The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-09

49, T~~@@
ted and vice possible.
The men were getting irritable
knew the signs; the tension was reach
ing swapping point. I had been thing
Ing OF 1t all day. That evening John
Leighton and / were working under the
orderly fly at the records'-were post
ing Waugh and Murray's tinaIs'' iii
the clothing nnd descriptive books.
I Waugh was q corporal and Murray our
blacksmith, who had been killed the
week before on the day we pushed the
Apaches off the divide. We were crowd
ing them too closely in the lower pass,
when q few bucks slipped of into the
canyon and nipped our pack train i'm
rear. We had to quit pressing In front
to save our train. 1t was a clever bit
of work, and i've bucks did it, killing
two men for rs. losing us our game
just as we were bagging it.
leighton was company clerk, q tall
ented, handsome fellow-had served
out in India. He had a cheering fresh
ness and facility of expression and spoke
with the quick, falling infection and
d~irectness of the English In speech one
80 quickly learns to love. He was me-
chanically ruling double red ink lines
in a book where a life's account of serv-
ices had been credited and closed, much
as a handbook is ruled when a state
ment is rendered from a balance struck.
The words died" or deserted placed
in red ink in the small space below
showed the aus of closing for service
abruptly terminated. The usual remark
was Discharged by expiration term of
service in black ink.
Sergeant, and whose will be the
next bloody DIP" asked leighton.
without a ring of feeling.
"Tlere'u be plenty of 'em if this
blooming heat continues and we remain
in this camp" / replied.
And do You suppose the devil will
ever want a transcript from Murray's
court martial record?" Murray had
been an excellent troop blacksmith, but
a most constant d~runkard, so his record
was a full one.
If he does, Murray won't draw
birthstone liquor for a year. replied.
THE lad will be none the worst for
that, for surely here he had a most con-
Stunning thirst"
We were working at this official flu
neral in the sultry summer night by the
unsteady light of lantern candles and
Were not feeling impressed or reverent.
Leighton was in his undershirt. open at
his handsome brown throat. AS he
leaned over the books at work a locket
from his bosom fell the slack of it's gold
chain and struck the desk.
/ noticed it, and he took it of, hand
ing it to me with indifference. He had
opened the locket, revealing the por-
trait, which was that Of a fresh young
girl-one of those sweet English faces
whose charm is complexion and express
sion of confidence complete. The eyes
arrested you-pathetfc, soft brown eyes,
q tender they seemed to reproach. and
as you changed your point of view Of
the miniature followed you with their
full. warm light. | have seen such af-
fectionate light only in the brown eyes
Of faithful dogs watching those they
love.
Seeing my more than casual notice of
the portrait, Leighton added: It's an
old story, not worth the telling. Idon't
know why | keep it"
He spoke with the same absent inter
est we were feeling over this work for
the dead. It struck me as peculiar that
in a romance accomplished there should
be no trace either of bitterness or re-
morse, only weary indifference. ! was
SO quickly fascinated by the face that
Leighton's manner annoyed me, and !
did not ask him for the story. Possibly
overhead makes men irritable, for some
how l resented this careless fellow
wearing about him a face like that with
less interest than he wor his spurs. /,
did not then notice the resemblance of
the face to Leighton's.
1 stopped abruptly and thought of de-
s~ertion, changing the conversation to
this the subject of my days musing.
Leighton, something's got to be
done to relieve the pressure. | know
the lieutenant would like to do so. He
feels the pulse of this camp and knows
the symptoms. But what q he do-
his orders to remain here are impera-
tive, and he can't pass US across the
line.
Hunting leave" laughed Leighton.
Hunting leave, then, let 1t be,
replied, with no questions asked as to
game or preserve, though ! q tell
what yours will be, You young devil!
Tomorrow make ont q hunting pass for
six" Leighton was humming catchy
service ballad that had appeared In Lon
don music halls the year before and did
not reply.
Next morning 1 presented with the
report four days hunting pass for six
men. The lieutenant dipped his pen in
the ink and held IL I'm contemplation for
o moment above the place for signature,
looking thoughtfully across the level
plain. Then with quick decision, IL
wish. sergeant, You and Leighton would
take hunting pass and let no complica-
tions arise. He signed the pass. add
Ing our names TO the text.
The following evening found as all
In Correlitos. After dinner, while
ENAA 49, EAA& HEE& ME 88M AM ~&%ElM - kM 90