The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-07-28

deputed to do their work while his ED
ers INDUCED in quiet fiutter.
! Luck was in favor of Captain Ma
sham, and so much against captain
| DAILY that In tolerably rapid succession
! he lightened himself of his never enor-
nous stock of ready money, bills on Mr.
Greenwood, of Charing Cross, repre-
senting a future six months pay dis
counted at war rates, bis second
charger, the saddlery pertaining to the
same, various items of his personal
wardrobe, and his whole armo1y, with
the exception of his sword. He played
away not only what he had with him
! at the advanced post in the reBlmental
carts and aboard the transport down at
| the base. but every other possession
| near and far of which the recollection
occurred to him, including half inter-
est in a chasing stable at the Curragh.
After he had actually mortgaged the
services of his batman, he had nothing
left but bis horse, Pious william, the
clothes he stood in, the sword he car
ried, and the value Of his commission.
Then he smilingly observed that he
would play no more, and, notwithstand-
ing pressing invitation from Masham
to put Pious William in the pool, shook
himself and retired, still smiling, from
the little knot of gamblers.
The men called a bantering. jest after
the jauntlly retreating figure, and saw
the shoulders shake as readily as their
own, but had they marked the Wistful
look which, now his back was turned TO
them, appeared on Captain Days face
they would have spared their chaff.
Sauntering past the sentry, DAILY
made for a clump of olive trees a few
hundred yards in front Of the furthest
vedette; it ought to have been either
cut down or occupied, but the youngest
subaltern had not a rudimentary
knowledge Of the business of placing
pickets, and no one else bothered his
mead about the matter.
Captain Days object in approaching
these trees was to pick out nice ono
on which to hang himself, out Of sight
of his friends; for Captain DAILY was as
broke as broke could be. Had he been
at home he would have put pistol bull
let through the roof of his mouth, but
he was q good enough soldier to remem-
Der the worry the report Of firearms
causes on outpost duty, and besides, he
had no pistol, having just parted with
his to Captain Masham. Again, he
might have played the Roman fool and
died on his own sword, but he feared
that some wretched peasant might be
strung up under suspicion of having
murdered him. If he were found hang
ing, his sword in it's scabbard by his
side, people would understand no one
was to blame but himself.
His mind intent upon the dread sac
rifice, he entered the little grove and
cast a critical glance around; he had
hanged other men in his day, and
knew what to look for
The precise kind of tree he wanted
stood in the middle of the grove, but as
he approached he was Disguised to find
that ii had already a tenant, a French
officer Of chasseurs, who had clearly
been there some time.
With a revulsion Of feeling from his
own fell intent, DAILY cut down the
melancholy remnant of what seemed to
have been Just such another man as
hmself,x and prodding out with his
sword a shallow hole In the moist
ground, laid him heverently TO rest and
said a short prayer over HMM
French, as a compliment to his client.
Then he meditated awhile upon the
unpleasant appearance one presents if
one hangs for a long time upon tree,
and made his way to the far
side of the thicket to take Whit of
fresh air before he finally made up his
mind.
:" tbs an uncommon fine morning" he
observed to himself, as he gazed away
down the frosty slopes toward the riv-
er. He could see little hamlet On the
other side of the stream, but 1t did not
appear to be occupied, nor, indeed, We're
any of the enemy visible although a
curl of black smoke up the hill mile
or more behind the buildings suggested
the probable whereabouts of picket
Captain DAILY looked long and loving
ly upon the hamlet, his eye had caught
the glare of sun upon a signboard, and
a desire for sherry entered into him.
He had no money to pay for refresh
ments, but the inn, lying as it did I'M
der French protection, was clearly fair
game for the poor brave British soldier. |
In the other scale, for the poor brave
British soldier to venture across the !
stream in the light of day meant death |
Or capture. But qlioth Captain Daily |
aloud, very pleased at the reflection, ''if |
I'm killed it'll save me the anxiety of |
lying and IL I'm captured it'll save my
messing expenses And if neither hap |
pens Til have a good drink for nothing. |
And whatever happens there's the fun |
IF the thing. So here goes
He was about to start upon his jour /
ley, when a brilliant thought of how |
he perils of 1t might be diminished |
struck him. He turned back to the
newly made grave, rooted up the occu-
pant. and, having as delicately as he |
,ould removed the uniform, proceeded |
% don 1t in place of his own, which,
carefully folded, he hid away in the TO
iagc. Then he buried the body again,
gave 1t q second prayer as interest on
he loan, and with a light heart danced
away on his adventure, caring little
whether his own interment were the
lext to take place in these parts.
III the appropriate uniform. Captain
DAILY, with his Celtic appearance,
passed muster well enough for an Off
er of Chasseurs; so well indeed that
me of his own vedettes let fly Il carbine
Juliet at him when he emerged from
over at the far side of the trees.
Fad luck to the man." groWled Cap