The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-10-17

: ply kissing, so that it was scarcely audi
, Bile, "Sh-' he marched on, as rigid
as an idol.
: Strangely, we we're all placed in one
cell, which was we'll ventilated, but the
chances for escape were absolutely naught.
1t was bright moonlight night, and as
soon as we were alone fished out the mys-
terious gift of the soldier. 1t was cart
ridge, wrapped in bit of paper napkin.
| unfolded it, and found note written in
good English, which read, "Mr. Ditmar
does not recognize his college friend, To-
yama, but Toyama recognizes him. He
is designated to command the firing party.
Be cheerful"
''Thank Godr' whispered to the 9th
ers; "we are saved
Toyama had been my fellow student at
college in America. 1t must have Jared
rather hard with him, | thought, for he
was studying there with reference to the
diplomatic service of his country. But [
was glad he was now only kings guards
man in SIAM
The next night, when our supper was
passed in to us, | found underneath my
food a little piece Of paper, upon which
was written, ''Be sure that you all drop
dead. Leave rest to me-
Before sunrise of the appointed day the
japanese guard came to the Jail, we were
hurried out, party of twelve took us in
charge and escorted us away. The rest of
the company returned to the barracks.
We were marched to a dense piece of
woods about a mile and a half distant from
the palace. The officer in charge stepped
out and uncovered his head. [ drew
long breath of relief upon plainly recog-
nizing him as Toyama.
We were placed in position, our eyes
were bandaged, we were made to stand up
against huge funeral pyre, but were not
tied We heard the clangor of arms as
orders were given in a tongue that we did
not understand, and finally came, in En-
glish, the sharp command, "Fire!"
The rifles cracked simultaneously, and
we all fell dead as instructed by the note
which | had received.
We heard Toyama detail burial squad
of five, to act under his direction, and
then order the others to return to the pal
ace under command of another officer.
All of those who remained spoke English.
We were removed to our graves, and SOL
emnly covered leaves. Just before
they covered me Toyama advanced and
said, ''Poor fellow! [ knew him in Amer
ica I must deposit this bunch of flowers
in his grave.
He dropped something upon me, which
I made haste to grab as soon as [ felt suf-
ficiently buried out of sight. [ heard him
give IA command, and the party marched
away.
He then knelt down by my grave and
said ''To night will place more flowers
upon thy grave, dear friend of my college
davs; until then sleep on as best you can. y
listened for long time and heard not
sound. 1t was getting pretty close,
down there in that grave, and | decided
upon an immediate, if only temporary,
resurrection. [ was afraid some of the
others would act the fool.
So cautiously poked up my head, and
saw nothing. | emerged and said, in very
low tones, you may be sure, "Boysr
"Huhr' was drafted up from four
graves.
"Get a little air, and lie still until
night" said |, and l resumed duty as a
dead and buried man.
Soon after dark Toyama came, and
whispered to us to come forth. We obey
ed, and he let us into the dense woods.
"Now," said he II know what you
came after, and what got you into all OF
this trouble. What would that young ell
ephant in the royal stable be worth to
you"
Twenty five thousand dollars re-
piled.
s'It will cost you two free passages to
America, said he II am tired of his
royal giblets, as | have heard Americans
say, and if your ship is where it ought to
be we can be on board with the worshipful
bette albino by midnight Where is that
bouquet l placed in your grave?' he said
to me-
I pulled it out of my pocket, for having
supposed it something to eat | had been
too much excited and circumscribed to un-
dertake meal, and had not looked at it.
"Well," said he, edo you see what ii
| is labeled p
eyes; elephant bait, said [.
"Yes,'' he answered, 81 was afraid
something might happen, and thought in
such case you would take the hint. That
is rare plant, which 1 secured with great
difficulty. An elephant will follow you tt
hades and never say word, if you have a
bit of that in your hand. Now, come on.
have bribed the keeper with the promise
of a passage to America, and better job
when we get there. y
TO make long story short, we went to
the royal elephant stable, the keeper held
the elephant bait up to Thai-Noi's Little