The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-08-06

NY God!" he growied savageiy.
lis likely to be the last any OF M
Will ever see Wasn't it you / heard
whistling just now? One might inn
agine this was to be q wedding. rather.
than q 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
Mt his own obseQuies-the very unique
ness Of such q situation rather appeals
10 my sense OF humor."
The sergeant, his teeth clinched
tightly to reprees the pain racking
him, stiied his resentment with an
evident effort you may be less
lght-hearted when you learn that the
last Of our ammunition in already In
the guns" he remarked, stifdy.
81 suspected as much" And the
speaker lifted himself On one elbow to
peer down the line of recumbent ng-
ures. Ito be perfectly frank with
you, sergeant, the stun has held out
considerably longer than ] believed 1t
would, Judging from the way those
dough boys Of yours kept popping at
every shadow in front of them. It's
q marvel to 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 b uniform. Be-
sides, I'm not indifferent, old chap,
and just 30 long as there remained
any work worth attending to in this
diminishing affair, l did 1t, didn't I?
But 1 tell o man there is mighty lit
tie good trying to buck against Fate,
and when Luck once finally lets go of
q victim, he's bound TO drop straight
to the bottom before he stops. That's
the sum and substance Of all my
philosophy, j fellow, consequently /
never kick simply because things hap
pom to go wrong. What's the 81
They'll go wrong just the same. Con
sequently. upheld by my acquired
philosophy, I'm merely holding back
n shot for myself. as a sort of grand
hnal to this f~andango. and another for
that little girl out yonder."
These words were uttered slowly,
the least touch Of a lazy drawl appar-
emit in the low voice, yet there was an
earnest simplicity Dervading the
speech which somehow gave 1t i'm
pr@ssiveness. The man mea exactly
what he said, beyond b possibility OF
n doubt. The old soldier, accustomed
to every form of border eccentricity,
Eaxed al him with disapproval.
Either you're the coolest devil I've
met during 30 years of soldering" he
commented, doubtfully, "or else the
~craxiest. Who are you. anyhow 1
half believe you might be % Hamp-
ton, of Placer"
The other smiled grimly. You have
the name tolerably correct, old fellow;
likewise hat delightful spot SO lately
honored by my residence. In brief.
you have succeeded in calling the
turn perfectly, 30 far as your limited
information extends. In strict conn
dence 1 propose How to impart to you
what has hitherto remained a pro-
found secret. Upon special request Of
n number of influential citizens of
Placer, including the city marshal and
other officials, expressed in mass
meeting, / have decided upon desert
ing that sagebrush metropolis to its
just fate, and plan to add the inhu-
enc Of my presence to the future de-
velopment of Glencaid. I 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 indebted truth, every word of
1t. No wonder you are shocked. A
fine state of affairs, isn't it, when q
plain-spoken, pleasant-mannered gen
tleman, such as l surely ANA uni
versity graduate, by all the gods, the
nephew of a United States senator,
and acknowledged to be the greatest
exponent of scientific poker In this ter
ritory,-should be obliged to hastily
change his chosen place OF abode be-
cause Of the threat of An ignorant and
depraved mob. Ever nave n rope dan
g1ed in front Of your eyes,, sergeant,
and a gun-barrel biting into your cheek
mt the same timer Accept my word
for it, the experience Is trying on the
nerves. Ran a perfectly sauare~game,
too, and these ducks new it.; but
there's NO true sporting spirit left in
this territory any However,
spilled milk is never worth sobbing
over, and Fate always contrives to
play the final hand in any game, and
stocks the cards to win"
"a breath of good, honest prayer
would serve better than anything
else" groaned the sergeant, soberly.
The gray ayes resting thoughtfully
On the old soldiers haggard a be-
came instantly grave and earnest.
Sincerely I wish I might aid you
with one," the man admitted, but I
fear, old fellow, any prayer coming
from my lips would never C very
far. However, I might try the COM
fort of n hymn. and you win remember
this, one, which. no doubt, you have
helped to sing back in Gods country"
There was q moments hushed
pause. during which q rife cracked
sharply out In the ~ravine; hen the
reckless fellow, his head partially sup
ported against the protecting bowlder.
lifted up q full, rich barytone in rendi-
ton Of that hymn Of Christian faith
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer to Theei
Zen though 1t be n cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer. my God, 10 Thee!
Nearer to Thee"