The daily Alaskan., 1905-04-06
THE METAL SOLDIER
Ioriginsll

small town near Paris, tired of having the wooden figure standing before his shop hacked by gamiIIs. concluded to replace it by c metal one. Sisce he was to make a change he might as we'll get up something unique, so he went to the city and employed young srt student to design figure for him. The artist hit upon a soldier lighting his pipe. The butt of his gun rested on the ground. With one hand be held s match; with the other shaded the flame from the wind. only there was no flame. Then 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. A nov able plate covered with phosphorus was adjusted to 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 a rubber tube leading from the pipe, which would send forth clouds of to- bacco smoke. Then he would turn of the light from the match.
 When the Franco PrUsslan war came on. Gaspard's son, Pierre, aged eighteen, became a French soldier. His old mother, who dotted on him, begged hard for him to 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 soT'
 'T volunteered to lurk near the en- emy's advance posts to gain informa- ton for our general as to which route they would take. I was discovered and pursued. In a few minutes they will be here"
 we can hide you"
 Tt would be useless. They win search every house in 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 & spy. have been fired on and am wounded. can 70 no farther for loss of blood"
 Meanwhile the PrusSian outpostS, consisting Of a dozen men, advanced to within half a mile of the town, where they were halted by the lieuten- ant in command.
 "The place may be occupied by the French" he said. "We must be care ful not to be drawn Into a trap. You, Battel, and you, RubidouT, % for ward. If you are shot. we shall know that the Preach are there. IT 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. RuhidouS," whispered Battel. "The place is occupiei.'
 How do you kuowI'
 "I can see the figure ot soldier"
 "Whereg
 "There. before that little shop"
 "Ry gar! You are right What shall we doi"
 Return and report the matter to the lieutenant"
 Rack they went sud reported that the French were in town. They had seen soldier on post before shop,
 "Nonsensc" exclaimed tho lieuten- ant. "lt they were there they would have put out a picket or a vcdcttc.
 He ordered the men to spread them selves as Skirmishcrs and move stealth ily forward. When they came to the place where Rattcl had discovered the soldier, they stopped, and therc, true enough, he was standing before old GaspaUl's shop.
 whats he doingy' qucricd the lieu, tenant.
 Hes on post" said Ruhl'ouN. "rCr, haps he's guarding the man we're aft, or"
 You're fool or, rather a coward You wish mo to abandon thc pursuit of one who doubtless holds important SC crcts. That fellow may not be a sol. dlcr at an. Singular that hc stands so stlll. Come; we arc wasting tmc,'
 At that moment tho tgurc in front of the shop was dimly illuminated ny tiny namc, and the rrusSi0ns could plainly sec that tho maN was a soldier, with his gun resting on the ground and leaning against his shoulder, The flame rose and fell as of ono pulling on the pipe, and smokc was also visible
 "Sacrc-' exclaimed the lieutenant Hes a soldier, after an, and where there is one there must be more. The French aro not fools to occupy town with one man. There must bc at least a battalion, but they are very poor sol. diers to leave no picket out here. We might capture them"