The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-10-15


| ridden mother, while Esther was max
through the blazing hallway was at
this jrncture that Close came iboring
up the path. He was slow, heTy, had
| longer distance to run, and was pant
ing hard, but he burst through the
squad already scrambling up tae steps.
sprang through the fire-flashiIg portal.
and with the strength of an * heaved
Walton, groaning. upon his shoulders,
| tumbled him out into the AIMS OF his
men, then turned on gasping Esther.
where's your mothers room?" NJ
most fainting, she could only lean upon
the pillar for support and point
through the vista of smoke ind flame.
Close leaped like tiger. with Cum
ningham and Murphy at his back. An
instant and these latter reappeared.
blind, staggering. their faces hidden
in their hands, and burst out into the
open air. stumbling heedlessly down the
steps. y groan went up from the men:
their captain was gone. In vain Burns
and Mcbride strove to rush in to the
rescue. Mortal man could not stand
such heat. And then. in the midst of
the wild wailing of the terrified and
helpless women. came from around the
north side Of the house an eXultant
cheer. Those men who had had sense
enough to strive to reach the side win
dows were rewarded by the sudden
| thruSting open of the shutters and the
appearance of the well-known bury
form of their captain with some
blanket-shrouded shape in his arms.
The flames leaped forth from that very
easement but a second after Close and
his precious burden were lowered to
| the walk below.
And this was the story of brave
mans deed be heard from every lip.
said Lambert, later, as he fastened
back on receipt of the news: and this
was the response made by the brave
man himself. when his lieutenant bent
over his seniors scared and bandaged
face next day and rendered his soldierly
congratulations. Turning slowly over
on his side, Close pointed to the wreck
of a pair of uniform trousers. scorched
and burned in a dozen places and ir-
retrievably ruined.
Look" said he. mournfully. Them
was my best pants
Then it WAS found that not only had
the strange old fellow lost his hair and
beard, and not little of the cuticle of
his face and hands, as well as those
patched but precious best pants" but
that his eyesight was threatened. The
good old doctor who had for so many
years attended the Waltons. and who
had come at once to renew his ministra
tons under the humble roof in town
that was their temporary refuge, lis
tened to the story of Closes heroism
with quickened pulse and kindled eye.
He and Mr.. Barton Potts, who had
FASTENED back from Quitman, came out
to camp to see and thank the pr ostrate
soldier, Potts being ceremonious in his
expression of gratitude and admiration
and most earnest in his apology for
what he had said and thought of Close
in the past. The doctor stayed longer
by the silent sufferers cot, carefully
studying his face as far as it could be
seen. Professional etiquette prevented
his saying anything that might be
reflection on the treatment and practice
| of the contract surgeon" yet it was
| plain to Lambert, and to Potts, too,
| that he was disturbed. Close. however.
seemed to think less of his own plight
than of that of the Waltons, who. ex-
cept the little patch of fields about the
ruined homestead, had lost everything
they owned III the world, and who were
| now in sore anxiety and distress. The
terrible shock and exposure had been
too much for one so fragile as the lady
mother. and Mrs. Walton was sinking
fast. Walton Scroggs, too, was in des-
perate case. though soothed by the
knowledge that all the row at Vernon
that is, the human cause of it all
was already out of danger. Close begged
the doctor for full particulars not only
as to how they were but how they eS.
pected ITO git along through the win
ter" and at last said he wished to speak
to him alone, whereat Potts and Lam
bert, wondering, left the tent.
1t was long before the doctor came
forth, and when he did he called the
young officer aside. Il culver in his voice !
and queer moisture about his spec
tacles. Have you no expert on the
eye and the ear in the army?" he asked |
of the best advice without delay"
Lambert said he would report the
matter at once to department head
quarters, and, while they were still talk
ing, two men came riding out from
town-"old man Potts." beyond all
doubt, and with him Lambert's rail
way friend, the conductor. and these
gentlemen, too, had come to ''surren
DER Close could have had his fill OF
triumph and adulation that dull De.
cember evening, had he been so min led
and the doctor more complaisant; but
that practitioner said that, while he
was not in charge of the case, he would
strenuously advise against further dis.
turbance of the patient. When at last
they were all gone and Lambert could
address himself to the little packet OF
mail stacked up on the Office desk, he was
rejoicing to think how the good in hi.
queer comrade was winning due recog.
milton at last. Hes 4 rough diamond
he said to himself. but brave as liol
and true as steel!'
And then rs he opened the first letter
from department headquarters. ad.
dressed to BIevet Capt. j. p. Close,
First Lieutenant, -teenth infantry,