The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-03-15
THE LUCKIEST MAN.

Corporal MacBean shook his fist
savagely at the colossal barrier OF
mountain peaks that barred the hori-
zon, rummaged among his pockets for
his tobacco and pipe, and sat himself
down to smoke ~furiously and to think
upon the Incompatible beauty of Miss
Janet Sloane.
Indirectly Miss Sloane was the
cause of the remarks with which my
story opens, remarks addressed not to
the mountains, but to the swarthy,
turbulent thr~oat-cutting crew who in
habited them, for there was, for
once in a way, peace upon the north
western border of India, and Corporal
MacBean was thirsting for war and
promotion-all for the sake of the
bright eyes of Miss Janet Sloane, the
daughter and heiress of Sergt. Sloane
of the Sappers.
Miss Sloane was certainly a very
pretty girl.
So it happened that many gallant
sergeants and privates without num-
Der, and even a sergeant-major, who
possessed house property at home In
OAoCdAL WOOlWlCug WOIO Gil 0AShAAo
more or less for the love of Janet
Sloane.
But Miss Sloane encouraged none of
them, but smiled impartially upon
them all, protesting all the time that
she couldn't a-bear soldiers.
And even to the most hardened n
callous warrior a smile from Janet
was an experience not easily to be
forgotten.
Corporal MacBean was not a recent
victim of Janet's wonderful smile.
Over six months had elapsed since he
had first fallen under the influence of
that fatal smile, and, unlike most of
his fellow-victims, he had not recov-
cred.
On this particular afternoon he
could find no refuge in day dreams,
for that very morning he had seen
Janet smile with divine sweetness up
on the sergeant-major, and the thought
OF that smile, and Of the legendary
house property at WQolwich, ranked
in his bosom.
In this inventory he was ~ungrateful
enough to forget a very important item
in his claims upon the attention of
Janet Sloane.
"'Allo, Beano!" cried a little voice
at his elbow.
Corporal MacBean turned, and the
careworn Fuckers in his bronzed face
smoothed out as his gaze met two
round blue eyes fixed upon him.
This was the forgotten item-Miss
Victoria Donelly, daughter and sole
heiress of Capt. Donelly, the special
charge of Miss Sloane, and the darl-
ing of the whole garrison OF Fort
Curzon.
Miss Victoria was just three and a
half years old, end was already begin
ming to develop the faculty of oOserv-
alton to an abnormal extent. She
knew every man in the garrison pretty
well by name-even the Ghoorkas
whose names were beyond all pronun.
citation.
She was very much attached tt
"Beano," as she called Corporal Mac,
Bean, in accordance with the tradi
lions of the garrison, and Beanc
shared in the popular alteration &C
corded to this frail, motherless baby
Beano was always good for a gam
of horses, and once in harness would
toss his head and paw the ground an
curvet more nimbly than any rea
polo pony. Furthermore, he coulc
dress rag dolls better than any othe
man in the garrison, the regimenta
tailors not excepted.
Good afternoon, missile" replie,
Corporal MacBean in answer to a lone
inquiring stare.
Private Doolan got the toothache,
announced Chubby solemnly.
HAS he, missie?" replied the cor
poral.
"Yeth," lisped Chubby, with import
ance. Il heard the doctor pull it on
in the 'othpital juth now. Privat
Doolan did 'oller!"
did he, missie?" inquired Corpora
MacBean absently.
He was wondering where Jane
Sloane could be, for her little charg
had evidently given her the slip dur
ing their afternoon walk round tn
cantonments.
Il don't think Private Dooln'th
very brave man." continued Chubby
judicially.
why not, missie?" asked the col
poral.
You wouldn't boiler if you had
tooth out, l know. Nurth said yo
wouldn't, because you are too brave,
added Chubby emphatically.
Did she, thought"
Corporal MacBean sat up with sue
den interest.