Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-09-19

TO throw IL away.
The men spread their blankets on
the floors OF the bare rooms, and put
ting their packs under their heads and
lighting their pipes. they lived in lazy
peace Bees hummed in the garoen and
a scent OF flowers came through the
open window
There was a sudden little spattsr OF
shooting. cry from Jones rang out
With no little intermediate scramblirI,
the sergeant leaped straight to his feet.
Now, be cried. let us see what you
are made of. IT." ne added bitterly.
you are made of anything"
A man yelled: Good God, cant you
see you're all tangled up in my cart
ridge belt?"
Another man yelled Keep on my
legs! Can't you walk on the ..Cor?"
10 the windows there was a Hind
rush OF slumberous men, who brushed
s<<sr Gon their eyes even as they made
ready their rifles. Jones and Patter-
son came stumbling up the steps. cry
ing dreadful information Alreadr the
enemys bullets were splitting and sing
ing over the house.
The sergeant suddenly was stiff AMI
cold with sense OF the Importance of
the thing
There was howl. There they are,
There they comet" The rifles cracked.
A light smoke drifted idly through the
rooms. There was a strong odor as
from burnt paper and the powder of
tirecrackers
Now, said the sergeant. ambitious
ly. we can beat them OF easily If you
men are good enough"
There was a fusillade against an.
other side of the house The sergeant
dashed into the room which command
ed that situation. He found dead
soldier on the floor.
patterson" cried Sergeant Morton.
Yes said Patterson, his face set
with some deep-rooted quality OF de-
termination. Still, he was a mere farm
boy.
Go in 10 Knowles window and shoot
at those people" said the sergeant.
hoarsely. Afterwards he coughed.
Some of the fur1es OF the fight had
made way to his lungs
this other room. He looked at il as if
he suspected II was to be his death
chamber. Then he entered and stood
across the body of Knowles and fred
vigorously into group of charming
plum trees.
They can't take this house" de-
clared the sergeant in a contemptuous
and arSumentative tone. He was ap-
parently replying to somebody A
man who had been shot in the throat
looked up at him. Eight men were
firing from the windows. The sergeant
detected in corner three wounded
men, talking together feebly.
Don't you think there is anything
10 do?" he bawled Go and ret
Knowles cartridges and give them to
somebody that can use them. Take
Simpsons. too" The man who had
been shot in the throat looked DIT him
OF the three wounded men who had
been talking. one said apologeticalIy:
My leg IS all doubled up under me"
Meantime the sergeant was reload
ing his rife. His foot slipped in the
blood OF the man who had been shot
in the throat
Why, we can hold this place."
shouted The sergeant jubiantIy.
Corporal Flagler suddenly spun from
his window and fell in a heap.
Sergeant" murmured man. as he
dropped to a seat on the floor out o,
danger, 1 can't stand this swear |
can't. / think we should run away"
Morton, with the kindly eyes OF a
good SHEPHERD looked at the man.
You are afraid, Johnston; you are
afraid ne said softly. The man strug-
gled to his feet, cast upon the sergeant
a gaze full OF admiration. reproach and
despair. and returned to his post. A
moment later he pitched forward. and
thereafter his body hung Imply out OF
the window
The SCI geant laid bis rifle against
the stonework OF the window frame
and shot with care until his magazine
was empty Behind him. a man sim
ply grazed on the elbow was wildly
sobbing Ike a girl.
shut up" said Morton. without
turning his head Before him was
vista OF fields. clumps Of trees. woods.
populated with little. stealthy neeting
figures
lie grow furious why didn't he
send me orders?' he cried aloud. The
emphasis on the word he" was i'm
pressive.
The man who had been grazed on
the elbow still set M his bleat. Nor
tons fury veered to this soldier. Cant
you smut up? Can't you shut up7
Can't you shut up? Fight, That's the
thing 70 90! Fight"
A bullet struck Morton and ne fell
upon the man who had been shot in
the throat There was sickeping
moment Then the sergeant rolled on
10 a position upon the bloody floor He
turned himself with a last effort until
he could look at the wounded who
we're able 10 look AT him
His arms weakened and he dropped