Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-03-08

~nVe-JO-One CnHnCe. Inen e JHlHkS u
bit. Then e says ell try it. Then
l volunteers for you an me to stop,
cause it wos us wot formerlated the
invention. Couple of soaps afore you
Joined, eh?' e says 'Certn'y, majer,'
l says, soothin'-like. Then 1 feels
summat a-foolin' about me in the
darkness, an when / grabbed it I
found it wos the majer's hand"
"Snipey," said Ripper reproachfully,
you're a blisterin' liar!"
THAT'S the kernel of it, mate. It's
true about the hand, 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"
1--WE gorrer remember one thing.
There must be no bloomin' surrender
in"
mot a bit o. surrenderin :" There
was a decided quaver in the one now.
"There wun'tbe no takin' prisonersl
We've took a great responsibility on
fer the regiment. There's a lot %
clarse about the regiment, Kip, an
we amt a-goin' to disgrace it. See?"
"Snipey!"
"Kipper, ole mani" There was the
same funny grouping of hands in the
dark, the same tight lingering grip
when they found each other.
Crack, crack!
Course this rihe!" said Snipey.
"How she bumps!"
1t was nearly 4 o'clock when Kip
per spoke again. The blackness was
diluted a little over the eastern ridge.
"Snipey," he SAID, with n weary
little sob, I'm a-gettin' I'LL" Then
after a pause: "Snipey, dyer remem-
Der what hat Crucified Chap said
when 'Ee got tired-when 'E wos
weary O. waitin', I mean?"
Don't give yer neck, mattel"
"Him wot the mish'nary told us
about when we wos kids" went on
Ripper, pathetically. "Wot was itP'
Snipey sighed.
81 know, chummy. I was just a
thinking of it meself. "Ow long, o
Lord, 'ow long?'"
That's it," said Ripper, through
his chattering teeth. '0w long, o
Lord"
The eastern sky was a golden sea.
The rocky ridges and hills beneath
seemed blacker than ever, and from
that black smudge on the glory of
the dawn came half a dozen little
puffs of flame, and Kipper's rife clat-
tered down upon the rocks. Snipey
groped about in the gloom, and
found his comrade on his knees,
gasping and splitting m%outkfuls OF
warm liquid.
"Wot yer doin', Kip" he said,
~anXiously.
He stood for a minute, still as the
rocks around, then stumbled forward
with a sobbing cry of rage and mis-.
cry. In the dim light he saw Ripper
lying on his side, trying in vain to
raise himself upon his elbow.
"Kipper!" he whispered softly, fall
ing on his knees beside his.chum.
Ripper groaned, and pressed his
hand to his right breast.
"Through-the lungs!" he said, ir
an awed whisper, between the fits Of
coughing that wrenched him. Snipey
pressed his hand, with a sob.
For the regiment, Snipey!" He
raised himself on his elbow, and hi:
chum flung an arm around his necl
to support him. There's a bit o
clarse about-the-reg-"
A fresh fit of coughing brought in
tense agony; after it was over hi!
head fell back.
Snipey pulled out his handkerchie,
to wipe the blood from the dead lips
1t was a miniature copy of the British
flag. He remembered how the hand
kerchiefs had taken the fancy of tn,
soldiers just before they left England
and how the regiment had bought VI
the whole stock.
He stared stolidly at the quiet fac,
for n minute, them spread the littl
flag owe it.
When Snipey turned once more t,
face the east the day had broker
gloriously. His rifle was empty, an,
he slipped a fresh cartridge into tn
breech. Then, with a sudden thought
he fetched Kipper's rifle and loade'
that, too.
When the Chinese closed round i
the growing light they found thei
! pot-shot prey had flown. A %solitar
British soldier, with hands and chi,
resting on the muzzle of his CUR
stood awaiting their Vengeance.
The weapon sprang to the achin
shoulder, and one yellow foe lay
: corpse. With the report of Ripper
: gun another pressed his hand to
: mortal wound, and the affair wa
: finished.
But that morning, in the mess
: tents of the rescued regiment, tn
story of how a couple of weeds ha
been plucked from the garden of Sc
ciety was told with misty eyes an
glowing hearts.-Chicago Herald.
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