Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1900-06-09
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5 FROM THE ENEMY'S LINE.


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Sergt Teddy Wilkins was lying
on his breast behind heap of earth
listening to the zip of Mauser bullets
over his head. The Spanish picket
line was sheltered by group of
trees not far away, and occasionally
a guerilla sharpshooter sent mes
sage of defiance from the high
branches.
The sergeant belonged to a New
York regiment which had hurried
to the front almost before Congress
had otncIally declared that the
United States was at war with the
proud old land which had taken the
trouble to discover her.
Three or four of the guerillas had
dropped from the trees and the
Spanish stragglers had been driven
back toward santiago by rafting
fire from the Springfield rifles of the
volunteers.
The weather was entirely too hot
to follow up an advantage over
few rice fed conscripts, and Co. X
was resting a bit and wondering if
the commissary department would
call upon them that day
Teddy" Wilkins was smoking the
artistically colored meerschaum
which he had brought from home
There had been no tobacco in the
rich, brown bowl for days, and the
sergeant was continually putting at
some of the dried grass of the coun-
try
:'HeIlo," exclaimed De = s.
Here they come to our pink tea. l
wonder how they found out we were
receiving this afternoon. Get out
hunt up the souvenir spoons.
They" proved to be a slender
young woman. who walked with
springy step, and an elderly woman,
who was anything but sylphlike,
who seemed to roll along the brown
earth. There was a look of terror
in the eyes of both of them. They
advanced toward the American sol
diers and held their hands above
their heads.
Mercy, mercy, senorl" cried the
girl in broken English.
Tell them to sit down on the sofa
and make themselves at home" sug-
gested De Jones. The young one
is rather good looking, at that =
Sergt. Theodore Wilkins of Com
pany X bent his stiffened limbs, adj
justed his cartridge belt, and went
to meet the newcomers.
I'VE beg protection" said the
younger woman We have come
from the city and we beg to be
spared by the chivalry of los Ameri
canoS."
Wilkins, who remembered some
thing of his OlleI 1orf, attempted to
say something in .-.nish, While. &c
meant to be reassuring. The girl
shook her head and puzzled express
sion came into her eyes.
do not spik Spanish more,
senor," she said Il have the English
very well. L went to school in Con-
necticut.'
Whereupon the men who had been
engaged in the gentle occupation of
exchanging compliments with the
Spanish foemen burst into an mp
roarious guffaw. to the great annoy
ance of Sergt. Theodore Wilkins
THAT Spanish of yours is great"
suggested the corporal
Lieutenant cam up just then The
two women said that they had just
come from beleagured Santiago in
order that they might escape death
in the bombardment that was sure
to come The lieutenant told them
that they need fear no danger, for
los Americanos" did not make war
upon women and children. He or
dered Sergt. wilkins and guard of
two men to escort the visitors out of
harms way
Teddy Wilkins was young He was
so youthful that he had hard work
getting into the regiment when he