, 1900-07-24

give Cory some Of that soup. Hold
up. my lad" he said, not unkindly:
you may make a soldier yet. Drink
this" and he handed him the tin YES
sci.
HE is a broth of a boy" shouted a
man, and this poor joke was greeted
with laughter ever by those who knew
they had but a few hours to live.
Cory sat up. The soup seemed to put
life into him, and he ceased to SILVER.
He was barely out Of his teens. but
his face, in its ashy grayness. looked
more like that Of a man who had
passed his prime.
"Fexlin' a bit better now?" began
the sergeant.
He'll run for 1t as soon as he's
able" remarked the other. "Whewi
Immediately there was a violent con-
cussion; the air was filled with dust.
smoke. and a pungent smell, and the
end Of the tent lit up with a tongue
of flame. In an instant three or four
men sprang forward and the fire vas
extinguished.
THE devils are firing at u.s. cried
the sergeant. The next shot will count
a bit II I am not mistaken
Scarcely were the words out Of his
mouth when a huge rent suddenly
opened In the canvas, and a shell
dropped right in the middle Of the
tent. The wounded ducked under their
covering, as II they would bury them
selves beneath the ground. The doc
tor. with another, rushed forward; but
Private Cory was before them.
Not you, doctor!" he shouted, as
he seized the bomb.
Quick, my man! Into the bucket
with it, said the doctor. mo! There's
no water! My God"
But Cory had dashed through the
opening and was running like a hare.
They were all dumfounded for a mo-
ment. Then a cheer broke from them
when they realized what he was doing
"a cheer in which dying men Joined.
Throw it away! Now! Throw it,"
yelled the doctor after him.
Still he ran. The music Of what he
knew was their applause rang in his
ears. Nothing had ever sounded SO
sweet to him. He smiled. 1t reminded
him family Of his achievements In the
football field, VIII , the crowd roared
their approval. ! 9 ball he carried
now was heavier, ut the applause
only he knew what 1t meant to him,
and he clutched the destructive missile
like a child hugging q doll. He felt
inclined to kiss 1t. II he lived he
would be a man and a comrade again.
II not-but he an on.
Some one has wisely said that 1t re-
quires often but the turn Of a straw
to make a coward a hero. or a hero q
coward. Cory was now a man again.
The paralysis Of panic thai
had seized him a few hours ago and
had frozen his heart existed now only
as a hideous dream. Another ten
yards-he was quite fifty from the
tent. He heard them urging him to
throw it. A few yards more, then with
q tremendous effort he hurled 1t from
him. Instantly there was an explo'
sion. and Cory fell on his face.
Poor chap! He II done for,
doubt" said the doctor, as severn
raced forward. followed by a number
of wounded, who limped in pain.
They knelt by his poor shattered
body. The sergeant. his old tormentor
regardless Of his " wounds. had
been among the first who rushed to his
assistance.
Cory raised the only hand left him
which the N. C. o. clasped murmurine
something about forgiveness. A smile
Of exultation played about his com
rade's face for a moment. then the
Aim of death gathered over his eyes
He tried to speak. but no words CANT
in obedience to the moving OF his lips
for his soul had taken Its flight to tina
land where brave spirits are at rest
Mainly About People.