Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-02-23
THE Z SILENT TROOPER.
oy w. L. Comfort, Fifth U. S. Cavalry.

I 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 thes heart
of this silent man, because [ learned
to have deep feelings for him. He
possessed the cold nerve which makes
heroes, and the great warm heart
which makes friends-I was sure of
this. But his s.nature was broad enough
to cover his troubles, so he did not
conGde 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. can only regret it. At any
rate, I 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, I didn't.
Alter tixa--wegks tne troops we're.
ordered to the barracks No one 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 a
handy man at tragedies. 1t was this
way;
"Say, old chap" said Lander in a
light manner the morning before, edo
little favor for me, will you? 1 want
you to meet lady for me. I believe
J. 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 a note,
part of which is below
COulu uOL uelp coming. was frantic
when l learned that he was transferred to
your troop. You must meet me tonight.
d i'd you think L could forget you. Oh,
Charlie, may be acting unwomanly, but |
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 90
away? 1 thought * Come tonight.
ELSIE"
''It's common yarn" said Lander
nervously. "She knew me up North
as civilian. Grim and I were sta
toned there, but he did not know me.
1 was only a private. She was lovely
to us both. The queer thing about it
is that L won out. Then it occurred
to me that 1 was only common SOL
dier, who had funked at everything
else he tried, and hardly fit to marry,
so applied for transfer and chased
out. She wouldn't have Grim any
how.
''Now Grim turns up again in the
attitude of my superior officer, which
is very dramatic, and the little wom-
an is here, which is also very dramat-
ic; and as I can't see them both, I
want you to go to her. L must keep
the other engagement. Tell her I'm
deserter or dead or any old thing"
For the second time heard Ian
der laugh low and melodiously. L can
hear it yet.
"Therell be a show down to night"
he said.
After retreat, the lieutenant called for
his horse and loped slowly downward
The sun was red and low, and the
silken flag over headquarters was
cased for the night. A little later
Lander entered the tent, threw his
cartridge belt about him and saun-
tered carelessly out.
Don't keep the little woman wait
ing long" he whispered to me.
watched his form grow dim in the
shadows toward the village. Then I
stepped into my cartridge belt, looked
at my six shooter and became one of
the mysterious downward procession,
Something is going to drop on the vii
lage road this night, I thought.
Lander was sitting by the road side
mile from camp. He smiled, but
did not speak to me. While I waited,
I wondered why Ihadnotremembered
to shake hands with Lander that
night.
1t seemed long time before the
lieutenant's horse was heard down
the road. hoped that Lander would
not pick off his man from ambush. l
hated to think he would do it.
"Dismount, lieutenantl' sang out