Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-07-27
SO Fair, SO false"t'T
sv Charlie. o,rv,c. .,~-.K
Continued.
By Charles 0nrvice

clple. They are here simply because
they are wearied OF the old donothing
life, End long for a change, and be-
cause no change lie SO delightful TO
your used.up exquisite as hard lighting
and deadly peril about your throat"
There Is not even the excitement OF
malice and enmity In their proceed
ings. They do not hate the power
against which they fight, or love the
power for which they are enduring
such untold discomforts and dangers
The struggle over, they would be per-
fectly willing to dine with the Russian
general who has been fighting against
thoIn for the last few months, and
whose gray head and pale face they
occasionally see from the battlements;
they do not care snap OF their nm
gers for Turkey, her rights or her
wrongs.
Il Is simply the rough game OF war
fare they care for, and they play II
with an earnestness and yet cheerful
light-hertedness that, even more than
their indomltable courage, inspires
awe and wonderment In the bewilder'
cd Turks.
Bang! bang! shrek the guns, and
shell flies over tho hut, and buries IT.
self IN the town behind
Those fellows are getting the range
better now" says one Of the group,
carelessly, as he turns a spit upon
which is roasting the piece OF meat
which IL to serve for the common sup
per Shouldn't wonder II they get
us into focus tomorrow"
III they 10. we must move" re-
marks second, fair-haired man,
scarcely more than boy, whose face
bears long sabcrcut, which, II he ever
gets back to England. will make his
mother weep bitter tears.
"llme enough for that" reioins a
third, the heir to n peerage. 1T al
ways takes them fortnight to sight a
position I'd back one Of our gun
ners against six OF their men. Who
has the guard tonight"
Hamilton" replies shortset man,
who lios full length staring In the fire,
aud smoking short pipe, very pos
sjbly to assuage the pangs of hunger.
AS he speaks the door opens, and
tall young fellow enters. This is
Charlie Hamilton, whose name Is
known to all London as that OF the
most exquisite dandy of the period
He comes In with smile on his
powder-begrimed face, laughing
light In his blue eyes, his tattered
cloak tightly claspcd around him, his
forage cap stuck ON one ear.
Did you hear that last one, you fell
lows" he asks as thoy look up, mot
mosque ut the corner OF the street
just as | was passing. Just had time
to swing around the corner or 1
shouldn't have joined the mess tonight.
What Ia It? Usual bill OF fare. sup.
pose h, Heaven; what would give
rick DO you remember that saint Of
duck they usel 10 have. Pierpoint"
And he stirs up the short man with
the end of his sword-sheath.
Pierpoint srunts,
Saint Of duck" goes Oh Hamilton,
unfastenlng his sworG5elt and hang
Ing 1t NJ against the hut "Bes utiful!
| can smell II now. Helgh,ho, Well,
Pm awfully hungry, and | dare say
shall enjoy this as much as used to
do the saint In the old times. Is II not
done? Are we all here? Where's
Letchford?"
Down at the magazine" replies
the man who Is cooking.
Down at the magazine?" echoes
Hamilton pauslng In his task OF scrap.
Ing the mud from his booth with del.
ioate pearl-handled nknife--bought
In the exquisite days in PiccGdilly--"at
the magazine? Hem, wish--l wish
he'd be more careful, There was no
occasion for him TO mess about there!
One of the men could have done that"
He lid not seem to think So" says
Pierpoint
Charlie Hamilton bites his lip with
sudden gravity
Hell get knocked over one of these
fine days. he says, uneasily Never
saw such reckless fellow. Found him
yesterday on the ramparts, incoming on
the top of one of the guns, and the
sho tanj shell flying around him like
butterflies. They were making tar.
got of him--give YOU my word Can't
think what's come to him. Used to be
wild, but never played the fool like
this
Pierpoint grlns
Hadn't such good cause. perhaps
Coins to be married. YOU know; wants
to dodge It. perhaps"
Charlie Hamilton smiles, but looks
'measlly at the circle of faces.
Joking apart" he says In low
voice there Is something about
Letchford that don't like. Look here,
you know II was all through me that
he came out here. When the fun be.
gun, wrote to Vane Vavasour and
Ietchrord. and asked them to come
and take n hand. or course, knew