Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1906-11-07

ne was in the wrong, but it required |
more moral courage than he possessed |
to ride over and make a confession. In !
this emergency he haunted the spring |
until he found out from Martha, the
colored woman. that ON a certain day
and date Miss Rose and the sergeant
We're to take two mile walk to GER
tain limestone cave on the banks of the
river.
Every man has friend somewhere
if he will only hunt him up. After
thinking things over Joe decided to go
to cd man Barnes, who kept a saloon,
eating house and a sort of menagerie
in town, and when his case had been
stated the old man replied:
Easiest thing in the world my boy.
You want to run that sergeant off the
ranch and make a hero of yourself at
the same time"
But he don't look like a Teller who
could be rum" was protested.
make no mistake, my boy. You can
run his coat tails out straight if only
you go about it right
'But how can | make hero of my
self"
That's a part of the game. Now
listen to me-"
Three days later the sergeant rode
up to the ranch with his chest puffed
out and Il complacent look on his face
He felt that he was winner He was
going to honor the ranchman's daugh-
ter by taking her into Uncle Sans
service.
His welcome wasn't quite as genial
as it might have been, as Miss Rose
| was beginning to feel conscience Strick-
en- about Joe Whitman. She had found
on mature consideration that she liked
Joe very much, and when a girl will
admit that and be sorry that she f1irted
with another man at the same time she
is very near the point of loving.
The horse was left at the stables, and
the pair started for the cave on foot.
On the way the sergeant got ready to
propose, but a rattlesnake created a
diversion. He made ready a second
time, but a stray steer had to be
dubbed away, and so the river was
reached without a recruit being added
to the army.
The cave contained three rooms and
was accounted a wonder. A torch that
had been prepared was lighted, and the
couple entered the dark mouth, but
had hardly reached the center of the
first room when they were saluted by
such growing and clawing and roar
ing as held them spellbound for a mo.
rushing at them from one of the inner
rooms the doughty sergeant broke for
daylight and fed at his best pace. The
.. calls of the girl were unheeded. He
hadn't served twelve years i'll the army
to become bears meat. He wanted q
wife, and Company G wanted a second
laundress, but he would try to find the
woman in town. He covered the mile
to the house without a break and ther
: mounted his gallant steed and set of
for the fort. He even forgot to leave
! best wishes behind.
Meanwhile Miss Rose had stumbled
and fallen and tainted away. 1t was
{ as good a chance as bear ever had
but this particular animal failed t.
take advantage of the occasion.
In the first place, he was muzzled
and, in the next Joe Whitman wa
i hanging on to the end of a long rop
fastened to his collar. When he ha'
fulfilled his mission he was tied VI
and Joe went out and shouldered tn
. still unconscious girl and had borne he
l. nearly home when she revived.
As she opened her eyes and won
dered how she had tasted to the bea
Joe pointed out the sergeant ridin
u away He also displayed his blood
. hunting knife.
~ "Oh, Joe, but the bear-the beari
e gasped the girl ON his arm.
! Il came along just in time to kill i
. Thank heaven, you are not hurt. Her
you are at home. l am glad | was {
y service to you, but l can't come il
= After what was said the other day
l. You will come in, of course. Their
- may be another bear around"
There wasn't, but during the mex
4 hour Joe had talk with the colon,
~ and both of them shook hands at til
;. end of it and said they were gla'
= That night when Joe led the bear baC
u to the town and his cake the ownC
:. grufiy queried:
IN "Well, did it work?"
~ beautifully"
- "Then hand. over the ten. When yC
10 want a second wife come to me ar
we will put UP some other job to g
se her."