Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-03-06
SOMETHING EASIER.


waiting. The tense silence told it, the
nervous flip Of a book leaf the stealthy,
sidelong blink to the door
Outside. the water talked against the
keel, crashing loud, or dying in the muir
murs as the vessel heeled. From the
deck rang yoiley Of laughter that rock
eted forward to the mems quarters.
Wallace fidgeted his canvas shoes on the
carpet, and giggled uncertainty at moth
ing. Then the doctor opened the door,
shifting his keen glance round the room.
THE Boy on deck 2" he asked.
Yes said Archer CURLY Don't you
hear him playing the fool?"
"Ahl" said the Doctor; and the men
looked up suspiciously at the CRATE in
the voice. Then someone spoke from a
corner where the shadows were dusky
/ That means
ut means DEATH Yes
/ The rush of quick, light feet sounded
overhead, where the Boy and the second
lieutenant were practicing cakewalks.
/ Il can be certain. I've seen too much
of that sort of thing down in the
| islands. | knew the spear had been
! ttPptu Win uiStdS6u Done DeIOTS
! got the splinter out of the wound. Be-
cause all Solomon Islanders use human
bone. And / knew that the poison on il
would be poison taken from a putrid
human body-beeause the Solomon ISL
anders use that sort. There's enough in
that tiny splinter to kill score of men
yet"
but the Boy feels no ill.effects. He
felt none at the time. 1t is nonsense.
Murray nonsense. -Four days ago
isn't it four?"
Three, sir" Creed turned to the cap
tain. ''We were not quite two DAYS
bringing the cutter down from Bogutu."
We'll, well; three. That's long enough
surely. Murray, that's long enough? 2"
Il have known tetanus take five DAYS
to develop. sir, even in this climate
And ten to kill"
"It's-a hard death, isn't it," asked
Archer
Yes
/ The Boy burst into the wardroom.
dropped into the first chair, and painted.
using the fronts of his white coat pun
kah fashion. Quite truly he was cheeky
young devil. Men saw it in the swing
of his long, 1.-THE limbs and the set of
his small head; and in the impudent de-
termination that drove MIN through dan
gers that a saner man would burke.
I've cakewalked till I'm sick,' he said.
The strong, vivid life of him struck on
the silent room with a sharpness that
made men catch their breath For in
such very little while
"What-what are you still fooling over
that game for?" asked Archer, because It
was necessary that someone should speak.
Got to- yawned the Boy, stretching
his arm. Eight days-well touch sgd
ney in eight, won't we, Creed? Well,
there you are The Amateurs give their
kick-up the Friday after Marshall had
some sense to put Poddy in the curtain
raiser only. If he can't dance a cake
walk it's quite certain that he couldn't
fight duel Poddy, why did you let
yourself get born an elephant %
"Are-you in the curtain raiser?" Wal
laee's hysterical giggle found echo in
Creed's throat also.
Il am not. D. you think I'd dance
with that thing Vaughn beside me? l
wouldn't be seen at the turns. Now,
look here. I'm to have a wig an knee
breeches, an sword-that's all right.
But how the deuce does fellow fence
in rufiles and laces and fooleries? Did
they take off their coats and roll up their
sleeves in the Sixteenth century,"
"0f course" said the chief, because It
did not matter what he said.
Good or The Boy sprang up. II
can make that dueling business rather
corky. think. Come along cut of that,
Ches, and Wen have a 90 at it. Creed.
d you remember the wrinkles we got
from that old iosser in Canton? I'll
make Martin sit upl He's my villain,
you know. I've got to bash him, Ches.
if have to come for you 80
'Don't-don't you thinla you'd better
rest bit, old chap"
Rest What for? Plenty of time to
rest when you're dead Come on"
They looked at the Boy where he
swayed to the vessel swing and grinned
at them. Then Archer got up and went
out, feeling his way down the passage
because his eyes were blinded for the
time
I'VE haven't got walking sticks" said
the Boy, frowning, 'or even umbrellas
oh, by Jingo--i''
There was no reverence in the Boy. or
he would not have ierked couple of
straight Chinese swords from their
sings on the wall without apology or
hesitation. For the chief had CAPTURED
those swords in red fight.
Drop those, you brat" said the chief,
rising. ID YOU want to get pinked I
They aren't foils with buttons, you'll
remember"
The Boy thrust shaped bronze hilt
into his palm.
Il wouldn't give it to Ches. But vcu
know, a little about this sort OF thing.
dent your"
Incidentally, the CHIEF knew nearly as
much about sword play as he did about
engineering.
You cheeky young dewitt" he said. If
you're looking for trouble"
The Boy YVES quick and clever. and he
had all the grace OF easy movement. But
the chief had held his life with his sword
many times. Five watched Only the Bow.
with his quick breathing young strength