The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-06
None But the Brave
opyah sO by Frank A. unsy In the Shadow wr copyr

 staunch Livingstones in the South. too. Colonel
 "Indec@ there are" said that officer. ''and relatives Of mine, too. no doubt; but t is many a day since I knew of them
 And so 1t was natural that the talk turned On the havoc war was making In families, in which all joined except Cur tis, who seemed averse to talking on the suDJect. And then after a time Mir Bart lett thanked the Colonel for his courtesy, wished him a speedy conclusion to the war. accepted a good pistol es an added protection on his journey, and set out to strike the North Castle road.
 What followed has been told me so many times since by my friends that l know it by heart. An hour passed. and Acton, Curtis, the doctor, and several others were still sitting about the room. The guard had been changed and at the moment there was naught to d. Actcn sitting by the door evidently caught a draught of cool October air; for q sudden his gaze grew fixed, his head went back and he sneezed loud enough to lift the roof. He thrust his hand into his pocket and fished out kerohief.
 "Egad, Acton, my lad" said the doctor. vel have the spasms If ye repeat that -Helloai what's here? Anal my friend. We've got thee nova love-tolxen, as I'm SlIneT4 ana ne stopped to DICK up a paper that had come from the other s pocket along with the kerchief But the lieutenant was too quick for him.
 As Acton picked it up he glanced care lessly at it and then his gaze became fixed. A puzzled look grew between his eyes, and finally he glanced at the oth- ], CTS.
 What is st?" asked the adjutant
 or is but a poor chaff, and badly l done at that!s
 Well. man, what is t? Read itr' said several.
 Curtis was smoking quietly some dis tance away, but ne turned to listen as Acton said:
 "A sorry hit. as I am a sinner"
 But what have ye there, man." said ths doctor. Read it out and let us hear the hit" Acton then read slowly the following:
 PROBLEM 3.
 "A can ride to Hardcastle in four hours at six miles an hour by the shorter road. i B can do 1t In three hours at eight miles an hour on the same road starting ear Her. How far must c go by the longer road if he travels six hours and goes at the rate represented by the sum of one half the rate of each of the others, and when must he start in order to ar rive one hour after A?'' No one coulu keep back a smile at the puzzled expression on the 1eutenants face as he read this simple problem that is to say. no one except Curtis; and, as he got up with the others to look at the paper his face took on thoughtful look that passed unnoticed at the mo- ment
 "Oh, lad, you cannot hoodwink us." laughed the adiutant You're trying to coach your In the rule of three"
 keep it up.' cried the doctor,'' and yell come out first in the class" and thereupon everyone laughed. At that the lieutenant grew a bit vexed,
 .lich was as near as he ever came to anger.
 Well, t is a weak skid" he muttered. And hope ye like the look of it, Rob" he added, as Curtis took the sheet of pa- per and examined it carefully.
 70. ave-" said the other. carelessly ct is paper, no doubt. Keep it, man, and study out the answer.''
 Not I,' cried Acton, and crumbling 1t up, he threw 1t under the table and stalked out. The others followed on diff ferent duties, but Curtis remained, smil- ing tIoughtfully. In few moments he reached unoer the table, picked up the paper, smoothed it out and studied it with an amount of care that would have set an observer thinking. Then, care fully folding 1t, he put 1t into his pocket and went in search of his friend.
 He found him walking along the river bank.
 "John. my lad said he, ''you're very tough in the skull"
 Acton, coloring hotly, turned upon him. Where are thy wits. man2" said Cur tfss Acton said not word as they walk ed slowly from the camp. When they were in the open fields and weh out of hearing, Curtis took out the paper con- taining Problem 3" and held it towards his friend.
 Now. John, read it again."
 'I tell thee. Curtis thou'rt ridiculing me, and t is not to be borne.'
 T was never more serious in ny Hfe.'' "But t Is all nonsenser'
 CT is naught of the kind"
 Well" said the other, trying to smile, in order to keep himself from growing vexed again, give it me-" and he read 1t again.
 Now solve it."
 Rob, t is unfair in you to carry the thing to such lengths"
 "'T is you that are unfair, my friend" answered the other. seriously enough
 "Wy I can answer 1t in moment So- times is 24, times 8 is
 John Acton said Curtis, pulling up in his walk and facing his friend, what Is thy name?'
 Come, lad let 1t dropr' said the other In an altered tone, Test I lose my tenn per-"
 Thy name, manr'
 "Acton!" roared the lieutenant, now &C., tually irritated.
 What does it begin with?"
 "A! but I will not
 What is our friends name who left us few days ago?
 Acton looked at the other a moment and then said slowly:
 "Balfort"
 And his name begins-'
 with B."
 And my name"
 "Is Curtis and begins with C." said Ac- ton, pulling long face and looking at the paper in his hand
 Now read Problem B again." said Curtis, putting in the names'
 Acton began:
 Acton can ride to Hardcastle-''
 (Which might be-, interrupted the oth- er without much change-'
 North Castle" muttered Acton. "Ac- ton can ride to North Castle in four hours at six miles an hour by the short CT road. Balfort can do it in three hours at eight miles an hour on the same road. starting earler-''
 Which he has already done" put in Curtis.
 How far must Curtis go by the loneer road, if he travels six hours and goes at the rate represented by the sum of one half the rate of each of the others. and when should he start. in order to arrive half an hour after Acton?
 The men looked at one another with two different expressions of countenance 10 fff1Q Qorfr,