The sun., 1901-03-06
"Weeds Of Society,"
The Story Of Snipey and Ripper.

anybody 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 a sour look at the
two youths of promise.
Ripper thrust his hands deep into
his pockets; Snipey, somewhat older
watched the dockkeeper with an
anxious eye. There were previous
convictions.
"That will dol" said his worship
severely. You are evidently in
corrigible. Such fellows are the
weeds of society. It's a pity you can,
not be-er-plucked out. You will he
removed to the house Of correction
| ior three months"
A raw-footed and broken detach.
ment of British infantry regiment
was stumbling gamely 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 missionary station. Two
smart companies had mustered into
the gray light of early morning and
had set out to reconnoiter in the
hills. Through childlike faith in the
efficiency of the information supplied
by so-called intelligence department
the major commanding the detach.
ment had got hopelessly out of his
reckoning. The intelligence depart.
ment of the Chinese had misled
them, and by the late afternoon the
British had fallen into an ambush
From the rocky ridges fanking the
ravine the Chinese showed now and
then the CLEAN 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
md bone in the valley The dead
lay sprinkled in the wake of the
British in dabs of scarlet, as if they
were playing weird game of hare.
and-hounds with DEATH
The end of their endurance came
when the shadows of the rapidly ap
preaching night closed upon them
The word to halt was given ant
obeyed, although it's mellow note
killed all hope. Rations of -four ant
water We're passed round and, Will
the sentries posted, the little body O
British soldiers sat or lay at ease
o rifle in hand, waiting for night and
!. death.
Two hours passed: then the com
!. 1nanding officer was startled from ;
. doze by hoarse whisper;
"Maier! majer!"
"IIallo!" he snapped "Who tn
!, devil is that?"
i ME, majer-Privit 'Arrison T'v
bin a-talkin' the persition over with
y, inate-friend, beggin' yer pard'n, sir
O. mine, an we thinks theers
olarnce o. savin' the detachment"
There were few expletives in tn
darkness.
: "Who told the privates the detach
= , ment wanted any saving?"
n Then there was a sound like sun
! pressed chuckle, and the whisper re
= asserted itself. by and by the eS
4
pers, then followed silence.
Ten minutes after there slipped in
to the silence the rustic of pentl
re moving men.
"a "Snipey, ole mani"
"Kipper!"
s. Two hands CROPPED ridiculously i
id the inky night until they found eac
other. A few answering cracks fro1
=. the hills were followed by the hum q
v wasted ammunition.
-, "Majer said as it was fve-ier-on
charnce," replied Snipey, with some
4. thing of Importance creeping into hi
" tone.
u 'Wot else did e say, mate, whe
=" yer axed imp"
Say? Why, bloomin' air-lifter
~ at fust, as it's 'is.nature to. The
Z, says l, Me an my pal, maier, reckon
y ms these pigtails wun't want ter tacbI
=; in the darkness, a-cause they nigh
get cut up bit: so they'll wait al
pot us comfortable in the mornn'
Right y'are, old chap says e. The
l says, But il we tried to do a GU,
y majer, ole pal, they'd smell rat, al
e, be down on rs like lot O. winte
y sparrers on hidden 'Considerabl
- powers O. penetration e says. Then
"a says ], 'majer, here's our plan. Lc
~ one or two stop behind an keep
% firm from different places, an they
Y. think we're all 'ere; then the rest
!" the detachment can creep of foxy
The maJer swears. an says it wos
y, five-to-one chance. Then e thinks
- bit. Then e says Ell try it. The
l volunteers for you an me to stol
a-cause it wos us wot formerlated I'll