St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-12-20
The StraWs of Death
How a Rivalry Was Settled on
the Firing Line.
BY w. O. GEEHAN.

HE regiment was settling down fol-
the nj ght with some grumbline
and much profane jesting, for western
volunteers possess a sense of humo1
superior to the most trying conditions
Somewhere in the darkness in front
the Filipinos were taking pot shots
between their cigarettes, as an occa.
sionalzeu! attested.
"There go the blamed typewriters,'
cried young private. Firing a fire.
flies, as usual. No sleep tonight
"Typewriters" was a cont emptuous
appellation given to the Fourteenth
regulars, because the popping OF
their magazine guns in the distance
slightly resemb leG the noise of the ma
chine of peace.
"Put your mouth on fhe safety
NOTCH ordered the captain from the
right of the company. They're send
ing out the outposts. Get their bear
1ngs, so that you can shoot around
them if the ball opens up"
Two men were receiving final instruc-
tions from the colonel, previous to ven
turing into the hostile country in front.
''Sneak out about 200 yards" ordered
the officer, land lie low. If you see
any signs of an attack, try and get
back and warn us. If you can't get
back, you must warn US somehow, and
take your chances. No need to tell
you to be careful. You hold the lives
of many men in your hands. Good luck,
boys!"
This sort of work is called Cossack
outpost duty, and men detailed uponit
should not be men of family or nerves.
were detailed upon it. One of them
fred at a white pariah dog. The shot
caused the Filipinos to concentrate a
series of volleys lasting 80 minutes in
the direction of the outposts. The
Americans awakened from sound
sleep and let 60 several nnautho rized
volleys. Consequently the two nervous
men, being between two fires, were
riddled with two kinds of ammunition.
The two men detailed for this even
ing's work were of different metal.
"Morituri tie salutamus, colonel said
one, with a reckless laugh. With the
easy nonchalance of veterans they gave
the rife salute, and, sliding over the
top of the trench, disappeared into the
night.
''There go two coed men," observed
the colonel.
The two men tiptoed across the dry
rice paddles, each holding his rifle at
the ready. There was no sound except
the occasional hiss of random bullet,
or the faint and distant pop of rife.
"Guess this is far enough" said one
Of the men at length; "here is little
hollow. Why. it is almost as safe as
the trench The other acquiesced with
faint murmur, and they sprawled
upon the ground facing the enemy's
territory.
"It's a queer freak of fate that we
two should be detailed on this togeth-
err" observed the shorter of the two.
"after avoiding each other so success
fully"
'It's blamed queer, Osbourne," re-
turned the other, "but we'll have to
stand it,
sit is not that would want bet
ter man for tight place, Wade" said
Osbourne, "but there is that one
thing"
''Yes. I know" YEARLY: that's the
trouble. If you were not as good or a
better man than I. there would be no
danger of Helen Bartlett caring for
you"
1--WE were good friends in the old
days, Billy" said Osbourne.. rather
huskily; eff one of us only loved her
a little less"
mo go, Tom replied the other. "It
is either her or death for me. Our
friendship was holy thing, but she
Is above that. Would you"
s.<.> xo,,,ro r;rbt Jt'Spo thnrc11uh,