Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-09
DR. sYLvEsTREs METHOD OF PICTORIAL TRANSMISSION

ly," said Osbourne, huskily; IF one OF
us only loved her a little less"
"No go, Tom" replied the other. ut
is either her or hell for me. Our friend
ship was holy thing, but she is above
that. Would you"
.'No, you are right It's no thorough
fare. Ny God! wish it were ended,
one way or the other"
What can we do?" queried Wade,
with studied composure. I'VE can't
gouge each other with bayonets out
here, and Springfelds at two yards is
a bit too unique"
Osbourne laughed harshly. 1--WE
might draw straws. the loser speedily to
meet an accidental DEATH"
''No, thanks replied Wade. II am
willing to take my bullet If 1t. comes,
but not that way. One of us might get
it decently at any time"
You're right. Wade said Osbourne.
You're a good fellow"
Same to you" returned Wade. Lets
quit chattering and attend to our
work"
For some time they lay silent, staring
into the darkness for things they could
not see, even had they been there. Only
the intermittent popping of musketry
and the occasional Ecu! Of Mauser bull
let broke the silence. Now and then
they could see through the blackness
a faint, momentary red flare.
"Confound them observed Os-
bourne, "the Filipinos can smoke, any
how. I'm dying for cigarette"
IF you light match here" said
Wade, wen be targets for about four
thousand rifles"
That's true enough" agreed Os-
bourne, with a soft chuckls cigarettes
are rather expensive out here" Anoth-
er period of silence followed.
Wade" inquired osbourne, sudden
", 'are you willing to try wild scheme
for settling this matter forever?"
Anything fair and reasonable" re-
piled the other. whats your plan?"
Draw straws," said Osbourne, brief
ly, the man who gets che short one TO
stand up and light match, amigo to
his fathers"
Wade caught his breath and remained
mute for some time considering. mot
so bad" he observed, after time; but
we are on duty nov"
"oh, the devil" said 0sbourne, light
ly; "the Filiplnos wouldn't attack for
all the loot of Manila An outpost here
is merely matter of form. Besides,
one of us viii be left
That's So" returned Wade, "and /
zee no objection"
You fix the straws, then" said os-
bourne. quickly. I'm draw" He be-
gan to whistle softly in a nervous fash
ion. as men do when they are close to
death. Wade fumbled silently with
some fragments of rice straw. His
movements we're slow s:nd mechanical
Some men are constituted that way.
Here, Tom" he said, stretching out
his right fist. MAY The better man
get tt"
Osbourne extended . 7sand that trem-
bled slightly and fingered the disclosed
ends OF straw for & brief time. Sud
denly he elutched one and pulled 1t out.
AT the same instant there was a
strange. soft thud. and Wade fell upon
his face. His limbs moved convuIsiye-
ly for n moment: then he lay motion
less.
For Gods sake, Billy, what's up?"
cried osbourne. In SIN agonized whis-
per. lie laid his hand on the mans
face. but jerked 1t away horrihed, for
II touched something warm and wet.
''She's miner he muttered, with
fierce triumph; then. Poor Billy"
A thought came that caused him TO
gasp and SILVER he htsitated. reached
for the dead man's Land and loosened
it's clasp from the osaer straw. 1t was
several inches longer than the one he
had drawn.
what shsn do?" be moaned. ~oh,
Billy.s he cried. shaking the dead mans
shoulder as IL to rouse him. What
shall dos- only the far-or popping
OF the rides broke the oppressive still
ness.
What would you have doae.' be
asked. in the same strain by God.''
suddenly. You were rood man You
would have keHt the compact / lost
fairly. Bear witness, Billy, l an as
good man as you"
He laid his hand fol, an instant on the
dead mans forehead Then he rose
slowly and fumAled In ais pocket AT
length be found match For q mo-
ment be stood irTes9lute inhalins
strong breaths CT air. Already he had