Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-03
A GENTLEMAN RANKER.

Pail Mall Gazette: He was sitting with
his back against a bowlder, his rifle oar
rel resting on a Stone, the stock on his
knees. He was using the stock for a desk,
and was writing laborously In pencil on q
crumpled half sheet of paper.
This is devIl.sh hard work." he sad.
l must get it done today. l was
anyways a Door fist at a letter. % do
you spell reconnaissance
Trooper 943 gay him his idea of it.
That's all wrong" he said. I'm sure
there isn't a X In IT.. But 1t doesn't a
ter. ALI my spelling's gone to the deuce.
l never learned anything at school, and
not much since"
Trooper s43 laughed. Seems to me you
know a lot" he said.
mo blarney! If you don't know as
much you ought to be ashamed OF you
SELF
Trooper s4s laughed again. He was ly-
ing on his stomach with a sharp eye to-
ward a possible shot A dozen other men
Wee intent on The same business,
while a couple more were looking after
the horses.
''They never offered me no commits
sion,' he said.
"Well. I didn't X the one they offer
ed me. did I? I made up my mind when I
was a kid I wasn't going to be a gentle
man. l don't see why you should keep
on staggering. Tell me how to spsll that
blessed French officers name, and shut
up. I didn't see the good of being a gen.
tleman, like a lot Of chaps I knew; it
didn't look like a trade that'd suit ME. L
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 daresay you
think that was all tommy rot. Well,
p'r'aps It was"
A bullet buzzed overhead. Trooper 943
sighted and fired.
"Got him?"
and family"
Tell me if you see anything else. !
! must get this finished"
He scribbled on for a time in silence,
dropped his pencil, picked 1T UP, and rose
to stretch himself.
Cit down, stoopid!" said Trooper 94S.
A second bullet buzzed, and the others
j right arm dropped to his side.
"Slick through the shoulder he said.
He sat down again, looking a little pale.
"Now you've been and spolt our and
writing" said 943. Told you so. Does
it 'urt?"
mo. not much. Here, just sign my
name at the end Of that letter, will you 2"
Trooper 943 signed the name in a
shambling, awkward hand. Then he be-
gan to grumble again.
Just Ike you! The best in our little
lot got a ole in him. BIZ me, if you atn1
a daisy!"
The other took the letter and crammed
it into his pocket with HIS left hand.
Shut up" he said. II can shoot from
the left. Halo! Look out!"
The men We're on their feet and in thu
saddle in a moment, all but Trooper 943
who fell to ONE of the twenty bullets tina
had split among them. The letter write
was down again in a flash and had hin
across his horse. Trooper 345 laughed
again, though rather feebly. "Well, 70,
are q daisy!" he said.
The men scattered and rode off in;
Uputter Of bullets. =
Drop me-, said Trooper 943. .I'll b.
all right. You'll only git copied"
"Shut up!"
They did not get COPIED. but 1T was
ridetto be remembered all the days Of
mans life. Also, the letter was spoiled
"You ought to ave the v. c." said 81
some hours later. you fair saved me-
Did II" said a voice from the next bed
And you spoilt my letter, you migrate
fun beggar. You might. have chosel
somewhere else to bleed" tn-
Trooper 943 grinned and tried to tur,
his head.
"Fair saved me, you did," he said
"You amt a gentleman, are you? oh, no..