, 1902-09-12
THE STRAWS CT DEATH.
HE regiment was settling down

VII for the night with some grum-
- bling and much pfofane TESTING.
for Western volunteers possess q
of -humor superior to the most trying
conditions. Somewhere In the dark
ness In 'front.', the Filipinos were taking
Dot shots between their cigarettes, as
an occasional ecu! attested.
There go the typewriters," cried a
young private. "Firing at f~refies, as
usual. No sleep tonight"
"Typewriters" was a contemptuous
hppellation given to the Fourteenth
Regulars, because the popping of their
magazine guns in the distance slightly
assembled the noise of the machine of
peace.
put your mouth on the safety notch"
ordered the captain from the right of
The company. They're sending out the
dttposts. Get their bearings, SO that
you can shoot around them IL the ball
opens up"
Two men were receiving final instruc-
lions from the colonel previous to ven
turing Into the hostile country in front.
Sneak out about tive hundred yards"
ordered the officer, land lie low. II you
see any signs Of an attack, try to get
back and warn us. If you can't get
back, you must warn us somehow, and
take our 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 upon 1t
should not be men of family or nerves.
A few nights previously two nervous
men were detailed upon 1t. One Of
them fred at a white pariah dog. The
shot caused the Filipinos to concentrate
a series Of volleys lasting thirty min
utes In the direction of the outposts.
The Americans awakened from a sound
sleep and let go several unauthorized
~yolleys. Consequently the two nervous
men, being between two fires, were rid
died with two kinds of ammunition.
The two men detailed for this even
,ng's work were of different mettle.
"Morjturi tie salutamus, colonel" said
one, with a reckless laugh. With the
easy nonchalance of veterans they gave
the rifle salute. and, sliding over the
top of the trench, disappeared into the
night.
''There go two good men," observed
the colonel.
The two men tiptoed across the dry
rice paddles, each holding his rifle at
alo .1od- Hha~a xxyn M sound nY-
cept the occasional hiss of a random
bullet or the faint and distant pop of a
rife.
Guess. this is far enough" said one
of the men, at length; here Is a little
hollow. Why, 1t Is almost as safe as
the trench. The other acquiesced with
a faint murmur, and they sprawled up
on the ground facing the enemy's ter
ritory.
"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 very queer, Osbourne," returned
the other, but Wen have to stand it."
IL Is IOl luuI 4 nOuld naAt u
mar for a tight place, Wade" said Os-
bourne; but there is that n thing"
Eyes, 1 know" YEARLY; that's the
trouble. If you were not as good or a
better man than L, there would be no
danger of Helen Bartlett caring for
you"
1--WE. were friends in the old days, Bill
ly," said Osbourne, huskily; "if one of
us only loved her a little less"
"No go, Tom," replied the other. 1T
is either her or hell for me. Our friend
ship was a holy thing, but she Is above
that. Would you"
mo, you are right. It's no thorough
fare. My God! l wish 1t were ended
one way or the other"
what can we doY" queried Wade,
with studied composure. 1--WE can't
gouge each other with bayonets out
here, and Springhelds at two yards is
a bit too unique"
Osbourne laughed harshly. I'VE
might draw straws, the loser speedily to
meet an accidental death"
mo, thanks" replied Wade. Il am
willing to take my bullet If it comes,
but not that way. One of us might gel
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 a Mauser bull
let broke the silence. Now and then
they could see through the blackness
q faint. memeptary red flare.