The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-19

livery stable, the grocery, the bank Ad- joining the bank stood the most preten- tious structure the street presented. Across it's front it bore the legend, Royal Cafe'; from it issued the odor of coffee and cabbage. Private Bill, begging apa- theticaly in the rear, suddenly began to take notice.
 ''When're we goin' to have supper?" he inquired interestedly.
 A startled look came into the Captains s eye. The plans for the commissary de- partment had been pleasantly indefinite. .Nineteen cents had been appropriated for original supplies, they had an air-gun and fishing taclxle-and the Lord provides.
 But there had been no time for prowess of rod or gun as yet, the shower of man na had evidently been belated, and the only things of sustenance the commis- sariat boasted were three battered gin ger cookies, taken from home by the Aid de Camp, and cents worth of unground coffee-the mince pie, all-day suckers and popcorn bricks purchased with the re- mainder of the appropriation having been consumed, with the optimism of youth at the midday repast. With queer feel ing at the pit of his stomach the Cap tain realized these facts.
 "Oh, keep still, 'ta'n't suppertime yet" he snapped irritably
 "But whatre we goin' to have when t is?' persisted Private Bill. "There ain't nothin' left. We ct 1t all up"
 Along the horizon the west-light of an Oklahoma September evening famed gor- geously. The sun rolled down through 1t in that big awful mighty way that always made one feel such little boy even when one was going to have chicken for supper and sleep in a house when 1t got dark, with ones mother in the next room Somehow, the captains throat be- gan to hurt in a way that threatened his dignity ominously.
 "We ain't got no money, n there ain't nothin' but them three cookies n that coffee, n nav don't low me to drink coffee," continued the disconsolate voice. of Private Bill, that son of hygiene mother.
 A menu of pie, popcorn and candy, while sumptuous, is not sustaining, and the ride had increased their naturally voracious appetites. By their regular suppertime the inner man was ravenous for appease- ment They fingered about the cafe. At 6 o'clock a man came out and rang bell The guests began arriving for the evening meal. From the sidewalk the gang anguishedly watched them eat until the deepening dusk recalled the mounts and the camp to be made. Turning away it went silently down the street toward the coffee and the three Ginger-cookies
 Returning where they had left the mounts. no Belle. no William was any where in sight. They had doubtless wan dered to the creek. Several minutes search, however, failed to locate them. (There were things for the captain yet to learn anent hobbing.) It was growing dark swiftly. The search became frantic. The darkness thickened. No Belle, no William! A moonless night settled down. In the trees it was pitchy dark Private Bill punctured his bare foot badly on a thorn. The captain fell into green brier thicket. scratching himself distress ingly. and tearing one trousers leg into shreds. In extrcating him the Aid de Camp lost his cap. Private Bill wept. The Aid de Camp Gulped necessarily The captains wide eyes peered through the blackness with frenzy too great for tears. He gave last agonized whistle.
 Out on the quiet night echoing and dy- ing away through the trees. answered sound that might have been the very cry of melancholy itself. But it was sweeter to six listening ears than would have been inc "ten thousand harps tuned to angelic harmonies.'
 "AwnlS-ee-e! awnk-ee-e. awnk-ee-awiSn- ee-awnk-ee-e!'
 T. was near but across the creek They dashed toward it, and came to clear ing leading to a foot bridge. They scram- bled up the opposite bank toward light through the trees. Then they paused abruptly. Another voice was coming out on the night, voice of mingled rage and hopelessness- s-hopelessness at the made ouacy of human language to express hu- man emotions Yet listening there In the dark. even the broad minded and aspir- ing Captain stirred uneasily, while on Private Bill, who was Junior EndeaVor- CT the very hair rose stiffly.
 "A bushel of the finest peaches in the territory.-,!!!!!i!!, onery brutes!--!i.!!!!M!ii. hope it'll kill ye!-!n!!!l!!l!,!!!!!
 IJnconsciously they drew nearer The light came from a small cottage sur rounded by shrubbery. A woman stood in the door holding lamp. Its light streamed over path in which stood three figures-a man, horse and don key.
 Three pairs of terrified eyes sought one another in the dark. Three mouths, gaped vacuously. Then an appling thing hap pened. The light shifted, cutting the darkness beyond the fence, and fell full on Private Bill. Before he could stir the woman glmpsed him.
 'IIi, you, you boy, therev' she called out.
 s"Ye-yes s-sir-yes. m-ma'a 'am," quayer- ed the petrified Private.
 The man moved to .he gate. leading