The Jennings daily record., 1902-12-05
THE STRAWS
OF DEATH
How Q Nvslry Wos Settled on the
Firin8.Line.
BY W. O. G0ehan.

Z
down for the night with
some grumbling and much
pr0fane testing. for Western
volunteers possess sense of humor
superior to the most trying conditions.
Somewhere in the darkness in front.
the Filipinos were taking pot shots
between their cigarettes, as an Occa
sional ecu! attested.
There go the blamed typewriters."
cried q young private. Firing at
dredies. as usual. No sleep tonight"
'Typewriters" was a contemptuous
appellation given to the Fourteenth
Regulars, because the popping of their
magazine guns in the distance slightly
resembled 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 send
ing out the outposts. Get their bear
fngs so that you can shoot around them
If the ball opens up"
Two men were receiving final in
structions from the colonel. previous to
venturing into the hostile country in
front. "Sneak out about 200 yards"
ordered the officer. "and lie low. If
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 your 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
It should not be men of family or
nerves. A few nights previously two
nervous men were detailed upon 1t.
One Of them fired at white pariah
dog. The shot caused the Filipinos
to concentrate series of volleys last
ing thirty minutes in the direction of
the Outposts. The Americans awak-
ened from a sound sleep and let go
several unauthorized volleys. Conse-
Quently the two nervous men. being
between two fires. were riddled with
two kinds of ammunition.
The two men detailed for this even
ang's work were of different metal.
"MOrituri te salntamus. colonel" said
one with reckless laugh. With the
easy nonchalance of veterans, they
gave the rife 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
the ready. There was no sound eX-
cept the occasional hiss of a random
bullet, or the faint and distant pop of
q rifle.
= Guess this is far enough" said one
of the men at length; "here is little
hollow. Why. it is almost as safe as
the trench" The other acquiesced
with a faint murmur, and they
spra wled upon the ground facing the
enemy's territory.
Its queer freak of fate that we
two should be detailed on this to-
gether," observed the shorter Of the
two, 'after avoiding each other so sue
cessfully."
It's blamed queer, Osbourne," re-
turned the other, but We'll have to
stand it,"
i ut is rot that would want a better
man for tight place, Wade" said Os-
bourne. 'but there is that one thing"
Yes, l know" wearily; that's the
trouble. If you We're not as good or a
better man than 1, there would be no
danger of Helen Bartlett caring for
you"
I'VE We're good friends in the old
days, Billy" said Osbourne, rather
huskily; "if one Of us only loved her
little less"
NO go. Tom" replied the other "It
is either her or the jumping off place
for me. Our friendship was friendly
thing, but she is above that Would
you-"
NO. you are right. It's no thorough
fare. l wish it were ended, one way
or the other
What can we do?" Queried Wade.
with studied composure. "We can't
gouge each other with bayonets out
here. and Springtields at two yards is
bit too unique"
Osbou.ile laughed harshly eve
might draw straws. the loser speedily
TO meet an accidental death"
mo, thanks" replied Wade. II am
am willing to take my bullet, If it
comes, but not that way. One Of us
might get it decently at any time"
You're right. Wade" said Osbourne
"You're a good fellow"
"Same to you" returned Wade.
"Let's quit chatting and attend to our
work"
For some time they lay silent, star
ing into the darkness for things they
could not see. even had they been
there. Only the intermittent popping
of musketry and the occasional zeu!
Of /; fauser bullet broke the silence.
Nov nd then they could see through