Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-18

more difficult it grew to lift the weak
ening arm. He could feel as he tossed
on his couch tho gurgle of the blood
that glued him to the ground. He
made an effort to rise to his knees.
Another devil was about to load the
gun. He must catch this one again
he must. 1t was his last cartridge. He
stretched out his stiffening arm fee
bly,; he tried to pull the trigger, but
his strength failed him. Then-one
supreme effort, and report flashed
through the air. The rest was blank
but he had carried the day.
These delirious hours passed and
there followed a vague mid-air suspen.
sion Of existence, Of tangible things
he was no part. The years of fighting
were forgotten. He was back in the
Fairies Corner with Diana, he saw
the giant trees bending al, ,vhisror-
ing in the starlight. The smell of the
damp earth from the sun-niaden IN
closure filled the sick-room, and the
vibrant. strong, compelling cry of the
night-jar echoed in his dreams. Again,
he and Diana listened for the flutter
OF the fairies wings in the tree-tops.
Gradually. even these mists cleared
from his brain, and to-day he waited
with Impotence the surgeon who was
to decide whether he might obtain his
leave.
The doctor found him sitting UP in
bed, his lean hands idly resllag on
the coverlet.
well, doctor" he asked, what is
the verdict? Am to be allowed to
join my regiment?"
The a,1rppon jpoLod ;pto tho l,ro1,a
eyes. Jim was wrath of the man
who had gone into battle. The drawn
cheek-bones were like high lights in
the sunken face, the gauntness of the
body could be discerned under the
held the same expression of everlast-
long, meagre hand.
I'VE are done with you Wynnegate.
You fought bigger battle here on
this cot than you did yon day on the
Hills, but you've won
Jim only smiled
Your regiment Is ordered home
within month, and you must. go to
your station to join it. Fighting will
be little out of your line for while.
I think you'll find you need England
summer of sunshine in the open
fields. Then come back later to ns
again" A suspicious moisture cloud
ed his glasses. He was man many
years older than Jim, and he had seen
his own boy go down at the head Of
his troops. Still, with the instructive
loyalty of the Englishman to his
country, he concluded. "We need such
men as you, my son"
The surgeon moved away Jim clos
ed his eyes. Presently he looked up.
He saw the long line Oh W.T.. ed
men with here and there wasted,
propped-up fgure--the quiet nurses
passing and repassing. He began to
feel the pulsating cali of life again.
For him the sick room existence was
ended; soon he would be back in the
Fairies Corner; he could hear the flut-
ter of their wings.
The men were In the mess. Dunlap
and Singleton were ftretched out in
long, wicker-basket chairs. Tomlin-
son was talking in an excited voice
with several officers of the Tenth Hus-
sars. 1T means that Jim will receive
a mention and damn fine one" Tom
linson was saying, as he leaned back in
his chair and gulped down his gin-and-
settler. Singleton called to the order
ly to bring him whiskey- and-soda.
Dunlap leaned forward to Tomlinson
as he asked:
is that absolutely sure? We all
know that Jim has done fine work in
his seven years here, but are the
powers above really going to COM
mend his last bit OF pluck?"
"The powers above" Numbered
Tomlinson, who loathed being doubt
ed, mot only mean to commend him,
but they mean to decorate him with
the bronze cross itself. / had 1t from
Watkins"
A long whistle greeted this bit OF
news. Watkins was not apt to talk
without positive information
Tomlinson was fairly bursting with
enthusiasm and Importance. For him
station life in India meant gossip
good or bad news-so long as 1t was
news. He could work himself into a
fever Of enthusiasm, get all the glory
out of another mans receiving deco
been given to himself He only asked
that 1t should occur in his station.
Tommy" as he was called. had been
hNOWu W iIlCllc UldChUhllluS 1TOIl his
club against a man whom he had
never seen, because no opposition was
made 1t meant news, and the passing
Of the word from one mess to another
When the man was blackballed, Tom.
linson, in a high fever of indignation,
sought the downed man and became SO
incensed with sympathy that he
threatened to resign from club that
could offer such indignities; by TINT
time he had forgotten that he had
caused It, At the moment he was
basking In the glory of Jim's coming
honors. He took another gin-and-selt-
| ger.
"By George! he was down and done
for when he came here from the hospi
tai" Dunlap said Never saw such
a goner. But he's picked up tremen
dously during the past month"
Singleton took his whiskey- and-po
fash from the orderly.
Strange" he continued. as he sat
up, glass in hand "Wynnegate Is SC
eager to go back; never saw anything
| like it. Seems as though this illness
| had knookad saldiar;np ont of him