The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-05
The Blank File.

"Durin' the next hour nothin' seemed
TO be stirrin' under the Southern Cross.
The moo sentry either didn't see any
thing to challenge. or didn't want 20,
and some o. the men had even begun TO
snore. ! was just droppin off to sleep
myself, when a snorer at the other end
o. the tent suddenly raps out an oath.
and his boot comes whizxin down the
gangway.
The next swab as plays me that
trick he srumblcs, will ave to take on
his toonik to me in the mornin'.'
What trick, chume asks, chuckin
him back his boot
Putin his Icy cold foot on my face.
he says, indignant
1T didn't sound nice. someow, and my
cart commenced 10 beat a DEVILS tattoo
under the blankets. But nobody said
nothin' and II IL adn't been for the
thumpin' or n dozen gallant carts be-
side mine you might ave card pin
drop.
who slep next 10 the corpril. calls out
somethin' beneath his bedclothes.
- What is Sticks a-sayin! asks
one o. the men anxlously.
+" Hes only tslkin' IN his sleep says
the corpril.
=" No, he amt pipes the hoy in his
Ugh treble. but somebody's a-walkin In
hts,
This statement was received with
most uncomfortable silence OF several
minutes. Then the man next 10 me be-
gins 'urriedly 10 scramble into his trous-
ers.
=" The kids quite right. he says, and
i know bloomin' well who the sleep
walker is
Z" 'who?' inquiries dozen voices at
once.
" The Blank File.' says the man, and
he's lookin' for a sleepin' billet, that's
what he's a-doin' OF. But he amt soip
To doss next to me- he says, and with
that he bolts out o. the tent.
'In another minute there was nobody
so far as we knew--left inside IL. We all
wanted to keep the sentry comp'ny till
daylight"
Mr.. Pagett paused to refill his pipe. an
operation he effected with characteristic
observation-disclosures from my pouch.
feigned 10 be pondering his last words.
AFTER such a night OF horror" | haz-
arded. 'the daylight must indeed have
been welcome relief"
He slipped the pouch, with charming
naivets. into his pocket. you mark
time a Bit" he said: II 'aven't finished
VITA that night of 'orror yet"
murmured an apology.
- o." he continued Before the sun
rose we were destined 10 ave another
scare, compared with which the others
were childs play. Ii Was this way, look.
THE corpril was cxplainin' TO MIR.
Jsnnaway, w.,o ad come oCt OF his
quarters IN his pyjammers, that the men
couldn't sleep I'm the minin tent on ac-
count OF the heat, and Jannaway was
just beginnin' To talk sarcaustic about
girls school afraid o. the dark. when the
sentry drops hts rife with clatter that
brings all our gallant hearts into our
necks. His teeth were rattlin' in his 'ead
like a boxful O. dice. you could ave 'ung
up your coat and at on his eyes,and he
was pointin' TO his front like a sign post
shook by the wind AT first we thought
IL was an spplepletic Mt. but after bit
we discovered that he was wisi.lul for US
TO look at the jackstaf.
THE first glimmer o dawn was
whitenin' the eastern ORION, and there
was just light enough for us 10 see an
extr'ordin'ry phenomenon that made
even a detachment o. marines stare.
There wasn't air enough to chill your
wetted finger; it was dead tropical
calm the great jack and it's 'alyards lay
alongside the stan as If they were glued
To IL. Yet all OF a sudden the long fold
OF bunting stirreda and the double lines
twanged against the pole like plucked
arpstring!
Five seconds later the thing appened
again, and then continued at perfectly
reg lar intervals. Not soul. as far as We
could see. was within ten yards OF that
bewitched spar Yet one thing was quite
plain. Some one was fingerin' the al
yards before our very eyes.
Presently Jannsway clears his throat.
N. a..
o. you, he asks 'uskily. 'or is there
bell ringin' somewhere?
You might ave stabbed the silence
which followed with a baynt.
- There is bell, SIR says one o. the
men at length, a big bell a-tolling.
should judge IL To be as faS away Ba-
tavis. or p'r'aps Plymouth, he says;
hot in either case you may lay to IT that
it's no earthly belf--
That's enough says Jannaway.
stampin' his foot. 7 won't ave no more
OF H. Color-sergesnt,' he says. as soon
as it's daylight fall the men In for
bathin parade There's nothin' like a sea
dip to steady the nerves And with that
he walks of into the middle o. the island.
"The detachment strolled down TO the
waters edge. while I, disbelievin' In
ghosts now that the daylight was comm,
sat down and lit my pipe. At first !
watched the sunrise, and IL seemed 90 me
that the day was settin' up with a most
disrcputable black eye. Across the red
an green an orange Inflammation OF the
dawn was stuck a dark patch that In the
case of n pore soldier would ave got
him confined 10 barricks for a fortnight.
But after a bit my attention was attract
ed 10 Lootensnt Jaunaway, who was
peerin' under a gretat ledge o. rock cou-
pie OF 'uudred yards away Presently he
stood up. and beckoned To me.
I" Tell me what you see I'm there he
says. when ! reached him.
" You ought To know says. moppln'
my face. after I'd looked into the 'oe:
you've been starin' at Il for the last
FIVE minutes
" But I want 10 make sure. YOU inso-
lent vagabonc. he says. our nerves are
all endways. and p'r'haps I've been mis-
took.
Very well. then says T. 'its rusted
round shot mixed up with 'uman skele-
ton.
" 4 thought So he returns, with sigh
OF relief But since this island Is n moo
born baby. I'm a manner % speakin,' IL
licks me 'ow them things come there