The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-06

shelter, ne saw 0ark forms creeping 81
lently along the road-one Qr two at
time. The Americans would be muir
dered In their beds.
Walters thought Of the girl waiting at
the church not nifty yards distant; nc
could Join her, and by daylight they
would be far away toward the noun,
taIns What affair was this OF his? Had
he not renounced his race? II he went
back 10 warn the troops, he would prop,
ably never reach the quarters awe; ana
even II he succeeded IN saving the gar
rson and himself after II was all over
he would only get back In prison Tor ms
pains. That would mean an end 70 his
dream OF oblivion on the mountain side.
lie would be taken back 10 America
Gods country" as the men called u.
At the name there ran through his mind
a fragment OF the Improvisation the sol
diers sang when starting on nike;
but Gods country is behind us-long
ago and far away,
Ard we're hghtin Fiipinos round the
old Manila bay.
stOry's what II tells.
When you've heard the flag a-callin'
why. you won't heed nothin' else"
what is wrong, asked Capt Graham.
starting up In bed as man staggered
into his room ealing his name
'It Is T. captain Walters. There IN
attack to be made in Il few minutes
About three hundred Filipinos lying in
the grass in front Of the quarters waiting
for daylight Ihe voice oied AVA, ana
Capt Graham was at his side IN an
'Are you hurt. my boy?" ne asked as
ne lifted the huddled figure.
IRAN into one OF them on my way up,
lnurnered Walters Il knocked him
down with my gun, but ne got his knife
IN first"
grimly He laid Walters on the bed. and
passing into the adjoining room, he
awoke the sturgeon, and whispered IN MS
ear. II.
tinued as he turned toward the stairs.
II don't know what he's doing out OF the
guardhouse. but he's won shoulder straps
tonight"
the American troops had been Cathohc
convent The officers occupied rooms ele-
vatcd az one end, and the men nad tltfr
bunks on the stone floor OF 'the large
lower room formerly used as "A chapei,
In five minutes after Capt Graham naH
left the doctor the soldiers were stfailhs
silently nut uf tho wide doorway nhd
taking their places in The llrN fhauvN
ai0nr ne front af tie b'hlilng. Not n
light had been struck mot Wvfa spuhe.i.
save BIZ the officers as they moved sorry
about waking the men ana whisperihs
instructions Ia their ears. Nlihnut Y
question the trained fighters secured uieir
riflce ma amnunition ana moved 60 their
posts. When the last man was In place
Capt Graham, the senior oflcsfs STA
toned himself near the DOORWAY
There was no moon. and CLOUDY sAf
added to the intense darkness preccdihs
the breaking of dawn. The men nad ~
ders 20 hold their rifles READY, out ulus,'
no circnfns tances 10 shoot until the sap
tain gave the order, beiore tiifli,
stretched the plaza on the other side oi
which was rank growth ol s,ssf5 49,, s,
either fiank was village stIess. .No''''''a
Indicated that an enemy was near
After a seemingly interminable peIlotl
| OF waiting the glow Of morning began
10 appear iu the east, and spread VIII
tropical sNiftness lhe Maleh'ns ,ls ~ =,
could now make out the. dark iine iiias ~
| ing the opposite side Of the plaza As she
! light grew. the line on which every ~.
was strained took qehnte lolMt y
seemed 70 be moving Yes, 4 was surely
| cominr slowly forward. The men heid
their hreatis as they lay prone on W.
stone front and watched that living wave
| creeping across the square 1hey iooheu
/ M their captain. He was cIouching oi
| lis knees his eyes fixed as II fascinated
/ Did he see that that line was advancing
I How long was he going TO wait 1hs
/ Fiilpinos would rise n anotner iilst'lin
| for the rush But not soldier though'
/ Of firing: they would await that "ota %
Nearer and nearer crept the Filipinos
Now the soldiers could distinguish ",
| individuaiA Comprising that moving. wall
/ They could see the long, numerous
I knives
II was the moment the captain hae
waited for "Firef'--his voice rang oul
I like q whip followed Instantly ny
1 HASH OF fre and the roar OF rifles
1 The black line half way across ihr
plaza seemed TO wilt and crumble WIN
I wells 81 wild surprise and abject terror
I Inc FHipinos fled from that terrible hal
I ~ death Then the trumpets rang on'
/ lie charge" and the avenging Amer
I leans dashed after their would-be az.
1 sessius. who scattered Ike rabbits, ane
I sought shelter Ia the thlckets TWO.
/ thirds OF the Lolomen were lying on tls
/ plaza which had been their death trap.
/ Returning when further pursuit seeineo
I useless. CAPT Graham left sub0ruhats
/ hi charge OF the work OF gathering ~ ths
I dead and wounded OF the enemy, ana
hagteuing upstairs. ne found the doctor
/ bending over Walters.
/ .'fFnw's the deserter that's turned
/ hero2' began Graham In Els hearts
/ voice Hell get pardon and medA
I Of honor for las. night.
The decor kfd Up his hand
| The sun streagslag through the window
i lighted up the pale face Of the dying sol
/ dier. and seemed to stamp upon ms iea
4 lures a wonderful peaeefulness. Ills I'D:
iswere moving Leaning over him, the tWs
I watchers caught the murmur: Whei
I vot1've heard the flag a-caliin, why, yct
I won't heed nothin else. Lieut. Chaile'
/ + Martha L. s. A.. in the Argonaut.