Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-31
THE GREEN
THAT WALKED
By JOHN L. CONSlD!\E

>Copyrigh,. by Shorts:ory Puo. co..
Captain" said the man on Pos; No.
10. I'D like to be relieved \ couple
Of weeks rest might pu; me right
again"
What's the matter Sick
Not exactly that. captain. It's my
eyes; I've been seeing things
The captain OF the quad eyed the
man sharply.
Been drinking?'
No. sir. Its not ,hat--no pink rats
nor blue monkeys. nor anything OF
that sort The fact is. and here he
lowered his voice TO the level of
confidential whisper. although 'he
nearest man was The guard on Post
no II. three-score Yards away. rive
been seeing the grass walk.
What's that" snapped the captain
ITS 4 fact, sir. | didn't pay so much
attention TO il a, first. hut now that
it's happened three times. I'm OeHih
ming 10 think that my eyes AZ" gong
hack on me- or else tina, I'm getting
Authorizations.
The captain looked al Guard No. l.;
in dismay Hitherto he had regarded
This man as one OF his sanesi ana
stCadiest suhordina,es.
Tell me about IT," he commanded.
There's nothing 10 II. much. cN'
cept tina, evc:y afternoon "a patch OF
grass out there IN the alfalfa field be-
gins 10 move slowly toward the south.
At first | thought it was the nay
breeze. rolling through the grass, bu'
then. reCOllected. its wave was
toward the ba:. Besides. it seemed 10
ne that this grass just picked rset
ND in a patch and moved along, indie
pendent of the grass around.
Does this movement always start
from the same point?"
NO; each day 1t begins a little
further south.
Hum. A little closer 10 the south
a little closer to the bay that IL. AZ
any regular time?'
why, hadn't thought OF tina. Yes:
le, me see. Yes. believe II was at
the same time each afternoon. From
half-paSt two to three. say.
The captain glanced at his watch.
ITS e:35 now he said. DO YOU
SOC anything"
The guard peered long and care
fully TO the southwark.
Yes. sir" he responded ITS on
ME again--the grass moves.
"Where::' inquired tn captain.
The guard pointed to a spot near
where the alfalfa field met the fence
line. Sure enough. as it seemed 10 the
captain. a patch of green. probably
six feet in length and three in width
was making speedy progress in the
direction of the fence.
Take AIM" shot from the captains
lips. Can you hit it,
The guard raised his rife. but with
shaking hands.
Let ME have it, cried the other.
with a scornful gesture.
Steeling his nerves. the guard fired.
The grass was still
The captain ran down the stairs.
and toward it. Regardless of possible
reprimand, the guard followed. Ar
rived at the spot. the officer stopped TO
lift, and examine. an ingenious con
trivance. 1t consisted of two layers oil
burlap sacking. the upper one bearded
with grass. The space between had
been filled with loan, and from this.
planted in wheat, the green blades
had forced their way through the
loosely-guarded in;erstices OF the up
per piece OF cloth.
While the captain surveyed with ad'
miration undfsguised this novel sarb
OF living green. the form of its de
sisner. a man in stripes with shaven
head, lay at his feet.
And beside the body, stricken with
vain regret, knelt Guard No. Is.
The first l ever killed. he muttered
..r,i>,~ May Cod forgive me-"