Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-07-31

What did h come for +" asks some
one.
"How the deuce should l know!" re-
torts Charlie Hamilton with stare.
WANTED a change, suppose. He tells
me that he didn't think of Joining us
till he was across the channel. when
he happened to tumble across my let
ter-confound it!-and he and his
man came on here straight.
Mans not a bad sort of fellow,
said Pierpoint. Stands to his work
at the guns with the best of them.
Parks, isn't that his name?"
Hamilton mods, musingly.
Eyes. It's all mystery to me, and
Letchford doesn't make it any clearer.
He's as grim as tiger, and doesn't
open his mouth. wish to Heavenh he
was safe home! It's all very well for
most us fellows. and it doesn't much
matter to any of excepting Bobby
there who's got a coronet i'll view, and
who ought to be safe in bed at the
castie-whether we get knocked over
or not, but Letchford-hang it, you
know it's absurd Here's man already
go his title-an estate second to none
/ in Ell gland and engaged to be mar
ried What the deuce does he want
knocking about in this pandemonium
It's 1nystery-hush, he isl"
And he turns as the door opens and
the tall figure of Heron Letchford
enters.
/ h foa ic inn n
with powder, his long military over
coat stained and patched, his long
boots covered with mud
AS he enters. he takes off his coat
and throws it aside. revealing the fact
that his uniform is as seedy as the
cloak, and that it is. in addition,
stained with blood.
'Halloa!" exclaims Charlie Hamil-
ton; anything the matter, Letchford?"
''Tne matter? OH" glancing down at
the stain "a splinter from a she'll
struck me in the arm nothing to
speak of" and he throws himself
down beside the fire, and stares at the
meat with the calm. absent air which
sits upon him like a. garment.
All right at the magazine says
the man next him.
Heron mods.
yes, we have packed it al ound with
sand and meal-bags not an hour too
soon, for they had got the range and
] threw shell right against it; two
men were wounded
Three, including yourself" mutters
Hamilton.
They have gone into hospital goes
On Heron, unheeding the interruption.
Eyes, the magazine is safe now,
think
"A good thing, too," says Hamilton,
grumblingly. Nov you'll find some
other dangerous work, suppose"
Heron smiles grimly.
Difficult to find anything to do that
isn't dangerous Is the quart set
yes; don't worry yourself about
that" retorts Hamilton. Make your
self comfortable and eat your supper.
payne"
| Heron takes the horn cup.
Il wish it was water" he says. with
a smile.
$50 Go - exclaims the peer, laugh
ing, Il should very much like to wash
| my face, just as treat. We must
! be running very short now"
1--WE are" remarks Pierpoint; "the
men are on half-rations. Something
will have to be done. If the enemy
hadn't got the well we should be able
to keep them at bay for another
month. It's always something it
isn't liquor it's grub. / was shut UP
in Paris, you know, and there you
heard the same cry-fGiye us food, and
we VIII Keep 'em out forever!'
"1'he question IS" says Hamilton,
what are we to do? Are we going to
keep il up until every drop of water is
gone, and then give in quietly, or
1 make a dash for it? I'd rather do the
AFTER"
And l." says Heron, quietly.
oh, yes" exclaims Hamilton, in
stantly, of course you are ready for
any mad trick! If were in your
shoes should be only TOO ready to end
the game
would you?" says Heron, looking at
him with the same grave smile.
yes" retorts Hamilton. promptly,
you've no right here at all, and wish
I'd been in Jericho when I wrote that
confounded letter."
'Nonsense!" says Heron, carelessly.
II am enjoying it. 1t is something
new for me, and good fun. I don't
see why you should distress yourself
on my behalf. Charles.
Don't you? / do. Il can plainly
see that if somebody doesn't put you
! in a strait-waistcoat you'll be doing
some mad trick or other. and get
knocked on the head"
I Heron laughs and turns the subject
Isn't that meat done?" he asks.
The cook, man who a few months
ago would rather have walked a mile
than get his boots muddy, laughed, and