The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1910-06-05

- a ham tho great gray house of Chartres
a a looks south to the Channel, and at its
y w. q feet the meek river Adur comes. oe
bz5zz1yzzzE{a foated from the Sussex downs. Gray
HEAylES&H ana natient Ia Colonel Tilney Wesson
HfHSE1N Uncle Tly OF the old days-who
-. 1,,,v at the great house the deputy OF
DE- master keeping the servants supple rne stnoie
ordered. and the land we'll stewarded TIL De sna
have done with his AFFAIRS In Africa anu return "
his own place. >.od 20
rhar+res Colonel Wesson was at bis clu0 "art
ing yyitn others OF his kind for tho anpier eNeons
,rapers These were the autumn days aollo"ins .se
takiug OF Pretoria when the army was ousnwhack
tnq In tiny brigades and lean columns all over tne
stu1born TIansvaal The early cables spoke Oh
asht "a tho north Of the railway by Water1all On
dor n sharp and desperate struggle in wnch the
Bntish force had suffered heavily gun ned
heen lost It was stated. but as yet there wore no
names, In the smoking room or one ciuo onele
rero n dozen or go OF old soldiers, whose sons OF
nephews were at work IN that part or the ~orld'
one terrible old man had a grandson there. 49,
.'Wonder who's been chnck1ng guns away nis
ttroe" remarked this veteran, secure In tho Kno"i
e5re that the youth who bore his name was Hus'
-. a., -. 49,
rate" replied a Crimean general with satisfaction
Others reported to the Same effect oid Coionei
Wesson cleared his throat
"eIT nephew's a gunner. he said
"Ah!p The grandfather turned a cloudy eye on
him 'Horee7" ne asked.
Field" replied tho Colonel gravely
sTu,m," the veteran grInted suspiciously; sew
eral OF them looked curiousy at the Colonel. but
he eat unmoved. He had TO wait for news. OF
course but he not really anxious, His nephew
was not the gun-losing kind
The papers had not yet come whom tho page
came into the smoking room With telegram on
salver He brought 1t over to Colonel Wesson at
once Tho Colonel opened It, with dozen eyes on
him. rend st. and to his feet
Got TO go" he said. boy. call mo handsom"
The grandfather OF the Hussar scowled at him
Hang it all. wosson.' he said. enplosivey. this
isn't q time for delicacy Havc You got any news
there? II you have. read 1t and be done with It
We're all IN this"
Colonel wesson smiled and spread the tele-
-gts not exactly news" he said. "But 1t sus.
gests thero may be news. It's from Jack Chartres
my brothcr-in-law. you know. The gunner chaps
his s. son,~
well. it says simply: Come down at
Catch 45o. Don't fall Looks as II he'd heard
something. ehT'
n WILL" said the Colonel. and went to his cab.
He caught his train with margin It was
the point OF moving he scrambled into his
carriage. Farther down the platform newsboy
calling his papers, Colonel Wesson leaued
from the window as the train gathered way and
shouted to him
Evening papers" he cried. ANY OF EN- Quick"
Tho Colonel tossed hnh crown into the basket
tho boy gaoping alongside the train, bundled his
papers together and took aim They caught the
Colonel full In the face.
He adjusted his monoclv and upfolded the Arst
OF them The headlines barked from the page:
British Disaster; Defeat Swartdaal List OF Cas-
he settled down to read the inches so OF bald
proee that preceded ths long list OF killed and
wounded 1t told. very formally, of a surprise at
dawn, silent commando ringing an unsuspicous
camp and overwhelming It at chosen moment
paragraph related tersely how tho little
force had stood under a devastating fire how an
nrtinerJ ofncer had drawn out gun and opened
nre at pont-blank range the ridge from which
the boers commanded the camp And the gun had
been taken They had got away with 1t
The Colonel folded the sheet the moro conve
NJ
cers had been killed; of them he knew; bu
ohe naIno for which no looked not among them
nor Wes 1t omong tho names OF tho wounded. Bu
taere was yet another heading. The print was
blurred before his he read It. Missing
Lieutenant John Chartres, RIA"
IL was dark when he reached Chartres The
grave butler recotyed him deferentlauy
Sir Johns gone to his room, sir. He desires Il
be excused I'LL dInnor'
He possessed himself OF tho Colonels bag
The old rooIu. SIR" he said. and led tho way III
the T1de staircase
Tho Colonel made his toilet pensivcly I, wa
tne custom OF his brother-inlaw to send for him a
all seasons OF emergency, and generally he cane
SIT John had been widower for close on twent
years. and had never accustomed himself to b
alone When at length Colonel Wesson went dowr
Sir John met him in the garden room that gave OF
the terrace.
'Ah. Tilney'" said Sir John. Feeling at, eh
Seen the news I suppose?r
Yes said the Colonel. taking chair with
discrimination Yes. It seems to have been
brisk little business. Cad. Jack. what thing It
to be young
"rhe kilograms say he's missing" said the aa,
onet He spoke though he were LAYING a pro,
lem before the Colonel
Rotten way OF putting 1t. lint it?" said Colons
"esson Means they grabbed him along with To
gun, suppose. Jack that boys got brains Ho
learnt something
"Wnat dyou mean?" demanded Sir John. "learr
how 10 lose guns ch?"
Colonel Wesson smiled frankly "1'hat's r." b
said that's pre-cIscly It. Showed 1t at EN- ker
it epoutng I'll the others could stand TO thci
aNnI fho Lot
gun deyilish smart BIT of work call ~"
Thc old oaronet stared ut him with r,arted I'M
Then" he said weakly. then II isnt-or-
"A resTettsble incident?" suggested tha Cn,ons