Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-09-10
.osoeosososossosoeosososo:
The EueS Of Chance.

won count. Iry some OF these pleas
ants, your honor. They were sent me by
a friend, trusted old friend. Yes, as
was saying, a rascal more or less" And
the speaker, broad shouldered, blond
bearded man in uniform, launched forth
into a TRADE against the Arabs that from
any other man would have brought down
swift vengeance from these hardy sons OF
Algeria. But Vandier's CHEEKY smile and
kindly sympathy for the very men he
was engaged in execrating were proven
bal beneath the white tents that dotted
the sandy plains around us.
We, the judge of El Azereg and l, the
military doctor, We're seated at Vandier's
table. In spite of the disparity of oui
positions -tandier had risen from the
ranks to sergeantcy-we loved him for
his geniality, devotion to his duty and,
above ALL to his family, for whom he
lived, breathed and thought.
No, decidedly our good friend was ex-
empt from the risk other men had incur
red. But what did worry me was his
perpetual and incurable fondness for
winging anything feathered that came
within gunshot, despite the stringent laws
that forbade such sport and the dan
ger he, as guardian of these same laws,
ran when he infringed upon them.
| wondered silently whether the judge
was deceived by this excuse of an old
friend, and as l glanced at the sweet
faced little wife and her two bonny chill
dren | resolved to repeat my warnings to
Wander at the first opportunity. Alas,
fate willed it otherwise!
The day after our pleasant little visit
/ was returning from a long and some
what cheerless journey into the desert,
whittier | had been summoned to relieve
n suffering Arab, when was stopped by
n crowd of people, headed by my friend.
Garicn, the judge.
"Quick, DOCTOR" he cried. 81 am off to
El Azereg. Vandier has been assassi-
nated"
"DeadY 1 repeated, chilled to the.
heart.
mo; but pistol shot in the groin. He
is in great danger"
Mechanically l wheeled my horses
head in the opposite direction and gal
loped rapidly along beside .Garien, who
informed me that the police were al
ready on the spot.
The minutes grew into hours in my dis
torted fancy; | hoped my colleague had
been summoned in my absence for | felt
myself too excited to handle my patient
with the calm deliberaton so necessary
to "A physician. But, then, would he be
still living when we arrived?
"Oh" cried the village smith as we
dashed into FL Azereg, ''he is alive and
the murderer has been caught. Justice,
justice, your honor"
We entered the house huricdly. As
/ had hoped, my colleague had preceded
~
the agony of his wound, lay among the
white sheets that We're spotted by a few
drops of blood. Nine. Vander knet sob
bing beside him. The doctor Strengthened
as he saw us.
"JIe still lives. You will have time to
take his deposition"
Vnnder opened his eyes with groan
"Oh" he whispered, Its all over with
me. Watch over Marie and my little
ones. The government must provide for
them now. Don't abandon them"
/ could not answer: my grief tuggcd at
my throat, and | nodded sorrowfully.
Again the doctor spoke:
"'o save his strength | will repeat the
story of his mishap. Listen carefully,
Vandier, so that you can sign the decara
tion when it is finished" Vandier nod
lines than before.
"Vander was shot at very short range;
just how / cannot say us it is impossible
to search the wound-some Arab con-
trivance. loaded with stones perhaps.
The murderer is well known rascal,
Chenef Omar Abdelkader. living yonder
at Mahoudi. lie has just been arrested.
Vandier was returning from the farm of
Pavanni in his runabout. He was alone.
armed as usual with his gun and car
fridge belt, both carelessly thrown under
the sent. Everything seemed MS usual
until he approached El Azereg, when this
backguard sprang upon him from some
bushes at the roadside and without a
word shot at him. Vandier, though grave
ly wounded, reached for his gun: the tIig-
ger caught and the gun went off, the bull
let passing through the flooring of the
carriage. This accident gave the assas-
sin time to escape in the brush. but not
before the victim had recognized him as a
scamp who had just been imprisoned for
six months for theft. Then, by a su-
preme effort of his will. he managed to
drive into the village"
Poor Nandier! He had, then, fallen a
victim to his hasty words. During the
narrative his pallor had increased, and
as the judge glanced up, expectantly
awaiting his affirmation of the details
he opened his eyes with an expression of
anguish | have never before or since,
thank God. seen on any face.
"Wcll, Vandier, as you hope for i'm
mortal salvation. is this the truth?"
'Just an instant" interrupted my col
league.
ibid the Arab shoot from the right
or the left side?"
"Left."
STRANGE" murmured his interlocutor.
eve must investigate this. The wagon
is very high"
We filed out to inspect the wagon. and
when we returned convinced that very
tall man could have accomplished the
deed the invalid took the oath. and we
turned from the painful farewell scene
between husband and wife.
Outside the crowd surgcd and shouted
for justice. for Vandier was universal
favorite. Had 1t not been for the pres
cnce of the guards the cuprit would un
doubtcdly have been torn limb from limb.
He sat there impossible. his sinister face