Connecticut western news., 1900-09-20
THE ALTERNATIVE
A Story of tho South African
 War.

"The question at issue," Charles Shaefer said quietly, ''is between this and that"
 This" was a man, a native black South African runner. He lay fiat on his back in the little valley, his unsee- ing eyes wide open, motionless save for an occasional twitching of the mus cles, his life blood trickling through the hastily applied bandage which con- cealed the bullet wound in the head. The man was silent, except when his parched lips moved in the inarticulate mutter of delirium.
 Charles Shaefer, Reuters special correspondent In the Transvaal, did not allow his eyes to finger long upon the piteous black figure His gaze revert ed to that" a small package of pa- pers, evidently of great importance, carefully wrapped in a. waterproof GOV ering which he had drawn from his breast pocket.
 'Now that we are reduced to two horses only," he went on, his eyes shifting for a moment to the carcass of a third horse which Lay dead some 20 yards off, ''and seeing that we are in the enemy's country, probably 24 hours ride from the nearest we'll of water, and that this nigger Is dead weight on our hands'-
 "You surely don't dream of abandon. ing the poor devilY' Tom Barker broke in.
 Shaefer glanced uneasily at his com panion. Barker was a puzzle to him, Af fCtt ability, young, but already a success as journalist, yet occasionally betraying vein of sentimentality altogether out of place in connection with his friend of Teutonic origin. Shaefer had had inconvenient experience of this 'too English" peculiarity more than once during the three months enforced i'm prisonment in Ladysmith, from which they had just escaped with the invalu- able help of the negro runner.
 You wouldn't leave him here to die?" the Englishman persisted.
 Shaefer rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He's sure to die soon in any case"
 ''I don't think so. If we can get him on my horse and carry him a bit ont of this''-
 Its out of the question, Barker. He cannot walk, and these two horses are already tired out, and we cannot possibly do it.
 Besides, the horses are my proper ty," continued the German. "I had to pay big price for them In Ladysmith, and we've already lost one in our re- cent encounter with the Boer outposts. I must get my dispatches In at the nearest telegraph station. It's 40 miles | off yet, and I suppose you want to get yours in, too. for the London T. reckon on selling these beasts when we get safely over the Tugela river, and don't propose leaving one behind" And the Germans eyes gleamed angrily, his voice thick with passion.
 What's the life of a nigger runner worth?" he growled.
 He's a man. anyway" Tom Barker retorted. Suppose I refuse to leave the fellowT
 '-Then"-and now Shaefer became ominously cool-'I shall again be fore i ed to remind you that your horse Is my property. l go, and the horse you ride goes with me. You can come or not, as you please"
 Barker turned pale. That Is the choice you offer me? Then I say you are blackguard."
 And I say" indifferently, ''that you are a fool. Come, will you mountT "No," furiously.
 The Reuter- correspondent shrugged his shoulders.
 | Have 1t your own way" he said. You'll be food for the Boers before morning" And, gathering up the relns of the second horse, he prepared to Barker sprapg upon him suddenly. No. you don't" he cried. You shall leave me one horse, you brute, though 1t were a hundred times your prop erty."
 | Stand offr' the German cried. Tom Barkers answer was to close | with him silently, and there ensued Il | trial of strength the issue of which seemed for several minutes doubtful. The men were not badly matched. Shaefer was a little heavier, but he was older by 15 years, and Barkers 1.-the body had known an English pub | IC SChOOi tEdlulHS. Iuc TcSuIt Ol the fight seemed uncertain, when the Ger man suddenly loosed his hold and fell back, leaving the reins of the second horse almost in the others clutches. But Barker, raising his head and about to seize the reins, found himself GOV cred by his antagonists revolver.
 Now, perhaps" the German core spondent observed, you will listen to reason. I know you haven't got gun on you, my friend. I know something of your strange English character. There Is nothing like being ready for any emergency that may arise"
 Tom Barker, under the covering re- volver. stood erect and mute. To ar- que further with a man prepared to commit murder on behalf of a horse and few news dispatches of no great importance would be simple waste of breath.
 | Keeping the muzzle of the revolver po!nted full at Barker's breast. Shaefer ! Jumped into his saddle, and, seizing the reins of the other horse, he started of at sharp trot As long as Barker re- mained in running distance the Ger man occasionally looked back to be sure he was not followed. In five min utes he was but speck in the distance on the South African yeldt. Ifs your own fault, remember, If you lose your life and fail to get your news In Mon days London T." was his final
 greeting as he disappeared over the
 crest of the nearest kopje, turning to
 his right.
 When he had disappeared, Barker Elooked around him, reviewing the situ
 ation. It was not a very cheering
 prospect that met his eye. Two hills
 or kopjes, of some thousand feet rose
 to the right and left, and he could sec
 the setting sun on the horizon between
 them far beyond on the veldt The
 day had been intensely hot.
 ''I don't know what the deuce to dc | Ae,i in