Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-08-26


talked like old friends, which means
that sometimes they did not talk At all.
Yet they had known each other only
a week. McDuff talked about the north
and she about the east. They dis
cussed books and horses-the press
and the army.
II saw young Brown, of the Tenth,
tonight. What lot he has 10 say
about things ne knows not Of" said
McDuf. As the girl did not answer,
be continued. telling of the call
down" delivered by the colonel.
She laughed--a little sadly.
The colonel knew that Mr.. Brown
would very soon have chance to test
his emotions" she answered.
McDufT smiled. feeling the weight of
his war pass in his inside pocket.
I'VE all expect 20 get 10 Cuba inside
two weeks" he said.
The girl looked Ut her watch.
at i now II o'clock" she said. AT
half-past II Lieut. Brown starts for
Cuba on tug loaded with ammunition
and rifles. He has 80 Cubans and few
of our regulars under him and will
try hard 10 make a landing. You see,
Mr.. McDuif. that Il is considered tai
eut in the army 10 bc able TO talk
great deal without telling anything"
Sandy had no reply ready for this
statement He wondered how she
came 10 know it a.. Eat he did not
ask. He only remarked upon the late
ness of the hour and went of toward
his rooms in town.
Three evenings later McDutf re-
turned from hot ride and went UP
on to the second balcony 10 cool Oft.
He unbuckled his leggings, pulled a
cigar from one pocket and news
paper from another and dropped into
a steamer chair. The first thing he
saw was an account OF the landing OF
the tug Lilly on the Cuban coast Of a
fierce fight with Spanish cavalry and
of the heroic behavior of Lieut.. II. {.
Brown and his men. The report also
said that a newspaper correspondent
with the party had escaped capture
only through the bravery and skill of
this same young Brown who had freed
the man, single-handed, from the
clutches of three Spaniards. The enc
my was defeated. the arms and ammu-
milton safely landed, and even now the
Lilly was on her return trip 20 Port
Tampa.
McDuf Immediately refastened his
leggings and went around 20 call on
the girl in white and blue. He found
her i'm a rustic chair, under a clump Of
yellow-stemmed bamboo. He took
back all the evil he had said and
thought of Brown, and then praised
him highly.
'He was more successful on both his
other expeditions of the same kind"
she replied. They never had 10 fire
shot before"
McDuff was painfully surprised.
"Why didn't he tell me that he had
been landing Cubaus ever since the
declaration Of war" he groaned.
y week went by and still the troops
were not ordered on board the trans
ports, and still the war CORES pondents
waited for the countersigning Of their
passes. McDuff grew tired Of rushing
about all day asking people what they
knew, so ne decided 20 lie low and do
some work. lie found that if he tried
TO write during the day he lost too
much flesh. and at night he was nearly
killed by divers insects. SO he turned
out a few hundred words every morn
ing before breakfast. and spent the
rest of his day reading W. Clark Rus
sells icy novel. The Frozen Pirate"
This and an outfit of white duck cloth
ing kept him fairly cool.
One night, much TO his surprise. he
received call from Second Lieut..
Brown. As they shook hands he no
ticed an expression on his visitors face
"A shadow about the eyes which had
not been there at their last meeting.
They sat down, and McDuff spoke
about Browns rescue OF the war cor
respondent.
Yes replied the officer. at made
a good newspaper story; but am sor-
ry it came in my way. Remember
what the colonel said the other night
about killing man? Well. the colonel
was right One Of the three fellows
who had hold of the CORES pendent
was Il young cdpldlh-d man VINO Iau
received his education in America. lie
and were very close friends once.
About five years ago he went home 20
Spain. and last week | shot him while
he was looking straight into my eyes
Just beginning 10 recognize me. The
man | rescued wasn't worth that.
think"
Then Brown put his face in his hands
and cursed the necessity Of warn.
Y. Independent.