Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1903-11-13
| He snread out his line


TO give the impression of greater num-
bers, and gave the word TO retnrn the
fire
The Cuban was the first TO shoot. In
his excitement his gun spoke often. He
looked at the captain with shining
face "Thls is gloriousf he cried. Il
fight for my country"
The fire became hotter The oppos-
ing force grew ever larger; the re-
Spouse of the Americans seemed fee
BILE The captain knew that his
strength would be revealed. He feared
to be outhanked But OF the courage
of his men he soon had no doubt. They
fought well. And the Cuban, when
ever the captain came within sound Of
his voice, called This is giorious!
In the half hour that followed, the
volunteers learned TO know themselves
and to know their captain They had
been proud OF him before; now they
loved him. A sudden attack, made by
men slipping forward under cover Of
the grass, he taught them TO repulse.
That pleased and elated them. And
yet at the end 1t might have gone hard,
for the Spaniards were beginning TO
creep around the TANKS; but an aide
came hurrying through the woods.
"All right.' he cried. We've done
what we came for Fall back ON the
main body"
The captain drew his men back skill
fully. The Spanlards pressed so close
that the company turned often to drive
off pursuit. The men obeyed every Sig
nal of their veteran leader; they relied
on him.
The Cuban followed the surges back
and forth, calling to each acquaint-
ance: This is glorious!" But at last
he came running to his friend. See
he cried There was red blotch over
his heart. He staggered and fell. 81
die for my country! There was half
admiration, half contempt, In the cap
taln's heart for the dramatic southern
nature He seized the slender body
and bore 1t along. Still directing clev-
erly, even brilliantly, he finished the
running fight with every man of his
company safe within the line OF his
brigade
But the Cuban was dead. That
night the captain stood by his grave.
And from that time he carried about
There was load on his breast, and In
his mind ran ever a formula: Five
hundred dollars will pay rent at home
and servants wages. Five per cent
on ten thousand dollars is five hundred
dollars a year. Five hundred dollars
will pay rent" Oh, heavens! To
ge. rid of the idea-anythingl He at
tended his duty rigldly, spared him
self no work But always the idea
forced It's return. He even woke him.
self in the night with the words Five
per cent on ten thousand dollars Is five
hundred dollars year"
Tom" said his colonel, whats up?
You're not right in your mind"
"Oh" said the captain. its nothing.
It's just-buslness. Home affairs"
The colonel looked sober. Home
i affairs. old lad, have no place for us
Just now. Haven't we enough to do
as it is? What's up? Are the girls
sick? Isn't Mary well?'
They're all right" said the captain.
Their letters are very cheerful. But
| can't help thinking, you know, what
If L."
Yes" said his classmate, looking
him in the eye. u know-the old sun
stroke, this cursed climate and all the
rest. Look here, Tom Strong, may
say straight word to your"
"Of COURSE"
well. il you mean to stand the eli
mate quit worrying Get Mary and
the girls off your mind, look cheerful.
and keep yourself in good spirits. The
climate won't break you down as fast
as you are breaking yourself Since
that little skirmish the other day, when
you did SO we'll you've gone about
moping. See here, that Cuban that was
killed was fond of you. 1t isn't the
loss of him that weighs on youf'
HE? Oh. no! Ha. ha. Oh, no.
"Well. go easy now. old fellow. Give
Yourself rest"
The colonel went away. Within
three minutes the captain, left alone.
was saying to himself: Five per cent
ON ten thousand dollars" He went
out to the trenches, and for the Vicious
pleasure In 1t tried his hand at sharp
shooting.
Those weary days before Santiago
were terrible to him. The news Of
the naval victory scarcely made him
smile. Five per cent on ten thousand
! dollars" And in what should he
invest the money? For heavens sake.
Tom" cried his colonel the whole
Spanish fleet wiped out, and yet you
say never Il word!'
III only" thought the captain,
there could be another sllirmish. and
l could get killed. The money would
be found on me; no one would know
whence It came. 1t would go 10 Mary