Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-10-31

TO cut the fellow out with your gallop
ing sergeant's party?" asked the ma jor
in rather bantering tone.
II think, major" answered the young
cavalryman, my fellows would snatch
at the chance IL you gave il them. But
Of course, this is out of the question
Yet, sir, if you will allow me, I should
much like TO try whether, with good
fortune, l may not stop this fellows
deviltry. They reckon me thebest shot
with the sporting rife in our part oil
the Saxon Switzerland, and have my
fdvorite weapon here with me. What
| want to do is TO go and stalk this
French sharpshooter. May II"
"You may try your luck and well
come, baron, for me-" said the major.
mind, unless you bring good evidence
back with you, we shan't believe you've
wiped him out"
The young cavalryman was the butt
of a good deal of badinage that even
ing. But he took the chaff with modest
serenity, ate hearty dinner and said
| goodnight early. / found him in his
! quarters above the stable, overhauling'
his rife and filing bandoleer with
| cartridges. He readily consented that
I should accompany him. which was
anxious to do from curiosity; of course,
as neutral, was to go unarmed.
| Early next morning we breakfasted
together, filled our TASKS, put some
| sandwiches into our haversacks, and.
while il was yet dark, passed the out
| posts and climbed the gradual slope
on the crest of which, among the old
trees, stood the Chateau de Launay.
The baron had the bearings of the cot
| tage, to the watching of which we were
To devote ourselves, and instead ofhead-
ing directly upon il, with the result
that our hiding place would be directly
in the French marksman's line of sight.
we edged away somewhat to our right.
with intent to locate ourselves some
where on the left point of the cottage
At distance of about 500 yards we
were close to clump of evergreens in
the grounds of the villa Nelaton. the
famous surgeon.
In tie heart of this clump, where
there was comparatively little snow.
we lay down, a little behind the baron,
who waited patiently till dawn. and
then gingerly twisted and broke the
twigs of holly till he had a clear vista
of aim on the cottage now dimly visible
through the front haze. Its occupant.
we judged, was cooking his breakfast, |
for smoke was lazily rising from the !
chimney. Then the sun chased away the !
haze, and the baron caught a glimpse
of the dull CLEAN of a rifle barrel back |
in the room inside the wide oritice |.
where in peace time there had been |
window frame.
His first impulse was to aim a trife |
behind the CLINT and then fire, but he |
restrained himself. for it was probable |
that he would not get many chances, |
so crafty was the FTenchman, and he |
was bound, in the words of Kirkpatrick.
10 max siccar.' We lay for hours stead
tasty gazing at the white front of the
cottage, up against which. almost 10
the window sill, the white snow had
drifted. Thrice the fash of shot dart
ed out through the window space in the
front of the cottage Each shot might
have meant the life gone from out
Saxon soldier, and my impotence be-
came almost uncomfortable. Each
time l begged the baron to act the
stern, rcsolute answer was thrown
back NO; he calm. Everything
comes to him who can wait"
~ we passed through the chain of
pickets in the dusk of the winter day.
we learned that the marksman of the
cottage had killed a sentry who mo-
mentarily exposed himself, and wound
ed another man on patrol. The baron
was ruthlessly chalred during the
evening, but the Tough badinage of his
did not in the least discon-
cert him. He did not take it i'll that
did not care 10 accompany him on the
morrow. lie left me before daybreak
for his solitary lurking place among DR..
Nelaton's evergTeens, where hour after
hour he lay, rifle on shoulder, his gaze
steadfastly on the aperture in the wall
Of the cottage.
In the evening he sauntered into the
common room, his manner quiet and
as was his wont. His en-
trance was greeted with derisive laugh
ter.
lack again empty-handed. Oh,
doughty younker." shouted Krchbach. {
DO you know, Herr Baron said
Capt. Won Zanthier, with a sneer, that
your friend up yonder bowled over an
'ther fellow of my company this aft
,rnoon?"
Then outspoke Maj. Won Schonberg
himself: You have had two whole
lays, baron, for your experiment with ..
he rifle which wrought such execution
n the Saxon Switzerland. Tomorrow J.
'ou will return TO your regular duty"
AT your order, Herr Major" replied |,
he baron, springing to the attitude of
igid attention on receiving a formal
rider. Then he relaxed his muscles as
much as ever a German officer does, and
made few quiet remarks. IL should
lot have proposed going out again,
major, in any case. Capt. Kirchbach,
have not come home empty-handed.