Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-04-25
A GeNTLEMAN RANKeR
How He Spoiled His Letter = Ths
Trooperss Life.

How He Spoiled His Letter = Tho
Trooper's Life.
He was sitting with his back against
1 bowlder. his rife barrel resting on
stone. the stock ON his knees. He was
ssing the stock for q desk and was
writing laboriously In pencil on .
rumpled half-sheet of paper. says the
Pail Mall Gazette.
'This IL devilish hard work." he said,
but must get 1t done to-day. was
always . poor hst at . letter. How
10 you spell reconnoissanceT
Trooper o4S gave him his Idea OF IL
That's all wrong" he said. I'm
ure there isn't X In it. But It doesn't
natter. All my spellinIs gone to the
isucs. never learned anything at
school, and not much siRce."
Trooper 943 laughed. Seems to me
Tou know q lot" he said.
mo blarhey! II you don't know ~
much you ought to be ashamed OF
rourself"
Trooper 943 laughed again. He was
ying ON his stomach with q sharp eye
toward possible shot. A dozen other
men were intent on the same business,
while a couple more were looking after
he horses.
They never offered me no commits
sion," he said.
We'll, I didn't take the one they Of
:ered me. did I? 1 made up my mind
when I was a kid wasn't going to be
I gentleman. don't see why you
should keep ON snickering. Tell me how
% spell that blessed French officers
lame. and shut up. I didn't sec the
rood Of being a gentleman. like lot
II chaps 1 knew; IL didn't look like a
:rads thatd suit me. l did all sorts
" things to harden myself: used to
wrap up IN q blanket and sleep on the
ioor instead Of IN bed. dare say you
:hink that was all tommy rot. Well.
traps It was"
A bullet buzsed overhead. Trooper
ba8 sighted and fired.
"Got hfnr
Il vealdn't like to be the bloke's wife
md fam'1y."
Tell me- II you see anything else.
must get this finished"
He scribbled on for a time in silence,
iropped his pencil, picked 1t up. and
'ose to stretch himself.
"Git down, stoopidr' said Trooper
A3.
A second bullet buzzed and the 9th
RS right arm dropped to his side.
"Slick through the shoulder" he said.
he sat down again. looking a little
)ale.
"Now you've bin and spoilt your and
writing" said 94S. Told you 50. Does
t 'urt?
mo, not much. Here, just sign my
,ame at the end Of that Letter. will
gouY'
Trooper 043 signed the name In a
,hambling, awkward hand. Then he
began to grumble again.
lust like you! The best in our little
OF got a ole in him. BIZ me, II you
iin't daisy"
The other took the letter and cram
ned 1t into his pocket with his left
land.
shut up," he said. II can shoe,
rom the left. Hello! Look outr'
The men were ON their feet and In
:he saddle in a moment, all but Troop.
| ar 943, who fell to one Of the twenty
bullets that had spit among them. The
etter writer was down again in q fash
ind had him across his horse. Trooper
,43 laughed again, though rather fee.
by. "Well. you are daisy" he said
The men scattered and rode OF in q
sputter of bullets.
drop me-" said Trooper 043. "I'll
De all right. You'll only git copped."
'Shut up!'
They did not get cOpped. but It was
l ride to be remembered all the days
II a mans life. Also. the letter was
.poiled.
You ought to ave the v. c." said
.43, some hours later. "You fair saved
| me-"
Did IT' 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 your Oh
not"