Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-05-06

6 Z 6 club window watching the
4 u + girls so by. 1t Is true that
30S the captain has just re-
turned from duty in the Philippines,
that he bears cruel scar between his
cyes, and that 1 woull unhesltatinSiy
take his word for any amount you care
10 name; still-well, the captain can
speak for himself.
% q
"Our surprise was complete and we
empticd our guns futilely. Then the
company scapegracc, with shout OF
warning, sprang suddenly in front OF
me, Just in time to get spear through
his throat and plunge Imply down With
a choking cough. blew in the face OF
his slayer with the last shot i'll my re-
volyer, jammed its muzzle hard into
the stomach of another little brown
man who was slashing around reckless
.ly with bolo several sizes too big for
him, got tremendous smash across
the eyes here, and everything Went
black. -.
"The next knew I found myself
lying on q cot in 4 dark room with 4
bandagc bound around my head, and
headache that was the father Of all
headaches. I struggled up into sit
ting position, with my elbows on my
knees and my chin i'll my hands and
studied the matter out. AS nearly us L
could figure it out, we had either beat
ell off the treacherous Filipinos Who
had so cleverly ambushed my scouting
party, or we hadn't. II the first were
true, was probably safe in hospital,
and If the second, was q prisoner.
with very unpleasant future before
me. couldn't very we'll decide which,
under the circumstances, WITHOUT out
side information, so I shouted at the
top Of my voice, Hello! Hello there"
determined to end inc suspense ut once.
81 heard the door open and, 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 til saw stalk into the room
a human skeleton. That was all, Just
q stark and hideous human skeleton,
surmounted by grinning skull.
"There is nothing particularly delect-
able to the average man about skele-
ton ut any time, but when ono, and not
q particularly well made one at that
sauuters 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 ser-
cral years, What are you making such
row about. old chap:' it is apt to
produce, in the ordinary invalid, va
ricty Of sensations more or less confus-
ing.
"'Whats happened? Where am I?
What is it? What are you? What's
the matter? gasped rapidly.
"'Oh, you're all right now, old chap,
the doctors voice assured me, while the
skull grinned more affably than ever
upon me. you got n little swipe
across the eyes from some murderous
minded Fllipinos club, and it's laid YOU
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 all
kinds of skeletons, and 1 don't know
what all. According TO you this is
about the finest anatomical museum
outside a duly licensed charncl house
ever incorporated. You surely have
had q surfeit Of bones, but 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 can sec Of you
now
"Whewr whispered the skeleton to
ITSELF Crazy as ever. Where's the
morphine?
Nonsense I cried hotly. I'm as
sane as you are. Saner, reckon, be-
cause I don't dream everybody is crazy
except myself. But tell you, on my
word, that all see Of you is your skel-
eton; and what's more, I'll prove 1t.
See here, you've had three ribs on the
right side broken some time or other
eyes, football, but how the deuce
did you know it? never told You, I'm
sure replied the skeleton thouglitfully
4 tell you can see your bones,' l
asservated excitedly And what's
worse, it is all I can see OF you, you
lanteIn-jawed, lop-sided, toggle-jointed,
poorly articulated, miserable specimen
Of human frame, you
"'With bandage over ycur eyes,
too,' sueGred the doctor. I suppose my
minute appraisement of his only skcle-
ton nettlcd him into overlooking for the
minute the utter preposterousness Of
my claim. And it's as good as yours,
anyway
"I don't care if have q million
bandages on insisted. 'Bandagc or
no bandage, 1 swear I can see your
skeleton, or somebody's skeleton, stand
ing by the bed. could see it the min
ute you opened the door and let il
some light, and that's all can sec Of
you except yes, q ring is dangling
from your little finger, some coins are
suspended some way against your left
leg, and bunch Of keys and q knife on
the right. I suppose they're in your
trousers pockets. Now, what's the mat
ter with me, doctor? Here, take this
cussed bandage off and let more light
into the room. Let's get at the bottom
Of this
"Only partly persuaded that he did
not have dangerous maniac on his
hands the doctor reluctantly did as
asked, and was promptly startled half
out of what wits had left
91I seemed to be floating. in space. !
could see will perfect case into the
rooms above, below and around the one
was in. Ny vision was bounded ap.
parently only by distance, and not by
material objects intervening; such in,-
material objects as partitions Inter.