The golden rule. [volume] (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1898-19??, 1899-01-14
THE SILENT TROOPER.
py w. L Comfort, Fifth Y. S. Cavalry

/ watched Lander, and Lander
watched Lieutenant Grim during the
several following weeks. And they
were not pretty eyes, those strange
eyes Of Lander's, as they trailed the
movements of his superior officer.
To all, he preserved his self-bound
intensity. Glad, indeed, would | have
been to come very close to the heart
of this silent man, because learned
to have deep feelings for him. tie
possessed the cold nerve which makes
heroes, and the great warm heart
which makes friends2I was sure OF
this. But his nature was broad enough
to cover his troubles, SO he did not
confide in men. Heroes can hate well.
Why my eyes wandered to the OPP
posite side of one of Lander's letters
while he was holding it up, and there
fingered for single disgraceful sec
ond, is something more than / can ex-
plain. / can only regret it. At any
rate, saw these words:
''Oh, Charlie, do let me come to
you'll"
A lady-killer is my silent friend,
thought Z; but didn't mean to read
part of his letter-really, I didn't.
After five weeks the troops were
ordered to the barracks. No enc was
sorry, for life on target range IN Ari-
zona is tedious, putting itwith studied
mildness. And then they have mos
quito netting in the barracks.
A tragedy was enacted on those
moonlit foothills at Old Baldy's base
the last night on range. ! am NOT
handy man at tragedies. 1t was this
way:
s'Say, old chap" said Lander in a
lieht manner the morning before, "dc
little favor for me, will you? want
YOU to meet lady for me. I believe
/ will have another engagement to
night'
IA lady in this country" I whis
pered excitedly. Nothing but grease'
, maidens and squaws had [ seen fol
t months-it seemed.
Reluctantly he handed me note
/ part Of which is below:
s.I could not help coming. was franti
$ when learned that he was transferred t
YOUR troop. You must meet me tonight
, Did you think l could forget you. ot
Charlie, may be acting unwomanly, but
4 am desperate. No one knows me here /
: fbe village, will be near the last adobe
INF on the north. Oh, why did you 9
away? I thought Come tonight.
t ELSIE"
1 "It's a common yarn" said Lande
|. neryously. ''She knew me up Mort
i as civilian. Grim and / were stf
s toned there, but he did not know me
i was only a private She was lovel
q to us both. The queer thing about
g is that won out. Then it occurre
d 70 me that I was only common so
It dier. who had funked at everythin
q else he tried, and hardly fit to marry
! SO / applied for transfer and chase
,e out. She wouldn't have Grim an.
e. how. !,
or 'sNow Grim turns up again in IL
attitude of my superior officer, whlc
lie is very dramatic, and the little won
ty m is here, which is also very drama
nt Ia: and as I can't see them both,
Or want YOU to go to her. I must ket
er the other engagement. Tell her I'm
he dcserter OF dead or any old thing
"a For the second time / heard La
of der laugh low and melodiouslY. | CT
q hear it yet.
ad fThere'll be show down to might
p. he said.
Il After retreat, the lieutenant called
Yo his horse and loped slowly townwar
,e- The sun was red and low, and t.
silken flag over headquarters W
ed eased for the night. A little lat
raj Lander entered the tent, threw
Of cartridge belt about him and sau
ch tered carelessly out.
ler Don't keep the little woman wa
ng ing long" he whispered to me.
watched his form grow dim in
lie. shadows toward the village. Then
i'm stepped into my cartridge belt, lool
ab my six-shooter and became one
ou, the mysterious downward processi'
ust Something is going TO drop on the
lage road this night, thought.
,di- Lander was sitting by the roads
xed mile from camp. He smiled,
hat did not speak to me. While wait
ded I wondered why Ihad notremembe
to shake hands with Lander t
the night.
for It seemed long time before
,ost lieutenant's horse was heard d(
q Is the road. / hoped that Lander VIC
anne not pick off his man from ambush.
had hated to think he would do it.
"Dismount, lieutenantl" sang