Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-02-27
THE METAL SOLDIER
[0riginal.l

the wooden figure standing before his
shop hacked by ;;amins. concluded to
replace 1t by metal one. Since he
was to make n change he might as
we'll get up something unique, so he
went to the city and employed young
art student to design figure for him.
The artist hit upon soldier lighting
his pipe. The butt of his gun rested
on the ground. With one hand he held
a match; with the other shaded the
fame from the wind, only there was
no fame. Then happy thought struck
Gaspard. A tube was run from the
pipe down through the statue and into
the shop. The match was hollow and
connected with the gas pipes. NOV
able plate covered with phosphorus was
adjusted to the roughened end of the
match. By means of wire leading to
the shop the plate could be pulled and
the gas lighted. Gaspard sucked
rubber tube leading from the pipe.
which would send forth clouds of to-
bacco smoke. Then he would turn off
the light from the match.
When the Franco Prussian war came
on. Gaspard's son, Pierre, aged eighteen,
became q French soldier. His old
mother, who dotted on him, begged hard
for him to stay at home and wept bit
ter tears when he marched away.
Then came the news that the Prus-
slams were carrying everything before
them and marching on Paris. One
evening just after dark old Gaspard' $
door was flung open, and Pierre rushed
in, pale, bleeding. evidently fleeing for
his life
els the place occupied by our troops?"
mo"
''Then l am lost"
"Why so?'
81 volunteered to Turk near the en-
emy's advance pests to gain informa-
ton for our general as to which route
they would take. l was discovered
and pursued. In few minutes they
will be here"
I'VE can hide you"
ut would be useless. They will
search every house in the town and
burn every stick Of timber in it to
uncover me. My only hope was that
our troops were here, and since they
are not l shall be taken and hanged
for a spy. l have been fired on and
am wounded. can go no farther for
loss of blood"
Meanwhile the Prussian outposts.
consisting Of dozen men, advanced
to within half mile of the town.
where they were halted by the lieuten-
ant in command.
1.-THE place may be occupied by the
French" he said. I'VE must be care
full not to be drawn into a trap. You.
Battel. and you, Rubdoux, go for
ward. If you are shot, we shall know
that the French are there. If they are
not, come back and let us know"
The two men pushed forward to the
space they could see old Gaspard's
shop, which was dimly lighted, as
usual.
Back, Rubidoux." whispered Battel.
''The place is occupied"
"How do you know"
81 can see the figure of soldier"
"Where"
"There, before that little shop"
"By gar! You are right. What shall
we do?"
Return and report the matter to the
lieutenant"
Back they went and reported that
the French were in town. They had
seen n soldier on post before shop.
Nonsense" exclaimed the lieuten-
ant. IF they were there they would
have put out a picket or a vedette.
He ordered the men to spread them
selves as skirmishers and move stealth
lily forward. When they came to the
place where Battel had discovered the
soldier. they stopped. and there, true
enough. he was. standing before old
Gaspard's shop.
whats he doing" queried the lieu
tenant.
"He's on post" said Rubidoux. "Per-
haps he's guarding the man we're aft
err"
you're a fool, or, rather. coward.
You wish me to abandon the pursuit Of
one who doubtless holds important Sc
crets. That fellow may not be a SOL
der at all. Singular that he stands SO
still. Come; we are wasting time"
At that moment the figure in front
of the shop was dimly Illuminated by
n tiny flame, and the Prussians could
plainly see that the man was a soldier,
with his gun resting on the ground
and leaning against his shoulder. The
flame rose and fell as of one pulling on
the pipe, and smoke was also visible.
"Sacrew exclaimed the lieutenant.
Hes soldier, after all, and where
there Is one there must be more. The
French are not fools to occupy town
with one man. There must be at least
a battalion. but they are very poor sol
diers to leave no picket out here. We
might capture them"
The officer decided to go back as fast
as he could and reported that there
was n force of the enemy in the town,
with no picket out, and they might be
surrounded and taken. An hour later
two regiments of the line moved out
One encircled the tow ], while the other
advanced to demand surrender. The
only French soldier In the town was a
metal one that had the GOODNESS as the
Prusslans advanced to light his pipe.
Old Gaspard after his sons arrival
had gone cat TO reconnoiter. and in con