The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-18


Only these few and one writhing, bleed
ing form, around which half n dozen
policemen arc curiously gathered, and
at whose sido tho battalion surgeon has
just knelt
He's shot through and through"
is his verdict presently mo power
can save him. Who is hep
About tho worst and most danger
GUS ringleader Of riot this town has
! known, sir, is tho answer of ono of
the police officials. mo ono knew
where he came from either-or his real
name"
And then in his dying agony the fall
en- demagogue turns, and tho other side
of his twitching face comes uppermost.
Even through tho thin, grizzly beard
there is plainly seen an ugly, Jagged
scar stretching from ear to chin.
This isn't his first row by any man.
ner of means, if it is his last, says a
sergeant of police. Look at that
Who shot him anyhow
Il did. is the cool. prompt answer.
and Sergeant Fecny raises his hand to
his carried carbine and stands atten-
ton rs no sees tho surgeon knccling
there Il did. and just in the nick of
time. Ho had drawn IL bead on our
lieutenant, but even if no hadn t I'd
have downed him, and so would any
man in that company yonder. And
Fecny points to where & troop stands
resting after its charge.
You knew him then? ''
Knew him instantly, as a deserter,
thafe, highwayman and murderer
knew him as Private Bland in Arizona
and would know him anywhere by that
scar.
y policeman Lends and wrcnchcs
loaded revolver from tho clutching,
quivering fingers just as Wing comes
striding back and shoulders his way
into the group.
Is lie badly hurt, doctor? That
was an awful whack. "
1t is the lieutenant, sir, says Feeny
respectfully, but with strange signif-
canoe III his tone as he draws police
man aside. Look"
And Wing. bending over, gives one
glance into the dying face, then covers
his eyes with hands and turns blindly,
dizzily, away.
That evening a host of citizens are
gathered about tho bivouac of the bat
talon at the waterworkS whilo the
trumpets are sounding tattoo. A few
squares away the familiar notes come
floating in through the open windows
of room whore Jim Drummond is ly-
ing on IL most comfortable sofa. which
has been rolled close to the easement
where every Whit of tho cool lako
breeze can fan his face, and where,
giancing languidly around, ho contrasts
the luxury OF these surroundings with
the rude simplicity of the life he has
lived and loved so many years. Gray
haired George Harvey, kindly Mrs.
Stone, his sister: blissful, beautiful Fan
ny Wing with burly baby Harvey i'll
her arms and her proud. soidicrly hus-
band by her side, and u tall, lovely, ST.
lent girl have all been there TO minister
to his needs and bid him thrice wei
come and make HIM fee "a hat here, if
anywhere on earth, he is at home And
here the battalion surgeon and the fam
lily physici;ii unite in declaring he must
remain until released 10y their order,
and here for three days and nights h. is
nursed and pcttcd ANA made SO much of
that he l. Unable to recognize himself,
and here sister p,ss comes to cry over
and kiss and bless him and III her turn
to he made much of and forbidden To
leave, AMI then. after her big brothers.
return to duty with the battalion, now
being fed and fctcd by all the North
Side. he must needs come over every
evening TO see her, and, now that pre-
scntahlc uniforms have arrived and the
rough boards have been shaved and tho
men Of he old regiment look less like
"toughs, Int 10 moro like American
soldiers as our soldiers look in the field
of their ste-ncst service. her sistcrly
pride in her biz brother is beautiful to
sec-so Is her self abncgation, for.
somehow or other, though he comes TO
see her, he stays 10 look at Ruth lIar
vcy, sly.silcnt and beautiful, and soon
as though by common consent, that
corner OF the big parlor is given up 10
those two. the tall. stalwait trooper ard
tho slender wllowy girl. And one
evening he comes earlier than usual iii
manifest discomposurc, and soon it
iranspircs that important orders have
reached him. Fanny turns pale. Are
yon -all-ordcrcd back she cries
and is for an instant radiant ut his us
snrance that the order involves only
himself He is called to department
headquarters TO report III person to the
general commanding, who is about to
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