The Washington times., 1902-04-27
David and jonathan
By w. BURT FOSTER.

1.-THE soul Of Jonathan was knit with the soul
Of David. and Jonathan loved him he loved
his soul
IT HE crash OF footsteps through the
sodden brush frightened hare
i which had been the sole occupant
OF the little stretch Of meadow at
/ the edge of the wood. and as a man came
I into the open it disappeared with whisk
of its white flag.
| The disturbing element In the peaceful
scene halted on the verge of the sloping
meadow and cast an unappreciative eye
over its quiet beauty. Noting the first
red beam of the sun which had pierced
| lance-like through the mist. he paced off
about thirty feet at the woods margin.
so that the sunbeams would fall across
the track. There was a clump of Aow-
! ering shrub upon a little hillock at one
end of the line; at the other stood a tall,
I lightning-riyen stump. After a moments
hesitation the man walked over and placed
( his back against it.
I He was a dark, stern-looking man. al
most repellant. with firm lines about the
mouth and steely eyes overhung by frown-
ing b-ows. The closest observer could
tell little from his face Of what went on
within his mind. This early tryst might
be the veriest commonplace. He lit
cigar and puffed contentedly. and the
dark. impassive face gave no sign.
Once he glanced at his watch. 1t lack
ed but few moments to ). He looked
relleetively along the line he had paced
to the little knoll, then drew something
from his pocket. 1t gkstened in the
morning sunlight as he examined it care
fully.
He was not the man to miss shot at
ten PAGES. he thought: but. then, neither
was Jim. II the first bullet did not reach
its mark he would have no use for the
others. He himself had taught Jim to
shoot, and the boy had been au apt pupil.
He had liked Jim when he had first come
to the great Southwest. He was the
brightest, sunniest tempered lad who ever
flung rope or sung hymns to bunch of
long haired cattle on a starless Texas
night Then the thought came to him Of
Jim lying with his face upturned to the
sky and CHASTITY blue mark in the CEN
ter of his white forehead. His imagina
tion pictured the boy stretced upon the
fowery hillock, and while he had seen
men so before. something rose in his
throat and choked him. He threw away
the cigar.
Then he saw himself running across
the field, and falling on his knees by the
boys side. They were to meet alone
seconds were unnecessary with men who
had so often shared each others blankets
and canteens-and there would be no one
there to see The great agony which FILL
ed his soul could not find expression. He
left the stump and staggered out into the
open. raising his arms aloft and staring
with fearless eyes up into the pitiless
sky.
For moment he stood there in silence,
while the sweet air cooled his hot cheek
Then suddenly he heard a quick step in
the brush. He glanced about as though
awaking from a dream and walked back
to his station.
AS Jim entered the meadow he nodded,
gIancing swiftly into the impassive face
The shadow beneath the young mans
ewes betrayed sleepless hours and his lips
trembled nervously.
Have you paced the ground, Bob?' he
asked.
..Ten paces-to that hillock.' the other
said. pointing, and his voice showed no
trace OF emotion.
Jim looked at him a moment without
seeming to understand; then. Wheel and
fire. or at the count?'' he asked.
'The grounds too rough to turn. It'd
better be at the word
Count. then" said the younger man,
as he turned on his heel and walked to
the knoll.
A wave of color swept over the others
face. and he took step forward and held
cut his hand; but Jim did not see it, and
when he reached his station Bob stood
with face of adamant at the foot Of the
stump.
Are you ready, Jim?' he said, with
out tremor.
The right hands of each dropped to his
side; then so1emnly the stern voice went
on:
"One-two-three-frei
The reports sounded as one and two
little pufs OF smoke fioated away in the
morning air. The two men beheld each
other a moment in silence with startled
vision One had heard the "zip," OF the
bullet as it passed through the bush at
his side, the other its impact in the rotten
wood high above his head.
"Jim!"
Bob, old boy!"
When they met in the center OF the
open a tremendous smile played upon
Bcb's lips. and the others eyes were wet
with tears.
Dear old Bob. She's not worth it,
Jim said: Lets go home to breakfast.
As the crash of footballs died away in
he wood the hare appeared again and
Iniffed suspiciously at the powder smoke
which fingered in the air. But all danger
was past.