Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
Fighting With Blank Cartridges
tOriginal.l

the prisoners were being paroled, and
the triumphant army was preparing
to march home. Now and again a
cheer would be started at one point
in the camp and, like wave of the
sea, only expend itself when the ut
termost limits of soldiery had been
reached. And we'll might the men
cheer-no more toiling through mud
and rain or dust and heat; no more
risk Of life or limb through shot and
shell, or. what was at times far more
TO he dreaded, disease. Fathers. moth
ers, wives and sweethearts We're wait
ing them at home.
A soldier in hospital in attendance
upon his brother heard the rejoicing
without Henry and Walter Burt had
left home together in the same COM
pany, had fought side by side, had Of
ten spoken Of the chances of their go
ing back together, and now that the
day OF return had come an accident
promised to carry off Waiter. Being
i'll, he had been taken to the hospital
and there during the last battle, in the
hurry attending the bringing IN ana
care of so many wounded, had been
given an overdose of morphine by mis-
take. He was lying in stupor from
which antidotes were pOwerless to
rouse him. The surgeon had given one
after another without effect and was
now COMPUTING up some new method.
Henry leaned over his brother and,
more TO relieve his own feelings than
in the hope that Walter would hear
him, begged him to make an effort to
rouse himself.
Walter" he cried, mother is wait
ing for u.s. Father is coming down the
walk to meet u.s. And there are Mary
and Lou, and little Tom is upon the
fence waving n flag! HepZie-your
Hepzie-is coming from the house,
blushing and crying for JOY at seeing
you safe back from the war! She
throws her arms about your neck! l
can't hear what she is whispering to
you for the drums, the shouting and
the ringing of the bells!'
Walter opened his eyes, stared at his
brother stupidity and closed them again.
There's something in your way of
working it." said the surgeon. keep
up your efforts. Punch him. roll him.
and when you see bit of intelligence
urge him TO rouse himself for the sake
of going home. I'll be back presently
1 am going to try an experiment"
The surgeon went out, threw himself
on his horse, rode away to the camp OF
the regiment to which the brothers be-
longed and soon returned with the men
of their company-all that was left of
it-some twenty soldiers.
Suddenly without there was n vol
ley, and the surgeon, rushing in, cried:
THE enemy are on uS.'
a drummer under the window began
to beat the long roll.
up, men! Every man to his arms!
Stand together
Walter Burt sat up on his bed. His
brother seeing the advantage that had
been gained, looked about for weap-
on and, seeing musket standing in
corner placed 1t in his brothers hands,
crying:
Come on! It's fight for our lives!
They're front rear and on the flank.
Walter stood on his feet.
Henry glanced at the lock Of the
musket and saw that there was no cap
on it, Walter seized the gun and stag
gered forward. At the moment there
were yells without and a vOlley. The
sick man leaped through the window,
which was but a few feet from the
ground, and, seeking forms half hid
| den by smoke, cooked his gun and pull
ed the trigger.
"Loadv' cried Henry, handing him
cartridge.
There was a desperate sham battle
in which Walter Burt's comrade knew
that they were fighting for his life.
| They surrounded him and his two
companions, fired blank cartridges in
their faces, retreated, advanced again.
firing, shouting, rolling drums, blowing
bugles. The general sent an aid to
learn the cause of the firing and was
| told that It was to save, not destroy,
life. For hours one attack followed
another. There was no further use for
powder to stay an enemy, and it was
not spared. Never had this little band
of soldiers fought when their hearts
were more in their work; never had
they shown themselves more worthy
to be called heroes.
| At last that death they were fighting
began to show signs of retreat. AS he
drew away the motions of his intended
victim grew more rapid, his eye clear
er. Then during a lull in the strife he
paused, rested the butt of his musket
on the ground and looked with dawn
ing intelligence on his comrades.
What's the matter?" he exclaimed.
''All right" said the surgeon. Boys.
you may go back to camp. You've
pulled him through"
The regiment to which the brothers
belonged had been recruited from near
their home. and as 1t had marched
past their house going to the war it
marched past it on its return, only in
stead OF returning a thousand strong it
numbered less than 800. The picture
Henry had conjured up to rouse his
brother became q real scene. A white