Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-10-18
Bv Hal Ev,n.

Al NAA( 90 YIN " evening 4.Arl. LAf4a
seniors had retired, discussing the des-
perate condition OF his affairs.
Jack WAS a foolish, extraNaeaut.
young subaltern in IL line regiment.
who had cortrived to get deeply INTO
dcht wlthout the slightest chance of *
treating himself from his difficulties.
tfis only relative was a sl"Ious-luiuaed
fllaicen aunt, who not only refused 10
ASSIST MN, but ever Threatened 10 with
draw The allowance she made MIN since
be entered the army.
lie considered he was being very
hardly treated, for the truth IS h.. til
not properly appreciate what ms auu
had already don for him.
IheIe was no doubt, however That he
WIS in an awkward prealcaurnt. inr
on the one hand he cuu.4 NOT possibly
remain in the regiment unless his debts
We're pad, and, on the other. his aunt
declared that ii he resigned MS commas
sion she would have nothing moro TO
do with him.
Jack did not at all relish the pros pect
oil beng compelled to earn Ills living,
especially as he had no ilel how TO set
about it. Moreover. he was extremely
popular in his regiment and was con-
selnently loath to leave il. Ills brother
officers, unfortunately, could only assist
him by their sympathy. and by suggest
ins various eXpedients for raising
money, none OF which we're prac-
kicablc.
81 should try the old lady again
urged one of his friends. make u clean
breast OF everything and work upon her
feelings"
She has none." returned Jack rue
fully. Her venerable heart is insen-
sitive to tender emotions"
II suppose you haven't concealed
What "A serious fix you are in?' sug-
gestcd another.
No AT least l put my position to
knr .r nttal -,
out MS no GO
Won Isaacs raise the wind?" sug-
GeSted somebody.
my dear fellow. the only possible
way l could raise IL shilling would be
by pawning my boots. and as they are
not paid for l might get into difficulty
over that" said Jack, as he plunged
his hands deeper into his pockets. BE
sides. I've no evidence that I'm named
In her will"
I've an idea.' exclaimed his particu-
Tar friend, Charlie Bashford. why
don't you ~vOlunteer for service in West
Africa ?"
to catch cholera! No,
hanks aid Jack. making "a grimace.
BESIDES. there is no fighting going on
bow. so what would he the use?'
e Is a terrible deal more dan
ger now than there was during the
war" remarked Charley sagely.
Yes. but no glory. If l wanted to
exchange, 1 would go to India. but the
TACT is I'm past that dodge. My credi-
t0rs would be down on me directly il
they heard / was off. They are down
on me enough already" he added de-
epOnJently.
What l meant was hat you might
0amboozle the old lady. Hang it all,
Jack. She must care for you. or she
would have thrown you owe long ago"
said his friend. with charming candor.
~Eerl1nS If she hcor1 wan b,I J..,,
mined. in desperation to go to Africa,
II the risk OF your life, she might
relcnt.''
We'll. there's something in that"
said Jack Frightening up. AT all
events she might give me a check for
an outfit. The worst of it is l don't
want to GO
4 know a namesake of yours i'm the
Sevcnty-eighth. Jack. who is going out
next month. interposed another. IF
the worst came to the worst, you might
90 by proxy"
by jove. l really think that might
De managed" exclaimed Iack excitedly.
1T is just possible as Charlie says,
a The old girl YOU pay my debts
to keep me i'm England. If she doesn't.
seeing the other fellows name in the
papers, she will imagine | have gone.
You can easily keep UP the joke
by getting your namesake over there
60 post some letters for you" chimed in
Charli BashfOrd. IF she doesn't beg
you to return after a week or two,
you can pretend to be laid up with
cholera. That will bring the old lady
up to time. If anything will. but in
case 1t doesn't. you can be ordered
Meanwhile 1 shall have to keep
quiet. and will go away on sick leave,'
added Jack in a great state of excite
1ment- Here give me pen and paper.
I'll fire off a letter at once"
xmpulsiveness was II of Jacks fail
0ngs and On the p of the momen he
0at down and wrote the following
6~eartrending epistle:
my Dear Aunt: Your refusal to as
0iet me further leaves ne no alterna-
tive but to quit my native shores. for
ever. l have volunteered for service
I'm West Africa. where, as you know.
b cholera Is raging. l start on the
0econd of next month per p. and O.
steamer Capua. n proceed to join the
Sevcnty-eighth, which is stationed in
the center of the most infected district.
It would be useless to attempt to con-
ceal the fact that l shal encounter ter
Ftble risks from the awful disease, but
the desire to serve my country at Il
post of real danger is no less an induce
ment to me than the prospect of being
released by the han of death from my
debts and e:nbarrassments. l can
scarcely hope from our recent CORE
AORS's1GStiNCb N.it LAY cps VIII NC
a source of concern to you. but, at
all events. l will always gratefully re-
member your any kindnesses. My
outfit means n matter of two hundred
pounds. but whether care to assist
me IN getting it is a question which
o alone can decide. Hoping your
rheumatism is better. believe me. YOU
af1ectionate nephew. j. L.. Browne"
All the company had Il hand in pro-
ducing his masterpiece of composition,
which was universally admired.
The general opinion was that the old
lady would be entirely overcome. Jack
was easily persuaded to indulge in
hopeful anticipations. though he had
secret mlsgivings.
Unfortunately his f~orebodings turned
out to be well founded, for his aunt lie
not attempt to dissuade him from go
ing.
Her reply was so cold and formal
that Jack could not help %suspecting
that she doubted his good faith, and
more especially as. in conserving to pay
o his outfit. h stipulated that the
bills SHOULD be sent to her for settle
ment
Jack was somewhat unreasonably
Aggrieved at his p%recaution. which,
however, reconciled MIN to the idea of
carving out the project Of Cept