The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-10-30


The colonel had very dignified, mill
tary carriage, the dignity being accen-
tuated by his desire to conceal the
presence OF the cork leg. and when he
made his stately appearance on the
hotel steps there was rush of rickshaw
men, bowling low with hat In hand, to
tender their services. Selecting one, he
stifiy mounted into the seat and was
soon trotted to the door of the English
club, where, as predicted, he found a
double row of officers and Scotch and
soda glasses aligned for business.
Upon invitation he joined them, but
before he could ask any questions his
eye happened to catch sight of some
clippings on the bulletin board. He
was soon absorbed in what they had to
say.mThey were taken from the Manila
Er6 Lom and had been brought on the
transport that morning. Briefly they
told of a treacherous attempt to kill
Americans under cover of a flag of
truce. The American major, with his
adjutant and orderly had gone out to
meet the flag and when well away
from cover had been fired upon. The
orderly had been killed and the ma jor
wounded by the yolley. The adjutant,
who had carried his wounded COM
mander back to shelter under hail of
bullets, was so severely wounded that
he WAS expected to die. The name of
this gallant hero was Lieutenant Car
ter. Here was Nellie's hero at last, but,
alas. not with mere cork leg, but
probably by this time sleeping beneath
the silent stars on Battery knoll
The colonel hung his head in sorrow.
How should he tell the news to that lit
tie girl whose very heart he knew
would break, all the more surely be-
cause of remorse for having sent Jack
to his death without knowledge of the
love for which he had crayed and
pleaded2
Slowly he passed out of the club, en-
tered his rickshaw and was soon at the
hotel. He stumped stittiy along the
hall to the parlor where Nellie was
waiting. She turned from the window
as he entered, and glance showed her
that something was wrong. With
rush she was at his side.
what is it, father?' she asked ex-
citedly.
Jack" was all he could answer as
he sank into a chair and covered his
face with his hands.
what, father? What about Jack"
She sank on her knees at his side and
with a firm grasp took his hands away
from his face.
"a flag of truce! Jack and his major
went out! Fired upon by those mon
sters. Major wounded. Jack carried
him to safety, but was MORALLY wound
ed himself in doing IT.
For an instant she remained kneeling
as though stunned by the news and
then she sprang into action. Jumping
to her feet, she almost lifted him out of
the chair and dragged him toward the
door, exclaiming incoherently:
Come, come quick! We must go to
him. Oh, dear, | wish hadn't let him
go! How can we get there? He may
be dead! Oh, there's no steamer for
week! Won't that transport go back
with US? l wish he had stayed at
home. | wish | had married him. I'd
do it this minute If l could"
That's n gol | reckon there's a min
lister of some kind to be found In Ma
gasaki," said voice In the doorway.
Nellie looked up at the figure stand.
ing there clad In khaki; then, with n
cry of Jack" she rushed forward and
threw her arms around his neck. As
for Jack, he clasped her in his arms
and danced around the room with her,
while the colonel. excited beyond recol-
lection of his dignity, stumped about
the room like their shadow. Finally
Jack stopped to catch breath, and as
his grasp relaxed somewhat Nellie re-
leased herself, saying:
Jack Carter, you're fraud. You ve
never even been wounded"
Never said was" he answered SEN
tentiously.
"Then who was that Lieutenant Car
ter who was wounded under a flag Of
truce?"
HE belonged to another regiment.
Poor fellow, he died the day we sailed
L udl MY regiment Oul OH tic tIhuS-
port But, say, I'm going out to hunt a
minister"
well. you needn't. only said I'd
marry you because | was sorry for
YOU
well, I'm sorry enough for you to
marry you too. So there's two of us.
Well mingle our tears" And he picked
her up and took another spin around
the room.
The colonel stumped around after
them again till he came to the window.
Then he stopped and looked out. He
did not even turn around when Jack
paused out of breath a few minutes
later and shouted, Say, colonel, it
pays to be shot. doesn't it?' He simply
continued to look out the window and
laughed softly.
MesSaue From the Pulpit.