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

| Don't misname me-" shouted Simmons,
| hrlng as he spoke. The shot missed. and the
shooter, blind with rage, threw his rifle
down and rushed at Slane from the protec-
he kicked savagely at Slane's stomach. but
the weedy corporal knew something of Sim
mons weakness, and kne 4, 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 inside Of the left knee-cap, he met the
blow standing on one leg-exactiy rs Gonds
| stand when they meditate-and ready for
the fall that would follow. There was an
oath, the corporal fell over to his own left
vate collapsed, 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 arose.
Then raising his vo &c ne; and take
strictly true, for the private had accom-
plished his own downfall, since it is the
special merit of that leg-guard that the
harder the kick the greater the kicker's dis
comfiture.
over him with exaggerated solicitude. while
Simmons, weeping with pain, was carried
away. "'Ope you amt 'urt badly, SIR
said Slane. The major had tainted. and
there was an ugly, ragged hole through the
top of the arm. Slane knelt down and
clp 1uo, l Ocl1cV0 = ucdu
Well, if that amt my blooming luck all
over!''
But the major was destined to lead his
battery afield for many a long day with un-
shaken nerve. He was removed and
nursed and petted into convalescence. while
turing Simmons and blowing him from Il
gun. They idolized their major, and his
temperance on parade resulted in scene
nowhere provided for in the army regula-
tions.
Great, too, was the glory that fell to
Slane's share. The gunners would have
made him drunk thrice a day for at least a
fortnight. Even the colonel of his own
regiment complimented him upon his
GOODNESS, and the local paper called him a
hero hero Which things did not puff him up;
When the major proffered him money and
thanks the virtuous corporal took the one
and put aside the other. But he had a re-
quest to make. and prefaced it with many a
Beg y pardon, SIR" Could the major see
his way to letting Slane- McKenna wedding
horses to pull hired barouche? The
major could, and so could the battery. Ex-
cessively 80. It was gorge GUS wedding.
"Wot did do it for ?" said Corporal
Slane. For the 'orse O. course. Shansi
amt beauty to look at, but wasn't goin'
I admit wanted something. Sim might
ha' bowed Jerry Blazes' blooming 'ead into
Hirish stew fol aught I'd cared.''
And they hanged Private Simmons
hanged him as high as Hannah in hollow
square of the regiment; and the colonel
said it was drink: and the chaplain was
sure it was the devil; and Simmons fancied
it was both. but he didn't know and only
hoped his fate would be a warning to his
companions; and half dozen Intelligent
publicists'' wrote six beautiful leading arti-
cles on "The Prevalence of Crime in the
Army"
But not soul thought of comparing the
"bloody-minded Simmons to the squaw.
king, gaping school girl with which this
story opens.
That would have been too absurd.-[Rud.
yard Kipling.
You can always find bargains on the center
counter at Fow1es' Cash Store.