The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-04-16


1cN the captain hns just re-
turned from duty in the Philippines
that he bears a cruel scar between his
ewes, and that I would unhesitatingly
TAXI. his word for any amount you care
to name: still-well, the captain can
speak for himself.
.
"Our surprise was complete. and we
cmptied our guns futilely. Then the
company scapegrace. with shout OF
warning, sprang suddenly in front OF
me. lust in time to get spear through
his throat and plunge Imply down With
choking cough. l blew in the face OF
his SLAYER with the last shot in my re-
volvcr. jammed its muzzle hard INTO
the stomach of another little brown
man who was slashing around reckless
" with n bolo several sizes too big lCr
him. got a tremendous smash across
the eyes here, and everything went
black
"The next l knew I found myself
lying on a cot il dark room with 4
bandagc bound around my head, and
headache that was the father OF all
headaches. I struggled up into a sit
ting position, with my elbows Oh my
knees and my chin in my hands and
studied the matter out. AS nearly as l
could figure it out, we had either beat
en- off the treacherous Filipinos WHO
had so cleycrly ambushed my scouting
party. or we hadn't. If the first were
true, I was probably safe in hospital,
and if the second, was prisoner
with a very unpleasant future before
me. / couldn't very we'll decide which,
under the circumstances, without out
side information, so I shouted ut the
top Of my voice, Hello! Hello there
determined to end ,he suspense at once.
81 heard the door open, ard. turning
in the direction of the sound l saw
and I gripped the sides OF my cot hard
with both hands at the surprise and
horror of it saw stalk into the room
a human skeleton. That was ALL just
a stark and nideous human skeleton,
surmounted by grinning skull.
There is nothing particularly delect-
able to the average man about Skele-
ton ut any time, but when one, and not
q particularly we'll made one at that,
saunters carelessly up to your bedside,
grabs your pulse in his fingers, and
asks, in the familiar tones OF the sur
geon you've been comrade with for sew
cral years, What are YOU making such
a row about. old chapT it is apt to
produce, in the ordinary invalid, Il va
riety of sensations more or less confus.
ing.
"'What's happened? Where am 1:
What is it? What are YOU? What's
the matter?' I gasped rapidly.
"tOh, you're all right now, old chap,
the doctors voice assured me, while the
skull grinned more affably than cvel
upon me. You got little swipe
across the eyes from some murderous
minded Filipino's club, and it's laid tor
up here in the hospital talking lunacy
for few days. that's ALL
"'Exactly,' ! muttered, scanning his
skeleton intently. That is all
Funny thing went on the doctors
voice placidly. You've been seeing al
kinds of skeletons. and I don't know
what all. According to you this is
about the finest anatomical museum
outside a duly licensed charnel house
ever incorporated. You surely have
had surfeit of bones, but I knew
you'd wake up this time all straight
"'But, see here, DOCTOR If this thing
that's gassing away is YOU protested
earnestly, that's all calr see of yol
now
"Whew! whispered the skeleton tt
itself. Crazy as ever. Where's TIT
morphine:
Nonsense I cried hotly. I'm Z!
sane as you are. Saner. I reckon, be
cause don't dream everybody is Graz.
except myself. But tell you, on m!
word, that all see Of you is your skel
eton; and what's more, I'll prove it
See here, you've had three ribs on th
| right side broken some time or other
eyes, football, but how the deuc
| did you know it? 1 never told you, In
sure replied the skeleton thoughtfully
"I tell you I. can see your bones
| asservated cXcitedly. And what
worse, it is all I can see Of you, 70,
lante1n-jawed, lop-sided, toggle-j -jointed
| poorly articulated, miserable specime!
Of human frame, you
| "'With bandage over your eyes
too sneered the doctor. 1 suppose m
minute appraisement of his only skele
ton nettled him into overlooking for tn
minute the Utter preposterousness o
my claim. And it's as good as yours
anyway
"I don't care if have millo
bandages on 1 insisted. 'Bandage Q
no bandage, 1 swear I can see you
skeleton, or somebody's skeleton, stant
ing by the bed. could see it the mil
ute you opened the door and let j
some light, and that's all can see
you except yes, q ring is danglin
from your little finger, some coins Al
suspended some way against your lei
leg, and a bunch of keys and q knife o
the right. I suppose they're in yor
trousers pockets. Now, what's the ma
ter with me. doctor? Here, take tn
cussed bandage off and let more ligl
into the room. Let's get at the bottol
of this
"Only partly persuaded that he ii
not have q dangerous maniac on h
hands the doctor reluctantly did as
asked, and was promptly startled ha
out of what wits had left.
II seemed to be floating in space.
could see with perfect ease into Il
rooms above. below and around the OF
/ was in. Ny vision was bounded a
parently only by distance and not ]
material objects jntcrveuing; such il
material objects Us partitions inte