Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-27
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Metal Soldier.
fOriginaI.l


went to the city and employed a young
art student 10 design figure for him.
The artist hit upon Il 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
flame from the wind, only there was
no fame. Then a 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 10 the rOughened end of the
match. By means of a 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-
Dacco 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 French soldier. His old
mother. who dotted on him. begged hard
for him 10 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's
door was flung open. and Pierre rushed
in. pale. bleeding. evidently fleeing for
his life.
''Is the place occupied by our troops"
"No."
''Then l am lost"
"Why soy
81 volunteered to Turk near the en-
emy's advance posts To gain infOrma-
ton for our general as to which route
they would take. l was discovered
and pursued. In 4 few minutes they
will be here
I'VE can hide you"
at would be useless. They will
search every house i'll 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 | shall be taken and hanged
for a spy. | have been fired on and
am wounded. can go no farther for
loss of blood.
Meanwhile the Prussian OutpOsts.
to within half mile of the town.
where they were halted by the lieuten-
ant in command.
The place may he occupied by the
French" he said I'VE must be care
full not to he drawn into Il trap. You.
BatteI, and you. RubidouX, so 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
very verge of the town. Across an open
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?"
"I can see the figure OF a soldier"
"Whcre?"
''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 We're in town. They had
seen Il soldier on post before Il shop.
Nonsense exclaimed the Iieuten-
ant. IF they were there they would
have put out n picket or Il 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
Hes on post" said RubidouX. per
haps he's guarding the man we're aft
err
You're fool, or. rather. a coward.
You wish me to abandon the pursuit of
one who doubtless holds important Sc
crets. That fellow may not he 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 dimIy illuminated by
a tiny flame. and the .Prussians could
plainly see that the mam was Il soldier.
with his gun resting on the ground
and leaning against hislshoulder. The
flame rose and fell as Oflonc pulling on
the pipe. and smoke waS'aISO visible.
"Sacrp," exclaimed the lieutenant
Hes a soldier. after all. and where
there is one there must be more. The
French are not fools To occupy town
with one man There unISt he at least
n battalion. but they are very poor sol
dierS 10 leave no picket out here. We
might capture them"
The officer decided to go back as fast
as he could and reported that there
tn II @raxr-
with no picket out. and they might he
surrounded and taken. An hour later
two regiments of the line moved out
one encircled the town. while the other
advanced To demand surrender. The
only French soldier in the town was Il
metal one that had the GOODNESS as the
Prussians advanced 10 light his pipe.
Old Gaspard after LIS sons arrival
l.,