Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-12-26

not pick off his man from ambush. ]
hated to think he would do it.
"Dismount, lieutenant!o sang ou1
the man who had been kicked, and ht
did not salute his superior officer.
What Grim said as he obeyed il
rather important but not necessary
to this narrative. But Grim knew
man man, like the being before him
whom he had kicked. He saw in the
faded twilight a private in the regu
lar army who in the presence of other
men was his slave; but who alone in
the foot hills Of Arizona, was a cool,
determined, smiling foe. He saw be-
fore him the handsome Charlie How
ard, who was loved by a m he
loved. He saw the reckless light in
Towards eyes which BODIED no good
And in spite of ali these things, Lieu
tenant Mat Grim vas game.
The moon was looking over Old
Baldy's icy crown now and the great
dome above and the sand below were
filed with it's whiteness.
"You acted the coward once, little
ofhcer-try to be a man tonight" L
heard Lander say. cit was impracti-
bic to procure seconds, SO you will
have to rely upon the honor OF a COM
mon soldier. Perhaps you v as
ISOLATED such sentiments. with an
enlisted man. [ see that you have
your six shooter. [ was too soft
hearted to bruise you with my hands"
+. Grim looked at the nan keenly. He
then looked over his six shooter care
fnlly. He had been a clever shot at
West Point.
"Who gives the signal?" he added,
clearing his throat.
"Count three in the position of raise
pistol, said Lander politely, after
which you are at liberty to fire as soon
as you please"
Crim's tall gelding browsed uneasi-
ly and whinnied. He wanted to get
back to the hay on the picket line,
but he was a trained cavalry horse
III AOu jI4lIh VI u OUl1bS I'LL oIOA1Os
] watched not knowing what else to
do.
Both men took position, and came
to the regulation raise pistol.
"Ready?" asked the lieutenant,
clearing his throat again.
"AIl ready" answered the silent
man cheerfully. The moonbeams
whitened his forehead.
"One!n said the lieutenant. Both
men were motionless.
"Two!n he screamed. His arm
dropped. There was a noise and an
empty shell in his six shooter.
Lander was dying in the moonlight
and there was no empty smell in his
six-shooter! Mat Grim, his superior
officer, ran to his horse like a thing
and gslioped away.
"Go and tell her, old chap Ian
der whispered, "that Charlie Howard
was afraid to meet her tonight. Tell
her that his memory is a far worthier
for her worship than-a com
mon cavalry Tell her hat I was
"a deserter, because Old man, | think
a lot of the little witch. You needn't
tell her that Grim is a coward-just
say be is a go, d shot
And when there were no nor words
buried away to the village to keep
"a little thing-pretty and trembling.
was a lace handkerchief in her
hand and a soft perfume about her.
| told her what Lander bad said.
She did not cry, but clutched my arm
with fierce strength.
"Take me- 20 him." she demanded.
I led the way back owe the roll
ing road, and when we reared the
spot where I had left mysilent friend
IN the moonlight, [ heard a long, low,
mournful howl, the. answer mingled
With the echo.
Let US hurry -taster!" / SAID.
There was NJ change. Lieutenant
Mat Grim had not returned. The
woman picked az the pistol which had
by the silent mans side, and
threw open the cylender with the
II a veteran. Six loaded car
fell into her hand.
"You saw it alp" she questioned
And he was Your friend?"
I bowed.
"Then you will kill the coward for
your friends sake!" She spoke the
altogether too loudly.
"He is my superior officer, madam"
whispered.
leave NE now,' she commanded.
"But, madam" I objected, Il must
walk with you back to the village"
ssNo. mol Leave me. I have this.D