The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-30
x THE ADVERTISERS # # W N # .ss DAILY SHORT STORY.S /


ous roar. Vague lightning played through the wall. Men dropped like ripe fruit from a shaken tree. shouts of exultation often dropped into dying 1 groans. Still unharmed. side by side the r:val officers fought, the same inn pulses moving their bodies, the same vision flaming in their minds.
 But if each officer knew the others mind was engaged with the same thoughts and images. he couldn't re- sist the belief that the other held dark purpose in addition unworthy of himself. but to be expected in the | other.
 They were enemies, of course. In self defense they couldn't wish each other well.
 l He'd rather die than lose Christine. He'd see me die with secret joy. believe he would kill me if he knew te would never be suspected. am too magnaminous. I am too chivalrous to nourish such a thought respecting him, but I am sure he would kill me if he could. I'll be between twin perils throughout this action" This horri- ble suspicion flew through the jealous mind of Capt. Blake. and, with refer ence to the captain. it sped on through the jealous heart Of Lieut.. Summers.
 Each in his present morbid state. furious with two passions, wrongly felt | the other would connive at his death! Now the men are in the very teeth of the awful monster. Great mouths open and spurt out tearing missiles of death. All sounds. small and tremen- dous, run together in a continuous roar l that became half silence. All passions are reduced to one primal. elemental desire - the lust of slaughter. This is the pressing, omnivorous instinct. From the rim of that vortex. hope, love, despair, fear all fly like feeble wisps of vapor. Through plunging arm; through pressing foil: through pointed eyes; through lifted lip; through sing ing nostriI but one feeling surges- the lust Of slaughter.
 | Lieut.. Summers Is at the side of his rival. and both fight with that cool resolution and tremendous execution of fearless men exalted by dual purpose. Suddenly, without experiencing any | distinct pain. Lieut. Summers felt the strength flow from his great arms. Out stretched. their weight overbalanced him and he dropped forward. Bells sang in his ears a moment. but by onl- nipotent will force he struggled to his all fours. and then gained his feet by the assistance of Capt Blake. A feeble thread of smoke was then seen crawl 1 ing from his coat little below the l heart.
 My laurels for my grave" he grim ly thought and smiled.
 The next instant dinp. straight ob- ject came plunging down through the smoke. spearing toward the heart of Capt. Blake. In the snarl of the crowd and jam. he had no power to avoid 1t. had he known 1t was coming. Would neither brave man go back with laur- | els?
 Instantly Lieut.. Summers. with the last squirting energy of dying flame. drove hls shoulder like glun. between the bayonet and it's intended sheath.
 Now the death-dealing monster had blown it's last breath. The great guns died in sudden silence. and above the echoes arose the lusty shout of vic- tory.
 Lieut. Summers saw laurels through fading eyes. A great. strong hero, his grimy face streaked with tears. bent over him.
 Forgive mel" he began.
 "Oh. don't mention that" spoke the dying man. Forgive me for my un- worthy suspicion. Now. go home with laurels-yours and mine. Take them all toto her."
 C. love.