The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-08-19
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THE CAP TAIN.
The Story of the Ten Thousand Dollars Begueathed BY Rdmo
Luis Sanchez of Santiago de Cuba to the Poor Of his city,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. lIlAlIA AllIIIIlIllIIl
BY ALLEN FRENCH.

down. up and down, behind the line
In khaki.
OF all tho men there he was the
only one that knew war. He had seen
Gettysburg. And yet he was the most
nervous. His officers, alert and young,
came and spoke to him easily. The
men hoped for the sound OF shooting.
lie alone feared the attack, and waited
impatiently the order to withdraw.
"The extreme advance post" he
muttered, with unseasoned men! Not
a regular to support us. IL had my
old company, shouldn't care, but IL
these boys break and run my reputa-
tion goes, and every chance of promo
ton"
Promotion! At fifty-fve he was still
a captain, transferred, by a grim
chance, without change of rank, to
nurse volunteers in Cuba He knew his
physical defects; he felt that he was
wearing out in the climate. Sun was
always hard on him, ever since his
sunstroke in the lava beds. If he was
forced out of service his half pay
would not maintain his family-all
girls. To become major before he was
mustered out, that would be saliva
ton!
He stopped by figure that squatted
In the grass behind the line of soldiers.
That's right" said the man. II
wanted to speak with you"
The big American looked down at
the shriveled Cuban. You followed
on your own risk, you know"
81 know" The little mans face
glowed. Il risk. At last | am to strike
for my country. There will be shoot
ing soon. Oh, how feel! And you
Americans-I honor you!"
That's all right, said the captain.
"Dont bother about u.s."
"See, you, captain" said the Cuban.
He drew wallet from his breast and
opened 1t carefully.
The captain saw crisp greenbacks.
"Put It up, man." he said.
"But look" said the Cuban. "They
are American money-thousand dollar
bills. Ten. Do you see? My whole for
tune. Spain has taken the rest"
81 see," said the captain, astonished.
"You spoke of risk" sad he Cuban.
but you risk your lives for us. risk
mine, too. If / die you take this
money. See?"
"Yes," said the captain.
"The money is for the poor Of San
tiago, my city, which we all besiege.
II is TO reconstruct-you understand?
A legacy from me. The money, you
take 1t IL | die. You see that 1t is
properly used. No one else knows.
Understand"
81 understand"
"You are an American. l don't ask
you to promise. All, look OUT"
A dry cracking began in the thick
cts under the trees across the clear
ing. One would have said that men
were breaking branches for fuel. But
looking closely, flashes were visible in
the shadow. Bullets began to cut the
leaves about the captains head.
The Cuban twitched his trousers.
Lie down." he said. Foolish to
stand. Lie down"
The captain shook his head. The
men were looking at him; he could
not afford to betray nervousness. The
iieutenants came for orders. shall We
fire?" Not yet. The captain studied
the woods in front, and searched them
with his glasses. His worries van
ished as he called into play his mill
tnry faculties He noted the increas-
Ing fire, as from gathering irregular
force. Then his orders came clear and
cool. He spread out his line, to give
the impression Of greater numbers
and gave the word to return the fire
The Cuban was the first to shoot. In
his excitement his gun spoke often. He
looked at the captain with shining
face. "This is glorious!" he cried. 81
fight for my country"
The fire became hotter. The oppos-
ing force grew ever larger; the re-
sponse Of the Americans seemed fee
BILE. The captain knew that his
strength would be revealed. He feared
10 be outhanked. But of the courage
OF his men he soon had no doubt They
fought we'll. And the Cuban whenever
the captain came within sound of hii
voice, called This is glorious!"
In the half hour that followed, the
volunteers learned TO know ttemsel'
YES and to know their captain. They
had been proud Of him before; now
they loved him. A sudden attack
made by men slipping forward undel
cover OF the grass he taught them tC
repulse. That pleased and elated them
And yet at the end It might have gon'
hard, for the Spaniards were begin
ming TO creep around the flanks; bu
an aide came hurrying through thu
woods.
"All right" he cried. "We've dom
what we came for. Fall back to tn,
main body"
The captain drew his men back skill
, fully. The Spaniards pressed SO. clos
that tho company turned often Il
drive Of the pursuit The men obeye'