Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1906-08-31

huts ought 20 belt was pitch dark
until his head ached. lie adhered
rigidly to the advice given him by the
man he had relieved; refralned from
coughing; did not bulge from the tree
an inch; grasped his gun-at full cock
with both hands; thus he stood for
four mortal hours. Four hours! they
seemed weeks-months- ages! The
bats Hitting past struck terror to his
heart-until he remembered there was
such n thing as bats The first boot OF
an owl caused him TO run-until he
realized 1t was an owl. But might IL
not be a signal? What could be easier
than Tor confederate to hCot like an
owl-lo lull him into fancied security,
pounte on him, dlsarm him and cut his
throat? The owls boot was listened
to with an earnestness that would have
served brigade.
A twig swapping seemed as loud TO
the listener now as the cracking OF a
saw-log, Every sense was tense. The
guard on dangerous post, resolved
not to be caught mapping, yet unused
TO midnight vigils. exhausted his fac
ulties before the first hour passed.
The remaining hours were simply tor
ture, He caught himself dozing-he,
on post of danger-absoutely doz-
ing. Time and again he was within
an ace Of falling--only his grasp on
his musket prevented It. His eyelids
were weighted with tons of sand-of
lead. 1t was Impossible to keep his
eyes open.
II he dare walk! II he could walk
around the tree! II he dare sit--or
hum low tune But he was not a
tobacco chewer-could not even rumi-
nate like a COW in the shade
Lights cleaned here and there
through the trees They might be
dre-aies-anl they might not. What
II they were not? Would the relief
never come?
II Is always the darkest before dawn
l.. thought there was darkness SUN.
cient that morning for half a dozen
| dawnings. He wondered If all wal
was like his experience. 1t could
make man gray or bad-headed in
a year or less time. Then he won.
dcred who was sleeping in his ted
1t was mighty com ortable bel. II
he ever got home safe he'd compli.
men. that bed in a way
The guard on the dangerous posi-
was sound asleep by this time; IS
sound as though his head was lyinl
on his pillow he stood with hi.
hands grasping his g n near tie muz
zlc, his chin resting on the muzzle
| and his back against the tree. The
| stiffness was profound, when sudden
/ ly, an without an instanrs warning
a sound like that OF IA man fallinl
from great height smole the cain
morning air The pulrd Jumped
| jumped straight up at least six inches
and settled Lack in his tracks will
/ 'N'lg s'uN' dH ultll do lll'N~i H''
souls salvation depended on their in
slant and effective exercise.
A man! And lodging in tree lik'
that! II was not possible he made
that Eoise Jumping. Could 1t be
Yes, 70 was possible the confederate
had dropped-fell from his percn
But why did he not cry out?
In van the guard pricked up hi
ears, No sound was heard. Yes, Their,
was something rustling in a field nea
by. Would he shout? No! He woul'
fire his gun of. Pooh! and he Laughed
out. The man on dangerous pos
concluded to keep his own COUNSEL
He was glad he did.
When the relief came along the cor
poral was laughing and talking. 81
must be great country for c5on hunt
ing. He saw one as big as a shoa
strike into cornhe,d down the roa,
mile or two
L. listened and smiled. He was i'm
mensely relieved in a double sense
The sound-the appalling sound-tha
startled him was explained. A cool
had dropped, with all the weight OF 8
or 40 pounds, from the tree near him