The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-07-20

'Handwriting in the Air
BY LIEUT. Z. v. S. CHAMBERLkN
tcopyrIgAt " s6eFtstary ~. col

fantry was being organized at the Pre-
sidio Of San Francisco, preparatory to
sailing to the islands"
My company had nearly reached it's
complement Of $50 men, being but two
short of that number, when the erder
came for us to sail in ten days on the
transport America. We the officers,
were assembled in the adiutant's tent
discussing the order when that gentle.
man remarked: Carson, two men en-
listed this morning, and, as you are
shy, | sent them to your outfit. Guess
the first sergeant has EN- now Two
brothers, and look to me like Hindus,
but swore they were Americans, and
| had to take them on. Gave the
names Of Thomas and William Jones,
strolled over to my tent, where
the old first sergeant, veteran Of Cuba,
Porto Rico and numerous Indian cam.
paigns, met me with the two re-
cruits.
Get them their clothes, sergeant.
and let Sergt Murphy drill them at
once, 50 they will be in some kind
Of shape before we leave I ordered,
and forgot all about my strange ap-
pearing recruits until we had been
a week at sea, when the sergeant,
when he handed me the morning re-
port said:
Captain, them two Jones brothers
amt Americans. They're some kind
Of heather. but they're all right.
Seems they've been at the worlds
fair in Chicago and been peddling rugs
ever since. Got broke, guess, and
then took on.
That evening, when inspecting the
mems quarters for the night. found
my company gathered on the mess
deck intently watching some one in
the center of the throng. suspecting
the forbidden poker game, crowded
in and found Corp. Mcclure a fine
type Of old soldier, deyoutly cross
ing himself while examining in
his other hand silver dollar,
which, when Thomas Jones closed his
fingers for him, was found on open
ing the hand again, to be a copper
cent. Mcclure dropped tho cent.
broke from the crowd muttering
"Howly Motheri They're crooked,
somehow, all right, all right"
Nothing could induce Mcclure to
re-enter the crowd. and the next day,
with the old soldiers privilege, he ap-
preached me.
Captain, them two recruits is
crooked somehow, sir. Why! That
Tom Jones can write in the air and
his brother answer him from the Other
end Of the ship. I've seen en- do Il
mesilf, sir"
'Presuming the Jones brothers TO b
joking with the old man, ordere,
the first sergeant to stop 1t for thl
rake Of peace and discipline In th'
company.
Three months later my compan.
and Lieut. Sanborn's were stationed a
Daitie, large town on the lonely cas-
coast Of Luzon, operating against tn
forces Of Lieut.. Col Segovia of Agui
naldos army, who made his head
quarters in the village Of Paracale
some 80 miles up the coast, strongl.
intrenched behind an unfordable river
The old major in command, energeti
: and anxious to make name for hin
self and his new regiment, kept smal
! parties out constantly u clean up Ii
: lawless bands Of insurrectos in tn
: intermediate country before movin
: on the stronghold al Paracale. On
Saturday morning Lieut.. Hargood wit
40 men Of my company. includin
Thomas Jones. went out to capture a
outpost Of the enemy, reported by th
scouts on the far bank of the rive
in front Of the village of Labauo, abot
IS miles from Daitie.
Hargood should have returned b
! Sunday night, and when the detacl
! ment was stlll out Monday evening
Maj. Coole came over to my quarter
I to talk over the matter Hardly ha
the major seated himself on my We
anda when the first sergeant and NJ
Guire appeared in the dusk. salutin
the sergeant reported:
Captain, that William Jones
/ a-lying on his bunk writin' in the q
: with his fingers Says that outfit wi
! Lieut.. Hargood is surrounded in Il
: church at Labauo and must have bel
i Says his brother is a writin to hi
! sir"
~ Yes, SIR broke in Mcclure, "san
4 as they did on the transport as ] VI
/ a tellin' the captain, sirl"
q The major grunted out somethil
q about fool soldiers talk" but ma
no objection to my order to have Jon
brought to my house at once. {
arrival he confirmed what the sergea
had said, declared his brother and L
~ detachment to be in danger, b
evaded all questions touching /
= brothers. ability to transmit thoug
! through IS miles Of space interveni
y between them.
I Well said the major, Il don't /
: lieve a word Of It, Carson, but they
been out too long, SO you had beti
take your company, what's left of