The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-16
WHAT FRIGHTENED KINGDOM

as it is interesting. Pride is responsible
for many displays of gallantry; stu
pdity. l feel sure, accounts for many
a sulen defense; and I've always no.
ticed that the men most nervous and ex-
cited before going into battle become
seized with a sort of ecstasy in combat
that is pretty sure, in time, 10 make he
rces of them. Lieutenant Kingdom was
however. a different kind of man. He
was not very vain, far from stupid, al
ways cool, whether before, during or
after fGht-a perfect type, l think. Of
The American oAicer risen from the
ranks.
He was acting adjutant of my regi-
mcnt when we went down below the
Bagbag. having been just transferred
from the Eleventh. l must tell you that
we were ali badly fooled on that coca
sion. for the Filipinos made no show OF
defense till after we were well into the
jungle and had even turned back toward
our base. We had TO make a three-day
halt at Arroyo going down and there
we got very friendly with Major Efing-
hcm. an Englishman. who had the best
house in the town and lived in il with his
wife. his daughter and a nephew, who
was about a years old Lieutenant
kingdom. who was q great fellow for
the girls got good deal Of chatting from
al of rs about a pretty little brown
sweetheart he picked up At Arroyo. and
-1oTe than once at Efingham's We drank
10 the health OF the girl Zu-Zu,' as we
lad niciznamed her. Kingdom took it all
sood-naturedly. and l don't think he ever
had Q serious thought about her.
But coming back. as l told you. we
had an ugly time. A mob OF pretty we'll
armed Tagals had got in between US
and were making one of their celebrated
bluffs ct real warfare They did arouse
al the natives. even the rascals who had
sworn themselves Amigo about two
weeks before, and We got at least an
excuse of a fight at every village We
came TO- We hadn't enough men TO leave
a garrison any place and the best We
could do was 20 drive off the natives as
fast as we met them. IN this way We
got back to Arroyo wondering how the
Efinghams liked their surroundings, and
pretty sure that we'd get the best fight
of the expedition right there. We were
rot mistaken, either. for the rascals had
rallied in force. dug up some breast
works and were occupying those we had
made during our temporary visit. We
weren't strong enough TO sweep them
of the map, our ammunition was run
ming low. and. TO tell the truth, | began
to suspect that at last l was in for
taste Of sure enough war. We went TO
fought our way closer, for two days be-
fore we realized that our only hope lay
IN a coup de main as Efsingham per-
sisted in saying 1t was on the third day
that we got the only genuine response
to our advance. and then very ugly
thing happened. The hottest firing came
from an old matched shack, and three or
four Of our fellows were dropped before
we knew it. Kingdom got tired at last,
4. III Il L
set through q hole in the thatch. he
borrowed rife and emptied clip at the
opening. Whether his shOoting-he GER
tainly was a cTackerJack-scared the gar
rson ] don't know, but when we cleaned
out that shack there were seven dead
Filipin0s. besides a woman-'Zu-Zu.'
Il think that must have hurt poor
Kingdom. for he didn't act ike himself
after that; seemed to believe that ne had
killed her. and began to nope a bit. He
looked after her burial, too, and then
seemed 10 liven up again. We found
Major Eningham all right. and right
glad he was 10 welcome US. for he'd
made up his mind to clear out for civili-
ZatiOn till the province was finally pac-
fed. We had been sitting up quite late
the night before we were to resume the
ICaTch-the major was a great hand for
cold punch-and, somehow. we got to
talking about ghosts. superstitions and
some of the supernatural things in which
the natives firmly believed. 1t was past
midnight. ard the tropical moon was just
setting, when Miss Effingham. looking out
the window at a dismal little church set
IT. the midst of a graveyard across the
road. said: Mr.. Kingdom, you may not
Believe in ghosts, but | dare say you
wouldn't ike now TO go across into that
deserted church and fetch me. say n
&c ldle or a bunch of those impossible
flowers from its altar. I'd like to carry
of small memento of Arroyo and Of
OF your courage
Kingdom laughed merrily for the first
time since he buried Zu-Zu. tossed of
his drink. and started for the church.
Except the Efinghams the whole town
was empty, for our men were strung in
q belt of sentries all around the village,
and the guard was at the lower end. So
we laughed as we watched Kingdom run
across the road. leap the low fence and
disappear into the gloomy doorway of the
church. We expected him back within
ten minutes, but got TO chatting. In
twenty minutes he had not returned. In
half IN hour Miss Eningham went 10 the
1Cor and listened. No sound but the
far-of cry of the sentries and the occa-
sicnal howl Of a dog broke the stiffness.
Then l became worried. summoned my
orderly, who brought lanterns. and. with
Major EffiHgham, followed Kingdoms
route into the church
We found him face downward. with
his head toward the door. just at the
foot Of the little steps that led from the
sanctuary down into the middle chancei.
His feet were on the lowest step. his head
was on the earthen floor. he was quite
dead. We picked him Up and sent for
me surgeon. who was in our little field
hospital with the wounded. There was
not "a scar "A bruise. a wound, upon his
bCdy. in his right hand he clutched a
half-burnt wax candle. and "a little tuft
of paper and feather flowers he had taken
from The altar fer Miss Ehingham. 7 can
nor ten you exactly how felt then bat
,iajor EGingham. who was quite supersti-
tous. and the women. who had imbibed
q lot Of native folklore were all heart
III oxen as well as terrified az the horrible
elimination Of the harmless prank.
Well, 2 battalion OF the Thirty-ffth
came 10 relieve us ABOUT daylight. and
we made 2 forced march 10 headquarters
carrying Lieutenant Kingdoms body with
rs. our surgeon was determined on an
autopsy. and must say thar " seemed
q necessary procedure under the circum-
stances I bad O secret belief that some
Filipino. skuiizing Ia the empty church
Lad in some way. by poisoned knife or
8 he prick Of an envenomed pia killed
Kingdom. Al examination q the BODY
however showed THAI there was not 4
scratch rot the least abrasion Of any
kind. But there was fresh rent IN The
lieutenants blouse, just near the hip
seam on the left side lie would have
dsed suddenly within a month probably
our surgeon assured ne for he had an
acute affection ~ the heart That tear IN
DIS BLOUSE must have been made b.
nam
we went back % Arroyo and % the
church corcluds5 Colonel Rumfo-t
ard sure enough. II the pillar e the
sen-tuarv railing q 'egzed. protrud'aE