The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-08-25
WARRINGTON, V. G.
u. On the Field.

~. On the Field.
A pitch-black night in a rocky valley
of Afghanstan; a few stars in the
heavy. black, moonless sky only in
tensifying the almost palpable dark
ness. mile or two southwark, where
the rocky valley swelled into rocky
heights. little flashes of light recur-
ring at intervals, followed by sharp lit
lie cracks, showed where the late skir-
mish and retreat was fighting itself
out around about the camp.
Where one of the innumerable brok-
en- ridges that scanned the valley made
darker wall across the darkness two
figures we're dimly discernible (when
you knew where to look for them), the
bowlder, the other tall and straight
beside him.
Clear out, Neutrality-suspicious. go.
s;." the voice came family from the
reaumbent figure. you can get back
to camp and send 'em for me-"
Not likely, young 'un," observed the
other. what says the great r. X:
When you're wounded and left on AZ
ghanistan plains,
And the women came QUITO cut up
what remains
Just
"Dont!" said the wounded man, and
almost succeeded in stopping a groan
between his clenched teeth.
Poor old Weary" said Warrington,
bending over him. Let me undo
your belt. Now grab yourself
with both hands"
Fellows in books" said the weak
voice drOwsily, never get hit in the
tUmmy. Always-head in a
bsndAge -or-arm in sling.
Those Johnnies that write books
ought to come out with u.s."
There was silence for a time; the
far-off flashes grew more rare. The
FOUNDED man shifted himself little
and spoke again.
You're a brick, Warrington" he
said
Slightly different from Piccadilly
and the Strand this=-eh, Vic?"
Il wish the mater could see us now,"
said Weary; she's going to bye-bye
4 just about pow. She'd stick you pref
q ty nigh up in her prayers if she knew"
The next time you start talking
nonsense" said Warrington, 81 shall
consider you delirious and past hope;
ana / shall turn tail and make tracks
for camp"
A long silence.
It's getting beastly cold" said VI
cary, with SILVER; Il shall never pull
through tonight"
CheQr opp.; lad" said Warrington,
ard pulled at his mustache and glared
at the darkness; only a few hours
till dayhreak, Pity you're six
foot four in your boots and solid in
proportion. I'm not equal to two miles
with you on my back, my dainty mid
get"
Cant see how you got me this far.
Why don't you sheer off now
and get back andO, God! No! War;
rngJon ..ta.n You're not, going?Ht
. Another word like that, my son,
and leaye you for Mr.. and Mrs. Pa
than and all the little Pathaps to play
& With '''N - '-'-s - ~
iiAll right-all right. l won't.
Let me hold your boot can hardly
see you. Oh, Wary, what funk I
FtN all the bit pf pluck | had's run
out of the leak in my tunic-and !
am beastly cold"
Warrington knelt beside him and
cursed beneath his breath, and felt his
head and hands. The former was very
sg-d and damp, the latter were very
Wei and Warm.
i must let them know they're wan
ted, Wei" he mutteral,
The latter did not hear him,
81 'It'll be In uto-nlorrow''s dispatches"
be muttered: Missing; Lieutenant
Beverley Warrington and Second Lieq7
W s9jp, gS'.!ttAAFF St.tlse - What's Up
ttis companion had touched his fore
head lightly with his lips risen to his
Eeet, and, with his arm raised above
hs head, had emptied his revolver into
the silence of the night.
They'll know there's a British off
Ger where that revolver u.s." he said
eheerily,
aRut-but, you fool-yeu dear old
silly fool-so will those brown devils!"
Cent help that" said Warrington,
with little laugh, tits too chilly to
stop out late tonight" Then in a
lover tone, For the sake Of auld lang
DHe, VIC my boy
Tie reloaded his revolver. When the
echoes had ratified away into deeper
silence they heard the distance shets
suddenly Fecemmence, and distant
shouts and bowls came to them like
whispers, From the invisible hills fac
ING them came din and confused seufs
hing and scraping sounds az of cats
scfambling down rocks. A moving
Mhte blur appeared somewhere in the
mick darkness. then another, then an
other; and a suggestion of low-toned
cultural conversation, preached War
tins'on,s strainlng ears He shifted
MS revolver to his left hand and
gently drew his sword. Then from
over there where he knew the camp
. siSr six revolver shots in quick success
That's Welby!" he said to himself.
|icary's hand had been grasping the
neel Of his foot tightly. Now he felt
.ae grip relax; and LIP moment more
,Ae wounded 6ubaltern slipped a little
WIZ slight tinkle Of steel on rock
''!A grpaued.
IN another moment a dozen bowling
tilmen We're blazing away at random
ooward the spot whence the groan1
1eemed to have come. They aimed
ioM , and erratically, and Warrington
Helu his fire for few interminable
feconds. '''.' ''''
N, pen they closed in, and one Stun
NV over Vicary's outstretched legs
IN gh,'le they could realize that two Brit:
,ba.' oincers were within yard Of
hin' . warrington felt the man gran
rsi ' as ne fell, and fired with the bar
vi ms revolver touching bare skin
NleF that he trad nnd claShad very