The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-07-19
CnAPTER NNII.-CoNrINrEn.

Another week rolled by. The tide OF
battle had swept inland and iiorthward;
and all eyes were on the plucky advance
OF MncArthut's strong division, while
Tar out TO the south and east the
thinncd and depleted lines Of Anderson
held an insurgent force that forever
menaccd hn' dare not attack. The
Primeval Dudes, sorcly missing their
calmly energetic colonel, had drifted
Into a war OF words with their nearest
ncighbors on the firing line. far west
crn regiment gifted with great com
mand of language and small regard for
style. The latter had crowcd nightly
over their more vigorously disciplined
comrades because of the compliments
bestowed on them in an official report,
wherein the Dudes received only honor
able mention. II was Capt. Strickcr Of
the volunteers who had led the dash on
the rebel works across the Trpa to the
left of Blockhousc IL. IL was their
Sergt. Finncy who whackcd a Filipino
major with the butt of his Springfield,
and tumblcd out of him the batch of re-
ports and records tha. gave the num-
bers and positions OF every unit of
Pillars division on the southwark zone.
II was their Corporal Norton who got
the Mauscr through the shoulder just
MS, foremost in the rush, he bayonctcd
the last Tagal Mt the Krupp guns in the
river rcdoubt. II was his devoted
bunky, Private Latrobc. who volun-
tcered to carry the division com
mnnder's dispatch across the open rice
field and the yawning bitches that sep
aratcd the staff from the rest of the
charging --tccnth. and who died glo-
riously in the rush on the rebel works.
Man after man Of the woolly wcstcrners
had been referred to by name, while the
Dudes had nothing 10 show but hcir
wounded coloners modest report that
"where every officer and man appeared
To do his whole duty il would I've un-
just To make especial mention Of even
limited few" The Dudes were getting
hot over the taunts Of the "Toughs,'
ns some one had msnnmed their neigh
bors; and one night when there was
more or less interchange Of pointed
chaff In lieu Of Il fight with u common
foe there was heard shrill voice from
the flank OF the rifle pit nearest the
wcstprncrs. and what il said was re-
peated in wondcrment over the brigade
before the Dudes were another day
older.
"Wcll. dash your thievin' gang! We
made our record for ourselves, any
how. We didn't have TO rely on any
dashed ,lcscrtcrs from the rcgulars-as
you did"
And that was why Sergt. Stcrhc, OF
the Dudes, was sent for by the field
officers of both regiments the follow
ing morning and bidden TO explain,
which he did In few words. He was
ready To answer that the wounded
CORPORAL Norton was the very same
young man he saw In the adjutants
Office of the -tcenth regulars at Camp
Merritt. and was then called Morton
And that evening the veteran sergeant
major of the --tecnth was bidden to
report at the reserve hospital in Err
mita, close to the Mnlatc line, was con
Quoted to the bedside OF n pallid young
soldier whose ticket bore the name OF
Norton, and was asked to tell whether
he had ever seen him before.
81 have, sir" said the veteran, sadly
and graycly. ale is descrter from the
--tccnth. His name on our rolls was
Norton" And that night Col. Arm
strong cabled to "Primate," New York
the single word Found" Nor was II
likely the lad would soon be lost again
for a sentry with fixed bayonet stood
within ten feet of his bed with orders
not to let him out Of his sight second
Mrs. Garrison appeared Mt the hos
pital that very evening and heard of tho
episode, and reached Billy Grny's bed
side locking harasscd, even baggnrd
During the past three days she had beer
accorded admission, for Gray was Sc
much improved there was no reason Il
longer forbid; but on each occasion the
wounded volunteer officer and the brac,
OF attendants present had prccludcd al
possibility OF confidential talk. Sh'
must bide her time. Gray would be nj
In u few days, said the doctor; and thcI
nothing would do, said Mrs. Garrison
but he must be moved to their big
roomy, lovely house on the bay side
ard be made strong and well again
made to give up those letters, too
thought she; for she had wormcd itou
of bystnnder that n packet OF som
kind had been given by the dying sol
iier to the lieutenant, and she wei
knew what II must be. She had eve
penned him n little note, since not
whisper could he safely exchanged, AM
hendedit. "Give this back to me the mo
ment you have readit." Init she remind
ed him of his promise, nnd-did he nee
To be reminded OF hers? She knew tina
packet of Nita's letters had been IN
trusted to his care. She assured hin
she had Il straight from the surgeon
who attended both Latrobe and him
self, and they must reach the hands
no man on enrth, but must come to hei
Would he not give them nj once or &c
her where she could find them?
He gave back the note, but closed hi
eyes and turned awny. III the presenc
Of Armstrong day after day, and III ~
recollection OF Latrobe's dying face an
the last parting touch Of his stricke
hand, Gray's eyes were opening to hi
own deplorable weakness. She plainl
saw her power was going, II not gone
He had wrapped a silk hardkerchi'
about the packet and still kept II. wit
his watch and purse, beneath his pillow
He would not tell her where II lay. Sh
smiled nrchly for the benefit Of the n
tendant; but her eyes again eagerl
claimed look from his, her lips frame
the word tomorrow"
But neither on that morrow nor y,