The Winslow mail., 1900-05-10
A GENTLEMAN RANKER.
How an English Trooper Got His Let
ter Spoiled and Saved Another
Troopers Life.

n bowlder, his rifle barrel resting on
stone, the stock on his knees He
was using the stock for desk and
was writing iaboriously in pencil on
a crumpled half sheet of paper.
This is devilish hard work" he
said, but | must get it done to-day.
was always a poor fist at a letter.
How do you spell reconnaissance"
Trooper 943 gave him his idea of it.
That's all wrong" he said. I'm
sure there isn't a k in it. But it
doesn't matter. All my spelling's
gone to the deuce. / never learned
anything at school. and not much
since
Trooper 943 laughed. Seems to me
you know a lot" he said.
NO blarney. If you don't know as
much. YOU ought to be ashamed of
yourself"
Trooper 943 laughed again. He was
lying on his stomach. with a sharp
eve toward a possible shot. dozen
other men were intent on the same
business. while a couple more were
looking after the horses.
They never offered me no commits
sion" he said.
We'll. l didn't take the one they Of
fered me, did /? l made up my mind
when l was a kid | wasn't going to
be gentleman. / don't see why you
should keep on snickering. Tell me
how to spell that blessed French off,
GERS name, and shut up. L didn't see
the good of being a gentleman. like
lot of chaps l knew; it didn't look
like a trade that'd suit me. 1 did all
sorts of things to harden myself; used
to wrap up in a blanket and sleep
on the floor instead of in bed. l dare
say you think that was all tommy rot.
Well, p'r'aps it was"
a bullet buzzed overhead Trooper
943 sighted and fired.
Got him?"
Il wouldn't like to be the bloke's
wife and family"
Tell me if you see anything else.
] must get this finished"
He scribbled on for time in silence.
dropped his pencil. picked it up. and
rose to stretch himself.
"Git down, stoopidl" said Trooper
943.
4 second bullet buzzed and the
others right arm dropped to his side.
''Slick through the shoulder he
said. He sat down again. looking a
little pale.
Now you've bin and spoilt your
'andwriting." said 943. "Told you so.
Does it 'urt?"
NO, not much. Here. just sign my
name at the end of that letter. will
you?"
Trooper 943 signed the name in a
shambling. awkward hand. Then he
began to grumble again.
~Just like youl The best in our lit
tie lot got a ole in him. BIZ me, if
YOU amt daisy"
The other took the letter and
crammed it into his pocket with his
left hand.
shut up" he said. Il can shoot
from the left. Halloi Look outl"
The men were on their feet and in
the saddle in a moment, all but Troop
CT 943. who fell to one of the 20 bull
let's that had spit among them. The
letter writer was down again in
flash and had him across his horse
Trooper 943 laughed again, though
rather feebly 'Well, you are a
daisyi" he said
The men scattered and rode off in
n sputter of bullets.
drop me-" said Trooper 943. ''I'll
be all right. You'll only git copped." :"
''Shut up"
They did not get copped, but it was
a ride to be remembered all the days
of a mans life. Also. the letter was
spoiled.
You ought to ave the V. c. said
.943. some hours later. You fair saved
me-"
Did 10" said a voice from the next
bed And you spoilt my letter. you
ungrateful beggar. You might have
chosen somewhere else to bleed"
Trooper 943 grinned and tried to
turn his head.
Fair saved me. you did" he said.
"YOu amt gentleman. are you? Oh,
no."-Pall Mall Gazette.