The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-05-22


turned to face the tall
young soldier standing motionlcss and
attentive in the doorway. II was al
most minute before he answered
and when he did there was something
akin to pity in his voice.
"Yes. corporal. ana for q very dan.
gerous piece of work, too. You need
not feel compelled to do 1t, as II is vol.
untary service. but there is no man
whom l can trust so well as yourself"
The corporal inclined his head slightly
mt the compliment, and the other con.
tinued. THE truth is we are In tight
place. and l must get dispatch to
Major Upton at Using Pei to send us
re-enforcements or come to our assist
ance. 1t is dangerous mission. Will
you undertake it?"
81 will do my best" was the simple
response.
''Thank you, corporal One thing
more. Mr.. Latham here'-indicating
by gesture gentleman sitting In an
opposite corner of the room and hlth.
erto unnoticed by the young subaltern
has come down from the north to-
day and must get on to Pekin as rap
idly as possible. He wants to accom-
pany you on your ride"
At the mention of Mr.. Latham's
name Corporal Frank Russell gave a
slight start, and then smiled grimly
when he thought how secure dis
guise his mustache and sunburn would
be. Like flash the events of one sad
Hay three years before went through
hls mind. He had been society
pan" in Chicago in those days, with
penchant for literature and art, but
Kan aversion to concentrating his ener-
gies on steady work, an unfortunate
circumstance for him, as he had no
means of support. Modern society has
n stern law that paupers shall never
presume to fall in love, but love laughs
mt such restrictions. Unkind fate led
him across the path of Gertrude Lath-
am. only daughter Of a rich broker and
mine owner, and she, in spite of the in
Aequality of their positions, returned
lis love.
lOO ibtt liit xiii NuN SNut W iIuiODt
b make her forget him in the whlrl of
ravel, while he was advised to cease
his attentions TO her for all time to
come. He was honest enough to real
ize that he had made a mistake, and
SO. unwilling to he the means of caus-
ing her any additional unhappiness, he
lett Chicago, and after several months
of wandering enlisted In the cavalry
as n common soldier.
Good conduct raised him to the rank
of corporal, and then the battalion had
been ordered to China to assist in the
Aelief of Pekin. A vision of Gertrude
he last saw her passed before his
es-her trim figure set off by gray
liking costume, her auburn hair and
DaSaS lssP]heeiSs glowing from a
mp in the keen October air.
b effort Russell composed him.
saluting respectfully, turned
the room. Two hours later,
ID ON fresh horses ard armed
emergency, the two men rode
YenhO Tcheng, taking the main
Fhich follows pretty closely the
10 Iilrer and leads on to Pekin.
efe was not little danger of their
bunterlng rowing bands of Boxers
andits, for the detachment of cav
which ha1 eft Pekin several days
ious had eparated into two or
rites, using Using Pei
rations, from whence,
untry In every direc-
Kidding 1t of all enc
[rty. under Lieutenant
n6d pressed on up the river
las Yenho Tcheng, town on the
wall lat the Konankow Pass,
hearing that a large force of
were gathering in his rear, and
bg to be cut off, he had found 1t
sary to send ON word Of his pre-
mt to the commander of the
dy of the troops at Using Pei.
rode ON In silence, not wishing
any more noise than possible,
Frank Russell care to converse
Latham, lest something in
or manner should betray his
Not t.iat he harbored any re-
against the elder man, but
from having Gertrude know
he had fallen from his for
in life.
S6Aly they were compelled TO
MS through the forest in Or
Void villages, and once they
ID time to conceal themselves
of Chinese soldiers went by