Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-10-03

Somehow the Colonel could not And
| il in his heart to do II, and was still
worrying over it when . Telegram VA
brought in addressed sTo the officer
commanding" This WAS followed
shortly by knock ct the rough door
opening outward on to tho cold wind
swept Enclosure. q struggle to shut the
same. and . tall, smart-looking officer
entered, helmet in hand.
ooh, that's you, Hamerton! I was
just going to send for you. There's q
row up Runaway. James of the po-
lice wounded. Gihazis again killed q
lot of people. I'm ordered to send an
intelligent officer to investigate the
thing. and report You'll have tick
lish job, but can rely upon you. I've
been thinking whom You had better
take. You see I can only spare one OF
two, either Bates or Thompson. Bates
has the longest head, and yet Thomp-
son-well. If it came to blows, somehow
I should prefer Thompson. But do -
you like"
As he said this the Colonel instinct
lively glanced at the pile of paper be-
side him. Bates name happened to be
uppermost, with its every question
snugly and neatly answered Thomp-
sons had frisked off gayly in the open
door, and was but just saved from be-
ing chewed under the table by Hamer-
toms puppy, who had followed his mas
ter in.
1T shall be little Billy" said Maj.
Hamerton to himself, and proceeded to
the discussion of further details con-
corning escort and commissariat AZ
rangements for the small expedition.
A little before nighfall they started.
. party Of fifteen in all-the two En-
glish officers, Billy in . state of the
widest joy and bursting with impor-
lance, . duffedsr, and twelve sowsrs OF
the Khunaz horse. A second telegram
had been received soon after the first
saying that the Gihazis, who were few
in number, had taken themselves of;
that native hospital assistant was in
charge of James, the wounded police
officer, and that he was to be brought
back here, because there was no other
European doctor nearer than Quetta.
Hope we come across the beggars, I"
Billy said gleefully.
But the Colonel, who had ridden out
q little way with the party and had
wished them good luck" found him
self saying something like . prayer in
his heart for the safe return of the two
men, who were, in his opinion, the very
pick of the regiment
In times of peace these inglorious
little brushes with sneaking Ghazis are
not among the pleasantest features of
service in Afghanistan. To an old SOL
der they SAVIOR too much Of that plot
ting from behind hedges to which no
military glory is attached. He does
not care about sending out good men to
furnish targets for skulking devils who
have no ground for quarrel, but are
merely possessed with a fanatical de-
sire to spill Ferringhee blood. Where
fore the commanding officer was ill at
ease, and for the next two days there
fell dullness and q mslaise upon
everybody in camp.
Upon the third day after the depart
ure of expedition the Colonel rode out
to reconnoiter. along with the doctor,
VINO was always game for . ride. The
commanding officer was more anxious
than he allowed to appear. Somehow,
two years. sojourn in those dreary
wilds draws men very close together
when they are made of good stuff. The
party ought to have returned ere this,
and the Coloners heart was disquieted
within him. He was scanning the
horizon carefully, when suddenly he
pulled up, and shaded his eyes.
whats that little cloud of dust,
doctor? Is it devil or couple of
horsemen?"
The doctor, whose eyes were younger,
answered that it was no devil" but
horsemen, and that they were making
for camp.
by Jove!" exclaimed the Colonel
with his field glasses up, 1T is-ifs
Thompson with . sowar!"
In another moment they were cut
ting across to meet them.
Billy was riding length or two in
front, aud his jsded horse pulled up of
its own accord as he neared the ap-
preaching riders. The sowar saluted
and remained stolidly immovable in the
background. Both men and horses
were caked with dust and wore q weary,
detected air.
"We're bringing in James all right.
SIR answered Billy, in response to the
Colonel's questioning gesture. But we
had q fight-G hazis, this side Khunaz.
Hamerton's badly wounded. I've come
on for the doctor-his only chance.
The black fellow bOlted who was look
ing after James. Can the doctor go ct
once, sir? This sowar wants . fresh
horse-that's all.
After . word or two with the COM
mandant the doctor sped toward the
camp with the sowar at his heels. He
paused for . moment by the side Of
Billy and looked him in the face.
@Ishall be under way in ten minutes"
he said. 3Look here, old fellow, you've
had about enough; 60 home and turn
in" BE was struck by the look of
agony and mental strain ON the bows