Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-07-20

tion Of the forces even before the move
began. The dudes and the "toughs"
parted company; and the former, with
Stanley Armstrong once more riding
silent at their head, joined forces with
Stewards riddled regiment up the rail-
way toward Malolos. Col. Frost had
succeeded in convincing the surgeons
that he would be as much out Of place
as his name itself in such a cline and
climi tie, and was in daily expectation
Of an order home. Billy Gray, mending
only slowly, had been sent 10 COrregi-
dor, where the bracing breezes Of the
China sea drove their tonic forces
through his lungs and veins. and the
family rising hue Of coming health
back into his hollow cheeks. The boy
had been harder hit than seemed the
case at first, said the fellows of the
-teenth; but the wise young surgeon
Of the Second reserve and a grave
faced colonel of infantry could have
told of causes little dreamed of in the
regiment-were either given TO telling
the half Of what he knew.
That something most unusual had oc
Cured in the room Of Mr.. Gray the day
that the sad-faced, kind old general Wis
tied the hospital at least half a dozen
patients could have told; for an at
tendant went running for one cf the
women nurses, and the doctor himself
hurried TO the scene. II was on his
arm that, half an hour later, Mrs. Gar
rison slowly descended the stairs, her
fimsy white veil down, and silently
bowed her thanks and adieuX as the
doctor closed the door of her carriage
and nodded TO the little coachman. 1t
was the doctor who suggested 10 Col.
Frost that Manila air was not conducive
to his wife's recovery, and recommend
ed Nagasak as the place for her re-
cuperation until he could join her and
take her home. The Esmerelda bore
the White sisters over Iong-Kong way
within a week; and they left without
flourish Of trumpet, with hardly the
futter Of handkerchief; for, since the
battle OF the 9th Of February, neither
had been seen upon the Luneta. Their
women friends were very few; the men
they knew were mainly at the front.
The story got out somehow that CARR
son had asked to be relieved from fur
ther duty as aid-de-camp and returned
TO duty with his regiment, and that
Drayton would not have il. The gen
erals manner toward that hard-work
ing staff officer. though often preoccu-
pied as OF old, grew even kinder. lie
did not see the sisters off for China
he was far too busy was the eNp.a-
nation; but h. offered Garrison a fort
Nights leave and urged his taking il,
and was obviously troubled when Car
rison declined. You need rest and the
change Of air more than any man /
know" said he; but Garrison replied
that change Of scene and air would not
help him.
There were two young fellows in
Khaki uniforms landed from the hospi-
tai launch on the back trip from Correg-
idor one warm March day. One wore
the badge of a subaltern of the -teenth
regulars. the other the chevrons of
corporal and the hatband of famous
fighting regiment of volunteers; yet
the same carriage bore them swiftly
through the sentineled streets Of the
walled city, and the guards at the Ayun-
tamiento sprang to their arms and
formed ranks at sight of it, then dis
persed at the low-toned order Of it's
commander when it was seen that, in
stead Of stopping at the curb and dis
charging an elderly general officer, il
whirled straight by and held two youths
in field uniform.
Zone sf ems young Gray, Of the
-teenth; he that was hit ia the charge
on the Panay road" said the officer of
the guard to comrade. But who the
devils the other? He had corporals
chevrons on. Some fellow just got
commission, perhaps" And that was
the only way the soldier could account
for a corporal riding with a commits
stoned officer in a generals carriage.
They had long whirl ahead of them,
these two; and the corporal told Gray,
as he already had the general and Col.
Armstrong, much Of the story Of his
friendship for"Pat" Latrobe. of that
poor fellows illness at San Francisco
and all the trouble it cost his friend
and chum. There was a strong bond
between them, he explained; and the
blush of shame that stole up in the face
of the narrator found instant answer
in that of Billy Gray. Determined to
see service at the front and not return
TO punishment in his regiment, never
dreaming that, in quitting a corps
doomed apparently to inactior at home,
and joining ne'going straight to the
enemy country, la was committing the
grave crime of desertion, "Gov" Prime
had spoken to some men in Stewards
regiment and was hidden TO come alcng
and fetch his friend; for they were just
as ignorant as he. Having still consid-
cradle money, Gov" had bought civil
ian clothes and all the supplies they
needed while about town and hired
boat that rowed them, with certain
items contraband Of war, TO the dark
side of the transport as nightfall camo;
and they were easily smuggled aboard
and into uniform, and then, during the
few days stay at Honolulu, were for