Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-03-05

Then shook hands on that, and Dome
called the scrpdnt
Lawrence slipped Off his blanket roll
and essayed to answer with some APP
pearance of q similar cheerfulness.
Good morning." he said. Eyes, that
was my Ill fortune, and fancy that
even In Africa there are occasionally
obtainable more sumptuous couches"
The troopers laughed and looked
again at him more keenly. In the free
masonry Of gentlcmanhood there is no
need of grip. The voice is countersign.
The troopers asked him to sit down.
I'VE can sympathize with you," said
the first speaker, and at once the ruder
salutation of "matey" was discarded.
"Most of us have sought the lee of
rock in our time. Allow me. My name
is Dome. and my friend is Wyvil. both
guileless products of Harrow"
Harrow" cried Lawrence, with
sudden flush of anxiety. "Ah. yes, but
you must have been long after my
time. My name is-ah-Lawrence, also
of Harrow and Trinity, Cam
They shook hands on that, and Dome
called the servant.
"Such coincidence" said he, "as
that of three old Harrovians meeting
in desert wilds must not be allowed to
pass untoasted. Won't you take some
thing to kill that chill? Hi, you! Lay
another plate for breakfast"
At the meal the wreck exerted HIM
self TO be agreeable in spite Of his
WEAKNESS, misery and longing for sleep
and forgetfulness. He was forced to
think. Those who would follow him
We're not likely to be long behind, and
lie recognized the need Of doing some
thing to hide himself. The troopers
were lads Of an equal lightness of
heart and head, ut least dozen years
younger than he. Lawrence fastened
to the youngsters and later in the day,
shaved and groomed, he rode away with
them on q hired horse to the not far
distant barracks. He had been many
things in his long exile, and death had
spared him in brawl and desert and
fever. In trooper guise, the desolate
outcast hoped the end of 1t all might
come more surely. Also people would
not be SO curious of the identity of a
fallen soldier MS of that of man scat
fold hung.
A galloping horseman came sweeping
down the trek from the direction of the
Transvaal. His sweating horse dash
ed past the railway station without
stopping, although an official yelled to
the rider as he passed.
SIS that true we've heard about DR..
Jim?
"True!' the horseman shouted back
and was instantly beyond hearing, as
the anxious looking railroad man rails
ed his hands in wondering vexation.
| The horseman put his mount to thu
steep. rutted, muddy road which LEI
to the town and pressed 1t onward
without pause. AT canteen midway
q Dutchman ran out, followed by hi.
customers.
"Wacht cen beety'sv' the landlord
cried. West, DR.. Jim?"
"a prisonerw shouted the rider ant
lspurred on, while the Beers retired
within with loud jests and happ!
smiles.
At the edge of the town the last house
on the main street was hotel, ant
there the horseman threw himself off
His horse was at once taken charge O
and led to the stables, and it's rider wa
met by middle aged woman.
sis it true, John?" she asked as HI
went into the bar and was surrounded
by many men drinking there, who's
eyes reiterated the question. "Thewire
say hardly anything"
1.-The fellows at Johannesburg did no
keep their word. They were not read.
or fiunked or something. Our men wer
surrounded by the Beers. There wa
some fighting. A number of Englisl
are killed. The rest are prisoners O.
their way to Pretoria"
"Oh, John. can it be true?" his wifi
asked in horror.
II got II straight from the Jew VIII
keeps the place at Jankill, and Boer
were there who had come right fro1
the battle. There's no doubt of it, ant
for my part, all I've got to say is tina
Paul Kruger, though he's always pra,
ing, has the DEVILS own luck"
There was silence in the Engllsl
mans hotel as gloomy as the noise /
the Beers canteen was hilarious. AT
err awhile the wife behind the bar spok
. again.
"There was many lad known in Vr.
any of themY'
J Field Cornet Hofbauer was at jar
kill-the same that bought the farl
. Mafeking way. was In too great
hurry to get home to ask much. TT
Transvanl Beers are too cocky afte
their victory to make it pleasant thel
I for an Englishman, but Hofbauer kne'
Vane and Butler and Corporal Dom
I and he says they were not among IL
prisoners, So
r The woman began to cry.
7 "Did you ask after Wyvil, poor boy
He had letter saying his scrape We
) all arranged and he was going home
: HE can, If they don't hang him ,
2 Pretoria"
The customers protested loudly.
prisoners of war;" they cried. 900
Paul wouldn't dnrev'
II wasn't aware there was any war
said the host dryly. Not more at lea
than there would be between me an
! any burgher who broke into this hous
q This whole business of the raid was
mistake"
: 81 WONDER" said his wife agal
show the quiet man made out--hi
that Joined a week ago and was so {
lent and sad and yet SO eager for
fight-the one that played the pial
i there SO lovely for the lads when til,
q were having their fun here O. nigh,
+ There's the pocketbook he forgot Il
n night the lieutenant called them off
v sudden. Corporal Dome was singing
4 the poor, wild lads, little they kne
@ what business they We're called for
e "oh, dig my grave both wide and deep.