The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-03
Weeds,

with don't-carc-a- fig g-for-anyhody
air.
whats the charge against these
fellows?" inquired the magistrate.
Drunk and disorderly, your wor-
ship, and assaulting the police
There was no defense.
"Any previous convictions?" asked
his worship, with Il sour look at the
two youths of promise.
Ripper thrust his hands deep into
his pockets: Snipley, somewhat older,
watched the doorkeerer with an
anxious eye. There were previous con-
fvictons.
"'rhat will do" said his worship So
verely. "You are evidently incorrigi-
bic. Such fellows are the weeds of So
ciety. It's Il pity you cannot be-.cr--
plucked out. You will be removed to
the house of correction for three
months"
A raw-footed and broken detach-
ment of a British infantry regiment
was stumbling Samely along a dreary
ravine in the interior of China. The
regiment helped make up a relief
force which was hurrying to the res
cue of A missionary station. Two
gray light of early morning and had
set out to reconnoitcr in the hills.
Through a childlilie faith in the eff
ticiency of the information supplied by
a so-called intelligence department,
tho major commanding the detach-
ment had got hopelessy out of his
reckoning. The intelligence depart
ment of the Chinese had not misled
them. and by the late afternoon the
British had fallen into an ambush.
From the rocky ridges flanking the
ravine the Chinese showed now and
then the gleam of scimitar to their
prey. Little puffs of smoke appeared
more frequently STILL and were some
times followed by sickening little
"plops," when the bullet met flesh and
bone in the valley. The dead lay
sp.'inliled in the wake OF the British
III dabs of scarlet, as it they were play
ing weird game of hare-and- hounds
with death.
The end of their endurance came
when the shadows of the rapidly ap-
preaching night closed in upon them.
The word to halt was given and obey
ed, although its mellow note killed all
hope. Rations of -four and water were
passed round, and, with the sentries
posted, the little body Of British sol
diers sat or lay at ease, rifle in hand.
waiting for night and-death.
Two hours passed: then the COM
manding officer was startled from
doze by a. hoarse whisper:
"Majer' Majer."
"Halla." he snapped, "who the
devils that"'
me, Majer-Privt 'Arrison. I've
bin a-talkin' the persition over with
a mate-fricnd, beggin' yer pard'n. sir
% mine, an we thinks theers a
chance o. savin' the detachment"
There were few eXplelves in the
darkness.
"Who told the privates the detach-
mcnt wanted any saving?'
Then there was a sound like sup
pressed chuckle, and the whisper re-
asserted Itself BY and by the ex-
pletiVes melted into answering Whis-
pers, then followed silence
Ten minutes after there sipped into
the silence the rustic of gently moving
men.
'Snipey. ole man."
''kipper,"
TWO hands CROPPED rdlculously in the
inky night until they found each
other. few answering cracks from
the hills We're followed by the hum
of wasted ammunition.
"Majer said it was five-ter-one
charnce,' replied Snipey. with some-
thing of Importance creeping into his
tone.
"Wot else did q say, mate. when
Yer axed 'm?"
Say" Why, few boomin' air
lifters at fust, as it's is nature to.
Then says /, me an my pal majer
reckons as these pigtails wun't want
ter tackle in the darkness a-cause they
might get cut up bit, so they'll wait
an pot us comfortable in the mornin','
Right y'are, ole chap, says e, Then
says, But If they'd smell rat. an
he down on us like lot % winter
sparrers on a hidden Considerable
powers o. penetration, e says. Then
says |, 'maier here's our plan. Let
one or two stop behind an keep affirm
from different places, an they'll think
we're all ERE: then the rest a. the
detachment can creep off foxy The
majar swears, an says it was a five
to-one chance Then % thinks a bit.
l
untcers for YOU an me to stop, a-cause
it wos us wot formerlated the inten-
tion. Couple of soaps afore you join
ed, eh?' - says. 'Certn'y, maier.' I
says, soothin'-like, Then / feels, sum-
mat a-foolin' about me in the dark
ness, an when | grabbed it found II
wos the majer's and"
"snipey," said Ripper, reproachfully,
you're a blisterin' liar"
That's the kernel of It. mate. It's
true about the and, though, Kip"
Crack, crack Increasingly the pitt
less rifles told the lurking Chinese that
their British pigeons were safe in the
nest below.
"kipper."
"Ole pail"
ole pail"
I'VE sorrer remember one thing,