The National tribune., 1902-07-31

i'll it he had never found before. Shorty
retiiled his pipe, found another secluded
side of the rock, reached his bandaged
hand inside his breast, grasped the pack
age containing Maria's letters and keep
sakes, and smoked and meditated OH the
girl who was the center of his universe.
1t was really his first leisure hour since
the opening of the campaign. He did not
dare draw the package out, for anything
that belonged to Maria was too sacred for
any eyes but his to look upon. There is
il modesty and reticence about love in
big, strong, rough men, that surpasSes the
modesty of women. 1t was delight to
Shorty to merely touch the things that had
come from Maria's hands.
Alf and Monty turned from the monot-
onoris spectacle of buruings and ruins to
pore over their books, while Sandy began
measuring the thickness of the leaves of
the books and the grass with his microme-
ter. Harry Joslyn studied his new Tran
tor revolver with delight, while Otterbein
Kramer tidgeted around to see if it were
not possible to begin preparing for the
| next meal Wash Lambert improved the
occasion by comprehensive malcdictiOns on
things that he may have overlooked or
forgotten on previous occasions, when he
| was pressed for time. Pete saw where
creek set in, and escaped being dis
| turbed by the splash or contaminated by
the powder, and hastened down there to
try his new fishing rod. Tom and Abe
sat high up on the rock, where they could
see everything, and glOat over the ven
geance oyertaking their enemies.
Not far from the rock was she'd, into
which gathered some other boys who had
been turned back by the guards. Shorty
was aroused from his reverie of the buxOm
maiden on the Wabash by hearing voice
announce:
IT'S 800 ante, and $50 TO come in
| The old thrill Of the gambling instinct
made Shorty's ears prick up.
"a pretty stiff game that" he mur-
INJURED to himself. I'D like to be in it."
Then he shamefuly remembered Maria.
and his resolution to lead life worthy of
her. He turned his head away, refilled
his pipe. and took another grip on his let
ters to banish the thoughts of play.
81 bet 800"
81 raise you $100."
Il see your .ase and 90 $100 better"
II see that and call you. Show down."
| Shorty tried hard to keep from hearing
all this. but he could not. The best he
could do was to look another way, and re-
strain his temptation to get up and go
| over where the game was going on. IF l
do" he said to himself. I'm a-goner.
never could see game without itching
| to get into it,"
VI.
Take the cards. It's your deal. Ante
| up there. first" Say. boys. let's play
for something worth while. There's not
enough in this to make it exciting" ''I'm
going to make my ante 81 900, with $500
to come in"
Gan right. Here's my $1,5OO."
'And here's mine."
"And mine"
Thunder, thought you fellows was go
ing to make il worth while. I'm going
$1,000 blind"
'AlI right. my hearty. I'll go you.
There's $4,000. Anybody see that?'
You BET. your sweet life. Here's $1O,-
900 better"
80, boys, do something to keep me
awake Here's seeing you. and going $2j.-
900 better. Put up or shut up. Give
me two cards"
| Shorty could stand it no longer. He
got up and walked over to the shed and
looked in. The group inside had apparent
ly been about the building where the Con-
federate money was printed, for they had
piles of rebel currency. still in sheets, and
were betting them with the greatest reck-
lessness on the l. ads they held
Hello, Injianny," said one of them,
looking up and recognizing Shorty. "COme
in and take hand. Take $4,000 or so
out Of my pile there and set in"
Shorty actually looked lonsingly at the
came the crash Of exploding shells, and
then terrific roar and an impact which
flung him to the ground and stunned every
| body. For some minutes there was a sue
cession of laundering reports. and the air
was filled with clothing, pieces of shells.
bits of wagons and ammunition boxes. and
the fragments Of bodies of men and mules.
81 and the rest sat awe-struck for min
ute or more, trying to comprehend what
had happened. Then as the air cleared
they sprang up and ran over to the road.
| Used as they were to the sights of bat
tlefelds. the view made them shudder
with its awfulness. The ground, rent and
torn by the fierce explosions, was COW
cred with dead and wounded men. fright
fully dismembered mules, wheels, running
gear, and the shattered and burning bod
les of wagons, torn and smolderfng cloth
ing, and the limbs, heads and other parts
of men.
The whole Of the double line Of guards
were lying fiat on the ground. seemingly
blasted out of life. Where, few min
v,toc hafnrA hyuHvaH0 oP man and hvv,-