The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-13

will ever see. Wasn't it you l heard
whistling just now2 One might i'm
agine this was TO be q wedding, rather
than a funeral"
And why not, Wyman? Didn't you
know they employed music at both
functions nowadays? Besides, it is not
every man who is permitted TO assist +
at his own obsequies-the very unique
ness of such a situation rather appeals .
TO my sense of humor."
The sergeant, his teeth clinched /
tightly to repress the pain racking
him, stified his resentment with an /
evident effort. You may be less +
light-hearted when you learn that the
last of our ammunition is already in
the guns" he remarked, stifly.
Il suspected as much" And the
speaker lifted himself on one elbow 10
peer down the line of recumbent fig
ures. ITO be perfectly frank with
you, sergeant, the stuff has held out
considerably longer than l believed it
would. judging from the way those
dough boys of yours kept popping at
every shadow in front of them. It's
a marvel 10 me, the mutton-heads they
take into the army. oh, now, you
needn't scowl at me like that, Wy
man; I've worn the blue, and seen
some service where a fellow needed to
be a man to sport the uniform. Be
sides, I'm not Indifferent, old chap,
and just so long as there remained
any work worth attending to in this
skirmishing affair, l did it, didn't l?
But tell you, man there is mighty lit
tie good trying to buck against Fate,
and when Luck once finally let's go of
a victim, he's bound to drop straight
to the bottom before he stops. That's
the sum and substance of all my
philosophy, old fellow. consequently I
never kick simply because things hap
pen to go wrong. What's the use?
They'll go wrong just the same. Con-
sequently, upheld by my acquired
philosophy, I'm merely holding back
one shot for myself, as sort of grand
finale to this fandango, and another for
that little girl out yonder."
These words were uttered slowly,
the least touch of a lazy drawl appar-
ent in the low voice, yet there was an
earnest simplicity pervading the
speech which somehow gave 1t i'm
pressiveness. The man meant exactly
what he said, beyond the possibility of
a doubt. The old soldier, accustomed
to every form of border eccentricity,
gazed at him with disapproval.
Either you're the coolest devil I've
met during 30'years of soldering" he
commented. doubtfully, cor else the
craziest. Who are you, anyhow? l
half believe you might be Bob Hamp-
ton, of Placer"
The other smiled grimly. you have
the name tolerably correct, old fellow;
likewise that delightful spot so lately
/ honored by my residence. In brief,
you have succeeded in calling the
turn perfectly, so far as your limited
information extends. In strict conf
dence / propose now to impart to you
what has hitherto remained a pro-
found secret. Upon special request of
| a number of influential citizens of
| Placer, including the city marshal and
other officials, expressed in mass.
meeting, l have decided upon desert
| ing that sagebrush metropolis to its
just fate, and plan to add the inau
ence of my presence to the future de
velopment of Glencaid. L learn that
the climate there is more salubrious
more conducive to long living, the citi
zens of Placer being peculiarly excit
able and careless with their fire
arms"
The sergeant had been listening
with open mouth. The hell you say!'
he finally calculated.
"The undefiled truth, every word o
it. No wonder you are shocked.
fine state of affairs, isn't it, when F.;
plain-spoken, pleasant-mannered gen
tleman, such as l surely ana uni
versity graduate, by all the gods, thu
nephew of a United States senator
and acknowledged to be the creates
exponent of scientific poker in this ter
ritory,-should be obliged to hastil.
change his chosen place of abode be
cause of the threat of an ignorant ant
depraged mob. Ever have a rope dan
gled in front of your eyes, sergeant
and a gun-barrel biting into your cheel
at the same time? Accept my wor
for it, the experience is trying on tn
nerves. Ran perfectly square game
too, and those ducks knew it; Blu
there's no true sporting spirit left i
this territory any more. However
spilled milk is never worth sobbini
over, and Fate always contrives t
play the final hand in any game, an
stocks the cards to win"
"a breath of good, honest praye
would serve better than anythin
else" groaned the sergeant. soberly.
The gray eyes resting thoughtful
on the old soldiers haggard face be
: came instantly grave and earnest.
Sincerely l wish l might aid yo
with one," the man admitted, but
fear old fellow, any prayer comm
from my lips would never ascend yer
far However, l might try the con
&C. md Won will ~