Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-02-02
THE SILENT TROOPER.
By W L. Fifth IL. s

confide in men. Heroes can hate well.
Why my eyes wandered to the op-
posite side of one of Lander's letters
while he was holding it up, and there
fingered for a single disgraceful Sec
ond, is something more than can ex-
plain. l 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 L; but didn't mean to read
part of his letter-really, L 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
maonlit foothills at Old Baldy's base
the last night on range. am not
handy man at tragedies. 1t was this
way:
"Say, old chap" said Lander in
light manner the morning before, edo
q little favor for me, will you? want
you to meet lady for me. believe
L will have another engagement to-
night"
ga lady in this country' Iwhis-
pered excitedly. Nothing but greaser
maidens and squaws had L seen for
months-it seemed.
Reluctantly he handed me o note,
part of which is below
II could not help cOming. was frantic
when learned that he was transferred to
your troop. You must meet me tonight
Did you think l could forget you. Oh,
Charlie, 1 may be acting unwomanly, but l
am desperate. No one knows me here in
the village. I will be near the last adobe,
but on the north. Oh. why did you go
away? Thought . y y Come tonight.
ELSIE"
"It's common yarn" said Lander
nervously. "She knew me up North
as n civilian. Grim and I were sta
toned there, but he did not know me.
was only private. She was lovely
to us both. The queer thing about it
is that 1 won out. Then it occurred
to me that was only common SOL
dier, who had funked at everything
else he tried, and hardly fit to marry,
so applied for transfer and chased
l out. She wouldn't have Grim any
how.
''Now Grim turns up again in the
t attitude of my superior officer, which
e is very dramatic, and the little wom-
: an is here, which is also very dramat-
, ic; and as | can't see them both,
+ want you to go to her. I must keep
$ the other engagement. Tell her I'm a
+ deserter or dead or any old thing
e For the second time I heard Lam
3 der laugh low and melodiously. can
4 hear it yet.
It ''There'll be show down to night" 3"
s he said.
/ After retreat, the lieutenant called for
e his horse and loped slowly downward.
4 The sun was red and low, and the
II silken flag over headquarters was
cased for the night. A little later
e Lander entered the tent, threw his
y cartridge belt about him and saun-
1t tered carelessly out
II Don't keep the little wcman wait
II ing long" he whispered to me. |
e watched his form grow dim in the
d shadows toward the village. Then |
II stepped into my cartridge belt, looked
a at my siX-shooter and became one OF
d the mysterious downward procession,
}. Something is going to drop on the vii
l. lage road this night, thought.
o Lander was sitting by the road side
did not speak to me. While I waited,
d l wondered why I had not remembered
Il to shake hands with Lander that
of night.
Ii 1t seemed long time before the
'r lieutenant's horse was heard down
g the road. hoped that Lander would
not pick off his man from ambush.
2. hated to think he would do it.
n "Dismount, lieutenantr' sang out
the man who had been kicked, and he
|, did not salute his superior officer.
st What Grim said as he obeyea is
rather important but not necessary to
l. this narrative. But Grim knew then
d that he was only a common human
1t man, like the being before him, whom
ID ne had kicked. He saw in the faded
twilight q private in the regular army
le who in the presence of other men was
II his slave: but, who alone, in the foot.
It hills of Arizona, was n cool, deter
is mined, smiling foe. He saw before
lie him the handsome Charlie Howard,
d who was loved by q woman he loved.
He saw the reckless light in Howard's
,r eyes which BODIED no good. And in
le spite OF all these things, Lieutenant
y Mat Grim was game.
70 The moon was looking over old
10 Baldy's icy crown now and the great
dome above and the sand below were
i filed with its whitenesss.
e "You acted the coward once, little
rt ofiicer-try to be a man tonight"
d heard Lander say. "It was imprac,
e tible to procure seconds, so you will
IS have to.rely upon the honor Of com.
rt mon soldier. Perhaps you never as
Of sociated such sentiments with on en-
h listed man. l see that you have your