The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-06-12


sergeant Here am. lying in n pud-
die Of Ice water"
why don't you get out of II, then?"
"Get out of It? These old well.
boards won't stop ball, and ! have
to stay fiat ON the ground behind this
curb. don't want TO get shot. This
Is where you tipped over that bucket
of water. ! Wish had that villainl"
A shot from the thicket answered
him as he shook his FIST beyond the
corner of the we'll Sergeant Bob
leaned against the tree and laughed;
then he stopped laughing and won.
dered how long the unseen marksman
would keep them there. and II their
absence from camp would be noticed
at noon mess.
Every movement. II seemed, brought
n shot from the bushes. Once In n
while the man In the thicket turned
his attention to the clothes on the
fence AMI shot holes In them, while
the owners howlcd at him from their
cover.
"Wcll. guess can stand II as long
as he can" commented Bob.
"Ncs; you're not exposed TO tho
wintry blasts MS | ann" complained
the other sergeant.
"Wintry blasts, Why, man. tho
suns burning patches on me till |
look like a tiled iloor!"
well, you aren't lying in n small
lake of well-water that Is way below
zero. Part of me Is frozen; when |
crash towel Is small slothing, and I'm
dirtier than when | came up here.
Wouldn't | like to get crack at that
fellow!"
Say" begun Sergeant Bob after
another half.hour, cant you get one
of the rifles? The little snap of his
gun cant be heard at camp, but X
you could fire one of ours, the bang
would bring the guard up in hurry"
II cant reach them from here.
Every time | stick my hand out that
reprobate shoots at me. Wait min-
utel Is your rifle loaded?"
"No; but the box Is hanging on 1t
with the belt. and there's 20 rounds
in It,"
The other sergeant looked round
and found n stick. Then he reached
over and poked the stick through
crack in the boards, saving II back
and forth until he got It against one
of the rifles. The gun came rattling
to the ground. AMI he pulled II behind
the curb. This brought out more shots
from the man in the bushes.
"Is that my rifle?" asked Bob.
"Mine. and the best one in the com.
pany, tool"
"Well, you'll get your shoulder
kicked off. You've got no clothes for
padding"
This rifle don't kick. No rifle does
II you hold 1t right. and I'll make
pad of this towel. OF course you fell
lows who shut both eyes when you fire
and hold the butt two inches from
your shoulder get kicked. and no
wonder"
shut both eyes? Who got the
sharpshooter's bar, I'd like to know?
But go ahead! Blaze away into the
| hill, Noise Is all we want"
| Bang. went the rifle, and crack
| from the bushes answered II. Half
dozen times the sergeant shot. as
fast as he could load and fire.
THAT will do. reckon" he said.
rubbing his shoulder. They'll think
there is battle" ana the two
chuckled as they waited for reinforce
ments and relief.
"Hi, there, you men! What are You
doing here?" II was the fat lieuten-
ant. coming from behind the old log
house.
Get back. lieutenant" both boys
cried. you'll get shot"
There's villain six feet tall up in
the bushes there, with a Winchester!
He's kept us here an hour" explained
Sergeant Bob
Hey" and the lieutenant lodged
behind the log hut From back Of him
the grinning faces of half dozen of the
guard looked out.
"Well get your man for you. We
reconnoitered saw from where the
shots came. and ] sent squad up over
the hill. They'll come down on his
rear. But what / want to know is
what you two are doing outside OF the
lines?"
Taking bath, SIR"
Taking a bath, eh? Well, | might
overlook you coming out for such a
commendable purpose, especially since
you've been penned up already; but
you've made me run up this hill in the
sun, and you ought to be court-mar-
tailed. Hello The other squad has
your man."
There was commotion in the BUSH
es; then the corporal and the rest of
the squad appeared. The corporal
held in his hand dingy little Flobert
rifle. Two of the men led a small,
shock-headed, dirty-faced boy.
The lieutenant shouted with laugh
ter. There's your six-footer and his
Winchester! Kept you here an hour!
Oh. my!" AMI the rest of the guard
snickered audibiy. Sergeant Bob and
the other sergeant looked at each