Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-29

She had expected the answer but when IL
came it found her somehow unprepared. Life
had grown 20 very tangled and the time for un-
raveling was horribly short. There was her hus-
band moaning and tossing, and speaking in the
high, strained, weak voice Of fever; there was
the irritating snping that seemed to split her
head with every crack; there was her life since
Sima,and the memory Of Simla and above all
there was Jack
II may be wrong" Major Spens went on
There's a fighting chance, of course. But l
think they'll try to rush us toneht-in the dark
hour before dawn. The scrub comes too near our
walls. 1t ought to have been burnt off They
tie you so beastly-T had to ask permission.
They've taken their time over granting it-been
the round of hundred fossils, suppose, docket
ed and entered and reported upon. It'll come
too late"
She hardly took in the purport Of his remarks
She was busy with her own affairs, her own
world, her own self. And all were to be obliter-
ated in few hours. That seemed SO impossi-
bic Of credence.
He hitched up his sword.
"Are you gong?" she asked. "Rounds"
Finished EN-" he said. '1 got Sands report
that was the last. Vernon has taken over.
I'm off duty"
Where are you going"
Turn in. They won't want me before three
They won't rush us in this light /"
"You could sleep?" she wondered at him.
why not? I'm nearly panned out That
crackleY" There was a squirt of snipng quick
and cruel-a little hurry at the walls "Pd
sleep through anything-now. That's another
man hit" he added thoughtfully, listening to
the quick footsteps.
"T didn't mean the noise, but-youre so close
to the tomorrow that will not come" She took
step towards him. She was wondering at him
STILL wondering that he could contemplate sleep
hot he onto lat
There was so much to crowd into them.
That's all in the days work" he said simply.
'Tm not wanted now; there's nothing to do
and I'm tired Fife" He slipped back into the
manner of old times. "1 ought to be fresh when
the time comes"
You spoke of chance-what chance?" she
asked. ''You can't hold out"
Move can't. There's the bare chance of re-
lief, that's ALL"
"You don't believe in it?"
mo-" he answered briefly
She wondered at him greatly. 1t was so strange
that he should be there in the moonlight talking
to her quite calmly, and in few hours
"It's strange, Jack, that we Should all be 60
ing out together, you and I and Hugh" Her
voice had dropped little. Major Spens nodded.
For the first time it dawned upon her that the
interview was costing him something He tried
not to meet her eyes, he played nervously with
his swordht, he held himself very stifAy.
Don't think of me, Jack, she said suddenly.
"1 don't Think can help that" he answered
slowly, still looking away from her. She smiled
to herself He did remember In an absence of
four years, years empty of word or line or sight,
woman wonders if the worldly wisdom preach
ing mans easy forgetfulness is true Mrs Gil
more had tortured herself with doubts They
were swept away now.
Thanks, jack" she said softly "T didn't
quite mean that. When-the dark hour before
dawn-you will-you will be in commando
"Yes." He looked at her quickly, puzzled at
her tone, puzzled to catch her meaning.
"Don't think of me. You'll want all your
thoughts for-for them" She nodded towards
the walls where the Sikhs were meeting death
as though it were a mere detail of drill "I
know what to do II carry revolver y
He started and looked at her narrowly, and
she smiled.
"I shan't hamper you. Jack. When
when all's lost shall do it. It's cow
ardly to want man to do it for you"
"My God, Effe!" he said hoarsey.