The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-02-23

wilderness without saying goodby to
her"
"You must look sharp then,s said Ro-
land, hieeling beside him, '.for l shall
be called into camp in few minutes
He took an old letter from his pocket,
and with numbed fingers began to write,
at the wounded mans dictation, on its
blank side.
my darling Rose," he began.
Roland started as if stung by a snake,
and bent sudden look of questioning
anger on his companions face. The
southerner looked back at him for
moment with look of surprise. Then
his face changed.
Jim Vickersr' said Roland.
Roland Pearser' cried the other, and
for a moment there was silence between
them.
Last time your name passed my
lips" said Roland slowly, ''I swore to
put bullet into you on sight"
II guess you needn't" said Vickers;
I've got two already. Not that I'm
particular to bullet OF SO, only you
might finish the letter; first, anyhow.
For Gods sake. Pearse," he continued,
sudden emotion conquering mis- dare
devil cynicism, write the letterl It's
for Rose. She won't have a cent in the
world if l can't send her the news !
want you to write, and she and the child
will starve. got her by trich. / know,
and a nasty trick, too; but I'd Lave done
murder to get her. She was the one
woman l ever cared a straw fer, really.
And she loves me too. Shoot me if you
like, but for Gods sake write the let
ter"
Roland bent his head over tho scrap of
paper again.
''Go on" he said hoarsely, and Wick
ers went on, painting out the words with
an eagerness which proved the sincerity
Of his affection. The letter had regard
to the disposition of certain sums Of
money for which the voucher had been
destroyed by fire during the siege of
Philipville two days previously. 1t
was scarcely ended when bugle sounded
from the camp.
That's the sentinel's recall" said Ro-
land. 81 must get in. I'll forward the
letter the first chance get"
He rose. Vickers. with dumb agony
of grateful entreaty in his face, feebly
held up his left hand-the right arm was
shattered. After a moments hesitation
Roland bent and took it.
Here" he said, take this"
| He dropped his flask beside him.
Keep your heart up: perhaps you aim
as bad as you think. I'll see if can get
help for you"
Tears started to the wounded wretch's
eyes.
Rose had better have taken you, 1
guess" he said. Roland turned sharply
away.
'.I'l be back as quickly as can" he
said, and plowed his way back into
camp without a single backward glance.
Coming to large tent. the only one in
the camp. roughly run up as tempo
rary hospital, he passed between two
rows of PROSTATE figures, sunk in the
sleep of exhaustion or tossing IN agony,
to where a man in the uniform of an
army surgeon was bending, pipe in
mouth, over the body of a patient. II
want to speak to you when you've fin
ished, Ned"
The surgeon nodded without raising
his eyes, completed his task, ran his
blood stained fingers wearily through
his hair and turned to Roland with q
yawn and shiver.
That's the last of 'em," he said; eve
been at it since nightfall. and I'm dead
beat. Cut it short, old man; we start
in an hour. and | mean to get wink OF
sleep
it," said Roland do you remember
Jim Vickers?''
Jim VickersT' repeated the surgeon
"Oh, yes! The mssl who married Rose
4 Bishop"
Roland WINGED and nodded.
Hes out there, shot in the arm and
leg. Says he's dying. He didn't know
me, and asked me to write word fol
him to Rose-to his wife. want yor
to come and have look at him."
The surgeon shrugged. with hal
yawn.
Hes a Reb, s'pose? Haven't seel
him in our crowd"
Yes" said Roland, but one man i,
pretty much the same to you as another
| reckon. and-you know Rose. Yot
might save him."
Ned shrugged again, tossed some lin
and other necessaries into bag on tht
table and they set out together. They
found Vickers asleep, with the empty
whisky flask lying on the snow beside
him.
There was ruined shed at hundred
yards distance to which they carried tn,
wounded man, who awoke and groanet
as he was raised. Arrived under shelter
Ned silently betook himself to examin
ing Vickers' wounds Arm and leg wer,
both shattered, and three of his rib
were broken by horses hoof. ROLAND
watched his friends face, but it wore
the aspect of even gravity common t.
the faces of men of his profession en-
gagged at their work, and nothing was t.
be learned from it. His task finished
he patted his patients shoulder, collected
his tools and left the she'd Roland fol
lowed him to the door,