Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
A JAPANESE WooINe.

| was n driver in the artillery. One day
| Mineyama, n nursegirl in Nagasaki,
| saw Kudo ride by on one of the horses
I dragging a cannon, and there was such
| an appearance of power in the gun
| land was not Kudo. guiding the horses
! that dragged 1t about like toy. moro
| powerful than the gun itselfD that she
! straightway fell in love with him. ku-
| do noticed the girl standing beside the
| road, her hand on the baby carriage
| that contained her charge, and was as
much struck with her as she with him.
| Therefore, when of duty. he waited
and watched for her where he had seen
her, met her, and then and there was
| love affair.
| But Mineyama's love had been in
| famed by Eudo the gun driver rather
| than Kudo the man. Consequently
when Kurota, n young sergeant in the
| cavalry. came along with Il brand new
uniform he looked so splendid that
| Mineyama at once transferred her af-
| fections from the artillery to the cav
! airy The truth is that the same day
Kurota appeared with his fine clothes
| and trappings Kudo came along after
| driving over a muddy road all day,
| dingy and despatched. Considering
the origins Of her love, this was quite
| enough TO turn the little nusegirl's
affections. 1t was all very we'll for
Mineyama and the cavalry sergeant,
for that matter, but it was death to
| the gun driver. He declared that he
would commit harakri. bat Mineyama
only laughed at him andJtoId him that
he had better 20 and get plume in his
hat like that of KurOta; then, if he
looked well, she might reconsider the
matter.
There had been a good deal of talk
of war with Russia, ana that very
night the JapGnese feet attacked the
Russian vesselSl at Port Arthur Kudo
had no need to- commit haral1iri; the
Russians were quite willing to save
him the trouble. His battery was put
on transport and landed III Korea.
Kudo was i'll Il number of fights. in
which his clothes-tiey could hardly
be called Il unifOrm-became so be
grimed with pORyder and dirt that he
was in despair. eff NLineyama were
to see me today" he noaned. she
would spurn me more than ever" To
make matters worse, iKurota rode by
one day, and, being attached to the
headquarters OF a general officer, where
they try to keep everything spick and
span, his uniform was more snowy
than ever.
The great battle of!the war'was com
ing on at Iiaoyang. For several days
half Il million of men shot at one an
other. Then the affair took Il decisive
turn. KudO was driving a gun in one
manded the center of the japanese
army. All of the gun, drivers horses
were killed. and Kudo. having nothing
to drive. turned his attention to his
gun. one by one his comrades fell I'M
der the terrific fire of the enemy till
at last there was but one gun in his
battery available and one man to work
it-Kudo. A general rode by and saw
him putting a shot every few minutes
just where it was needed. The officer
was so impressed with the drivers eff
ficiency that he said tothim:
when we, have less to do report in
person at my headquarters"
We'll, the BATTLE was over at last, and
KudO remembering the. generals or
der. reported ut his silent.
''Ah. you are the last man to work
the last gun i'll your battery in the late
battle. Well. you are promoted to be
lieutenant. Is there any special desire
that you would ike to have gratfied?"
Kudo Thought for awhile and then
said:
General 1 hear that the til in
fantry is going back to Nagasaki to
recruit would Iike,to go with it."
What asked theI general, surpris-
ed. Are you tired of.war?"
ooh, no. general; Il only wish to
march into the city. 81 will return the
next day"
I'm what capacity do you wish to
go with the regiment?"
'As drum major"
The general laughed. "And why. my
brave fellow. do youAdesire to go home
as drum MAJOR
~ love n little nursegirl named
Mineyama who is much impressed
with fine uniforms. If she sees me
with all the gold lace and trappings of
n drum major. tossing my staff in the
air. she VIII he much impressed and
perhaps will make me happy"
You shall have your desire, my good
man. and when you return want you
on my staff. You are the first man
have ever met who has the sense to
properly woo n woman. and n man
with so much brain in that respect
must be wise in others"
The next day Kudo marched TO the |
coast with the til infantry, boarded a
transport and was taken to Nagasaki. J
The people were wild with enthusi- |
asm over the great victory, and the |
streets were lined 10 view the entry |
into the city. As the men proceeded !
their wives. sisters and sweethearts |
Joined them and marched with them I
hand in hand. Mineyama was IN |
second story window dozen feet from |
the sidewalk When she saw Kudo /
march by covered with gewgaws, /
twirling his staff and strutting like a
Sbn INN ont oF Ina vt,