The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-15

llcg di6 the dlltySs WI
the Duane had TUX me trick, an was out
av tn game.
IVAN day passhed a recuritin' office.
There was TIL flag an TN sign, Shoulders
wantid for tn United Shtaes Army A
nate swate little curly corp'ril Shtood in
tn dure advertistin' tn place, like tn
wooden Injin av cigar shtore. TUX i'm
in wild me eye as passhed; he looked like
he's ghtruck fat job; The shpunk av a
sholdier" / communed wild mesilf, suddin
like, L how it, an in 1 wint.
Il was not MISTAKEN. TIL physical ex-
animation was only butther to me cakes,
an the moral was only make-belave. 1
sold me old clothes to a Jew for so cents
an chated him, too; an that was a clane
half dollar more than had to me name
befure tn parade. An here am Don't
you think thot deer's delayin tn game
onnecessharily?"
Across the valley came the clatter of
loose rolling rock fragments behind the
shoulder at the mouth of the gully. An
instant, and Their Sprang to the ridge-line
a noble buck. He stood there, alert, tense,
proudly erect, winding the valley.
Saints! What a Shot" breathed Feeney,
smuggling his rifle. square on tn silky
line! Oh, thin amherst What's tn matter
wild me? 1 shake like a chill, an I'm all av
q ShWeat. NiVVer mind. Armstrong, OF
bye, here goes!'
But Armstrong, lying next on his right,
threw out his arm swiftly and interposed
the generous thickness of his hand be-
when Feeneys trembling finger jerked the
trigger there was no discharge. The Irish
man looked up in indignant surprise for
an explanation.
BE quiet" whispered Armstrong. 1.-THE
buck isn't feeding-he's been scared, don't
you see? What sort of an animal do you
reckon has scared him so? Be ready. We
may pot something better"
Feeney stared, noted the tense expect
ancy of his comrades, and his surprise
gave place to bland comprehension. II
do he fbinkiOf - he w hiSOera6 sweet
ly, that We contemplate ruction. What
a game we've played on me! VIII there
be a shot apiece? Don't We dare to say
nor
Up the canon the paymaster's escort
swung suddenly into sight around sharp
angle. Two men with rifles We're walking
ahead. The wagon jolted heavily over
the rough road; some of the escort sprawl
ed atop the load of camp equipage; the
sound of their voices came down on the
wind. Close behind was the ambulance,
with the paymaster and the money-box.
In the rear couple Of inattentive men
plodded along at convenienS distance
with an air of security that made Arm
strong and Hakkerson look at each other
and shake their heads disapproyingly.
From the unseen depths of Dead Mans
Gully some crouching men cPept cautious
ly upon the jutting rock shoulder, and
made disposition under cover The ter
rifie1 buck, finding himself between two
fires, bounded perilously up the bluff, ana
disappeared upon the levels above. The
~en moved quickly and silently, prepar-
ing to pour fire upon the soldiers of the
escort. They looked upon the paymas-
ter's money chest as already theirs.
Armstrong could not depress a sigh Of
satisfaction. He kicked out gently against
Hakkerson, and breathed:
'Sized it about right, Ell, Hak?'
Hakkerson turned his head, revealing
a mouth distended with cartridges. From
the bottom of his throat came the cordial
answer:
you bet! On. gnr'
Gutter cuddling his rifle stock to his
shoulder, was grooming a chant the bur-
den of which was his Joy at the turn af-
fairs had taken. And Feeney, rediant and
lf-possessed, whispered
Don't shpake av deer huntin' fur
mont Well shkin etarnity wild tn. clip
pins av thin felliesi"
Daylight had come to earth as boldly
as a bridegroom to his bride, and all the
valley was filled with light, unwavering,
steadfast-a light that might have been
without beginning or ending. For the
four on their shelf, time seemed to stand
still. The escort wagon creaked 1azily to-
ward the critical point; one more bend in
the road, and it would be uncovered: the
advance guard already afforded a fair tar
get. There was an impatient tremor
among the ambushing party on the shout
der, which Armstrong noted.
Ready now" he murmured; spot your
men; Take a hong breath and an easy
sight, and plump it into 'em hot Nowl''
The next were moments that live quick
ly, and remembered for all time. AS fast
as the heaiH pulses, SpurtS of flame leaned
from the mouths of the rifles; the reports
echoed between the combining walls in be-
duplication; gun barrels grew
hot; sulphur smoke concealed the shelf
in white cloud; the trajectories of bull
let's were traced by fine blue lines of heat |
ed air.
The escort had halted, and stood in the
road, huddled and helpless But the party |
IN ambush, surprised and suf- |
fering loss, paid them no attention; |
weightier matters than the footing of a |
occupied by them; they hung |
to their position, though confused and I'M |
decided. Feeney caught an intuition of |
this, and suddenly sprang to his feet, and /
stood glorious against the limestone cliff |
above the smoke bank, pointing with his |
rifle, and shouting to the escort:
rocksg'
Lay down, you foolg' Hakkerson bel |
Owed, between shots.
But Feeney had drawn a fire. and he l
came down with suddenness that caused /
Armstrong to eye him apprehensiyely /
Feeney grinned in rich ENJOYMENT
Me shtage fall said he. Eye shud
see me whin in form. But thot chaps !
III divil t shoot; he nigh cut tn blouse |
If me arm" And he Indicated with a /
certain pride sharp, crimsoning furrow
across the shoulder.
Spurred by FeeneSs words, the escort
'prang into action. A squad skurried up
he slope, and q converging fire ratified
Is bullets into the rocky shoulder Then
he intending looters gave up the fight |
ind fed, leaving those who could not
'un TO the chances Of mercy and death.