Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-08-22

headquarters bearing new. ~ impor-
lance. The brown skinned scO:t had
Travelled all night over hazardous
route, and he was more than welcome.
He brought news that Pilars n"n
were off to the east and the north, wei
intrenched and prepared to fall upon
the Americans when they advanced
blindly into the trap laid for them
The newspaper men pricked up their
ears and at once looked to Dox OF
carrier pigeons which formed most
important part Of their pilgrimage. "A
fight was at hand. doubtless an impor-
tant meeting Of the clashing forces.
The whole army was waiting for intel
ligence Of Piar-waiting with little
less anxiety than that which attached
itself to the pursuit Of Aguinaldo.
Captain Groce ordered Sergeant Con-
nell with a picked squad to reconnoiter.
They scurried off in advance OF the
company, with instructions to locate
the elusive enemy and open up Ae
secret of his position. Supposedly
Pillar was ten miles of among the
rocky foothills which guarded the pass
through the mountains. AS usual,
Bansemer was one of the scouts. He
snatched his ratiOns with the others
and went forth eagerly to court the
danger and excitement that was prom
ised For days they had had no fight
ing worthy the name. Amigos every
where, villages peopled only by wom-
en- and children, treacherous peaceful
ness on every side. This had been
their encounter-an occasional rifle
shot from the rice fields, crackle Of
guns far ahead, prisoner or two who
had not been quick enough in trans
forming himself from combatant to
friend. that was all. Now there seem
ed to he real fighting ahead.
Pillar was known to have many men
good soldiers all of them. The native
scout gave close and accurate direc-
tions as to his position. 1t remained
for Connell's men to draw him out II
possible. Captain Groce and the re-
mainder Of his eager company did not
march until long after the scouts
were on their precarious way.
Two hours after the party OF eleven
left the village Mauser bullet from
clump of trees far to the right cut
through the hat of one of the scouts
who was some distance in advance OF
his fellows As he saw the scout stoop
to pick up his hat Rogers turned to the
man nearest him and remarked:
~,
some day If he hikes along in that fool
way"
It was no new experience for the
scouts to find the quarry gone when
they reached the place where they ex-
pected to find him. Pillars own scouts
had found that the ambuscade was
destined to fail Of Its purpose, and the
willy leader drew back into the more
accessible country. The scouting party
did not come in sight Of the little
brown soldiers. Before noon they were
far up in the hills. everywhere met BY
the physical assurance that the enemy
was not far ahead Of them. Behind
them came Captain Groce and bis men
and the two correspondents. e.
Amigos along the mountain road
gave information that was not worth
having. A deserted village showed
signs Of the passage. and finally there
was proof ahead that Pillar had stop
ped to give battle. He had reached
his vantage ground. Cornell and his
men drew back and waited. Nightfall
came and with 1t the spiteful crack Of
the Mauser rife. A brawny trooper
toppled over with q great hole In his
head. Pillars pickets could ssee Ike
cats in the night. The native scout
reported that the big Village Of Con-
cepcion was not far ahead; Pillars men
were making their, stapd before this
rather important stronghold.
well get a scrap that Is a scrap,
boys" said Cornell exultingly. These
fellows are going to put up fight at
last. They're like bees up yonder:
We've got to fall back on the com.
pany. If we don't. they'll chew US up
before the little captain can get to us"
Too well did the men know the belli-
cose temperament of the big Irishman
to think of grumbling at ouch a COM
mand. yet 1t was with a certain reluc-
lance which invariably accompanies q
backward step that the men retired to
meet the advancing company.
Young Bansemer in his khaki uni
form was not the immaculate, debon-
naire man Of the drawing room. Serv-
Ice, though short, had been hard and
grueling. His face was even hand
somer with its rugged lines and set
features. He was thinner and brown
er; his eyes were clearer and darker
gray; his hair seemed thicker and
fairer than before; his figure more
erect and sinewy. The wistful look In
his eyes seemed to betray hunger for
action; his ever ready eagerness to be
on the move told of his strength and
OF his weakness. He had tho lean,
active bearing Of the panther and the
restless daring Of that 1.-THE animal.
No man in the company. had stood
hre as valiantly as he. He courted the
whiz OF the bullet, scoffed at the rig
ors OF the march and instinctively was
good shot with the rife. He bore no
grudge against the department at