The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1909-04-01
STORY OF THE BATTLE FOR LIFE
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Lieut.. Brynton's Command Encoun-
ters Treacherous Band---Men Are
Exhausted from Exertions
on Tramp.
BY MARY HELEN FEE.

around that betrayed strained nerves.
"All asleep" murmured Byrnton.
Cant you rest?"
mo-" replied Milford, also in low
tone. He crossed over to where his
superior officer sat. But it's well
they can Sleep" nodding at the men.
I'm sorry for the first guard tonight"
And the last" added Byrnton. Il
1are say we'll be rushed at dawn. I'm
lead tired myself; clean crazy; don't
know why don't drop in my tracks,"
Milford gazed at the serene heavens,
and the shadowed earth lying below
The high plateau where the small de-
.achment of army men rested.
ITS Christmas day." he said, slow
~. Let me see-were 12--14 hours
ahead Of them. It's dawn at home,
Byrnton; and there's probably snow!
-snow!" He dropped his hand, and
n an ecstacy of imagination, crum-
oled bit of earth in his fingers.
It's all soft and white and furry"
And Ethel's going to early church,
with her cheeks red as apples above
her sealskin collar" Byrnton went on,
following the lead. "And they've got
the library locked so the kids won't
see the tree till after breakfast"
"Hot cakes and maple syrup!" in
.erjected Milford.
And my Christmas letter is lying
by her plate"
"And we're here" said Milford, bit
terly, 'in a God forsaken land
hungry, exhausted with fighting, look
ng for bolo rush at dawn"
Its what we wanted" was Byrn-
;op's response. "Was there one Of
| us liidt uro- Es',>---1-------sap active serv-
Ice?" : : y. :,
Yes, but we wanted n chance to
dght, and instead we're put up to be
trapped and hacked We're looking
tor an enemy in uniform, armed with
gun; American humane sentiment
can endure the thought of killing
| him. But If man is using his bolo
at the roadside, and says amigo
(friend) we mustn't touch him. /
don't believe there are 500 uniforms
In the whole island. Everybody is
enemigo, by Jove, and we've got to
| walk through 'em with our hands in
our pockets and our humane senti-
ments in our countenances 1t isn't
service! It's providing sport for Fill
pino devils. I've, got Blake's shrieks
In my ears now"
"He was a white man, paid $13 a
| month and his rations to demonstrate
to these Filipinos the civilized notion
of war. Wonder if they have any in
| tention of taking the lesson. l wish
they'd begin on this trip!" Byrnton
kicked out his foot with an impatient
exclamation, and his sword fell nois-
lily against Mitford's rifle. Half a
dozen men jumped to their feet.
Lie down, men-alls well! Fine
tension on mans nerves IL he can
wake at sound like that after what
we've gone through with to-day"
| The men settled back into position,
with tender handling of rifles. Off
Ger and corporal sat in silence, listen
Ing to the breathing of the sleepers.
The moon hung clear and bright in
the sky. The mid heavens were one
glistening field of piled whiteness,
cool and frosty as a buried prairie
"a Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year!" said Milford, softly.
They clasped hands for an instant;
then the corporal lapsed into soldier,
saluted, and went to rest.
They had stumbled upon bit OF
trail, and the beaten earth gave no
hint Of the bamboo structure beneath
Fortunately, the natives had not built
strongly enough, and ii gave way be.
fore the full weight of the men was
upon it. Blake and Jerrold, only
touched it before it went down Jer
rold, poor wretch, was spared by his
own revolver which discharged and
sent a bullet through his brain; but
Blake was impaled upon bamboo
stakes at the bottom. His shrieks
and prayers to be put out of his mis-
cry filed the leafy silence. The
monkeys chartered at the noise, an6
| the breathless air stirred slightly as
II nature sighed at the agony of hei
child. With beads of perspiratior
| standing on their faces they ha(
worked to extract him, while hall
their number stood at guard. await
ing the rush that did not come. Wher
merciful death released the sufferer
they reluctantly left his mangled body
and push, on for the bare mountain
top, knowing we'll that IL ten minute,
the bushes would be full OF peepinl
faces women, ten-year-old boys will