied strong
position near a well on the edge OF the
parade ground. and was defying the
regiment to come on. The regiment
was not anxious to comply with the re-
quest, for there is. small honor in being
shot by a fellow-private. Only Corporal
Slane, rifle in hand, threw himself down
on the ground and wormed his way
toward the well.
"Don't shoot" said he to the men
round him; " like as not you'll 1T me.
/ I'll catch the beggar livin'.
Simmons ceased shouting for awhile,
and the noise of trap wheels could be
heard across the plain. Major Oldyne,
commanding the Horse Battery, was COM
ing back from a dinner in the civil lines;
was driving after his usual custom
/ that is to say, as fast as the horse could
( go.
IAN orf'ceri A blooming, spangled
orf'cerl' shrielxed Simmons; '1'll make
a scarecrow of that orf'cerw The trap
stopped.
"What's this9" demanded the major
of the gunners "You, there, drop your
rifle
''Why, it's Jerry Blazes. amt got
no quarrel with you, Jerry Blazes. Pass,
frien', an all's wellln
But Jerry Blazes had not the faintest
intention OF passing dangerous muir
dcrer. He was, as his adoring battery
swore long and fervently, without
knowledge Of fear. and they were surely
the best Judges, for Jerry Blazes, it was
notorious. had done his best possible
to kill a man each time the battery went
out.
He walked toward Simmons with the
intention of rushing him and knocking
him down
Don't make me do it, sir" said Sim
mons; II amt got nothing agin you. Ali
you would g'-the major broke into run
Take that, thenr'
The major dropped with bullet
through his shoulder, and Simmons
stood over him. He had lost the salts
faction of killing lesson in the desired
way; but here was a helpless body to
his hand. Should he slip in another
cartridge and blow off his head, or with
the butt smash in the white facet He
stopped to consider, and cry went up
from the far side Of the parade ground:
Hes killed Jerry Bazes' But in the
shelter OF the well-pillars Simmons was
safe, except when he stepped out to fire.
"Ill blow yer 'andsome 'ead off, Jerry
Blazes, said Simmons reiectively; 'ssix
an three Is nine an one is ten, au' that
leaves me another nineteen, an one for
myself" He tugged at the string of the
second packet of ammunition. Corporal
Slane crawled out of the shadow Of a
bank in the moonlight.
II see youm said Simmons; "come
bit furder on an I'll do for you.n
'I'm comin',n said Corporal Slane,
briefly; ''you done bad days work,
Sim. Come out ere an come back with
me-
"Come to - laughed Simmons,
sending a cartridge home with his thumb.
''Not before I've settled you an Jerry
Blazes."
The corporal was lying at full length
in the dust Of the parade ground, rife
under him. Some of the less cautious
men in the distance shouted: "Shoot
iml Shoot i'm, Slanem
s'You move and or foot, Slane,n said
Simmons, San I'll kick Jerry Blazes'
head in, an shoot you AFTER
II amt movin',m said the corporal,
raising his head; 'you daren't it man
on is legs. Let go Jerry Blazes an come
out o. that with your fists. Come an it
me. You daren't, you bloomin' dog
shooterm
81 dare"
s'You lie, you man-sticker. You
sneakin' butcher, you lie See there ~
Slane kicked the rifle away and stood up
in the peril of his life. ''Come on
now !"
The temptation was more than Sim
mons could resist, for the corporal in
his white clothes offered perfect mark.
Don't misname me-" shouted Sim
mons, firing as he spoke. The shot
missed, and the shooter, blind with rage,
threw his rifle down and rushed at Slane
from the protection of the well. Within
striking distance he kicked savagely at
Slane's stomach, but the weedy corporal
knew something of Simmons weakness,
and knew, too, the deadly guard for that
kick. Bowling forward and drawing up
his right leg till the heel of the right
foot was set some three inches above the
left knee-cap, he met the blow standing
on one leg, and ready for the fall that
would follow. There was an oath, the
corporal fell over to his own left as shin
bone met shinbone, and the private col
lapsed, his right leg broken an inch above
the ankle.
.Pity you don't know that guard,
SIM" said Slane, splitting out the dust
as he rose. Then raising his voice
Game an take him OFF. I've bruk is
leg" This was not strictly true, for the
private had accomplished his own down.
fall, since it is the special merit of that
leg-guard that the harder the kick the
greater the kicker's discontinue.
Slane walked TO Jerry Blazes and hung