The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-21

six-shooter. 7 was too soit-hearted to
bruise you with my hands"
Grim looked at his man keealy. He
then looked over his six-shooter care
fully. He had been clever shot at
West Point.
"Who gives the signal?" he added,
clearing his threat.
Count three in the position Of
raise pistol" said Lander polite y,
latter which you are at liberty to fire
as soon as you please"
Crim's tall gelding browsed uneasily
and whinnied. He wanted to get back
to the hay on the picket line, but he
was trained cavalry horse and did
not think of trotting off alone. l
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.
call ready" answered the silent
man cheerfully. Tho moonbeams
whiteued his forehead.
"One;" said the lieutenant. Eoth
men were motionless.
"Twol" he screamed. His arm
dropped. There was q noise and an
empty shell in his siz-shooter. The
lieutenant had forgotten to say
"Tnree."
Lander was dying in the moonlight,
and there was no empty shell in his
six-shooter Mat Grim, his super
ior officer, ran to his horse like thing
afrighted, and gal!oped away.
eco 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
shrine for her worship thau-a COM
mon cavaIryman. Tell her that I was
4 deserter, because old man, I think a
lot of the little witch. You needn't
tell her that Grim is q coward-iust
say he is a good Shot"
And when there were no more words
I hurried away to the village to keep
Lander's engagement. She was there
"a little thing-pretty and trembling.
There was lace handkerchief in her
hand aud soft perfume about her.
7 told her what Lander had said.
She did not cry, but clutched my arm
with fierce strength.
"rake me to him." she demanded.
I led the way back over tue rolling
road, aud when we neared the spot
where had left my silent friend in
the moonlight, T heard long, low,
mournful howl, the answer mingled
with the echo.
"Let US hurry-faster!'' I said.
There was no change. Lieutenant
Mat Grim had notreturned. The wom-
an picked up the pistol which had
fallen by the silent mans side, and
threw open the cylinder with the ease
of veteran. Six loaded cartridges
fell into her hand.
"You saw it ali?" she questioned
slowly. "And he was your friend?"
I bowed.
"Then you will kill TIE c2Car3 &c:
your friends sake" Sue spoke the
words altogether too loudly.
"He is my superior officer, madame, D
I whispered.
"Lea7e me now," she commanded.
"But, madame" T objected, 81
must walk with you back to the will
age"
"No, no! Leave me. Ihave this. u
She was replacing the cartridges into
the cylinder.
AS stood watching her, busler in
the camp q mile away played the last
call a soldier hears at night-the
mournful, melancholy taps. And ]
looked down upon my friend, the 81
lent man-they would sound taps over
him to o.morrow-and T forgot that I
was only private in the regular army.
"Leave me now," she repeated.
And when + had gone few PAGES
turned. She was bending low.
The moon was high above old Baldy
now, and his whiteness was upon the
upturned face Of the silent man.
Lieutenant Mat Grim called for his
horse the next morning, when q guard
told him that the bodies of Private
Lander and q white woman had been
found out in the chaparral Detroit
Free Press.