Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-10-17

won't wait for us-will they?" and he
turned To Burke
Burke Sinished another plate and
shook his head slowly.
We amt ready TO fight" he said
Half these soldiers don't know which
end of their guns goes off-an' the
officers amt much better"
That's all right" retorted the tall
soldier. waving a long finger: this
here army can shoot straight. an
that's all there is to it. I've got a bet
with Teller at home that III be back
inside three weeks"
Don't you go spendin' that money -
advised Burke. What this army needs
is a good lickin, and I'll be sore if We
lon't get it."
The circle looked at him with
marked disapproval. Such views were
scandalous, and not balanced by the
| fact that he seemed to know more
than they did
You're a nice 'Murican," exclaimed
the tall soldier.
You wait" replied Burke. unmoved
Again the group fell silent. Above
| the splashing and clatter of Burkes
! dish-washing sounded the steady plod-
/ ding of the raw. tardy regiments NOV
! ing along the broad tUrnpikes 10 their
| bivouacs Three miles TO the south a
faint glow in the sky marked hostile
fires. Above the top of a distant ridge
streaks OF white light showed where
the arc-lights of a town cut through
the misty air.
What gets me" confessed the tall
soldier. after looking around the hori-
zon, is how anybody knows where
everybody is an what's goin' 10 hap
pen TO EN-. How do they figure it
out?"
Why. look here" said Burke. With
fork he commenced drawing lines
and squares on the damp earth.
Matches. twigs and bits Of bark were
called into use The other men peered
over his shoulder curiously. and at the
end of ten minutes Burke commenced
explaining his map. The five men
looked thoughtful and sucked al their
pipes.
What's 10 prevent them two armies
walkin' right past each other in the
night an never KNOWN it, demanded
the old man. Patiently Burke went
over his explanations. At The end the
tall man stood up. unconvinced.
Maybe you're right" he admitted.
but don't see how We know all this"
Figured it out" said Burke.
How" demanded the tall soldier.
An hour later Burke was aroused by
a nervous hand paving al his leg.
He awOke with a start 10 find the
young soldier trying to rouse him.
&c s matter. SON." he asked sleepily
What's that battle tomorrow goin'
10 be like?" whispered the boy. I'm
scairt"
"Scairt. are ye?" inquired Burke,
propping himself up on one elbow.
We'll. don't much wonder What's
il going to be like? Why, it's goin'
10 be more men than you ever saw al
one time shootin' at each other and
yellin'. with shells fyin' an Dustin
an people rampagin' round on horses,
and a noise like boiler-fact'ry work
in overtime,"
Gee" said the boy. shivering.
You and a lot of other chaps-an'
prob'bly me-is goin' to run Eastern
we ever did before" concluded Burke.
II amt" insisted the boy, though
his lip quivered.
Amt ye?" inquired Burke in a tone
of mild surprise; well, ! amt made
up my mind yet"
They're goin' to get me tomorrow,
the boy gasped on in burst of conf
dence. and I've got girl home. we
was goin' to be married the twenty
sixth"
"Shoo, Ye don't say" answered
Burke softly. Now | call that hard |
Iuck," He filed his pipe. frowning. |
This was a new element to him. and !
he gave up his sleep to ease the lads
anxiety.
.IU take care of We tomorrow. son"
he said finally, patting the boys Shout
der.
will ye?" asked the lad. brighten
ing. Guess / can sleep them
Burke watched him as he lay down
in his blankets. and the deep, rough
lines in his face grew softer.
THAT there kid" he muttered
"ain't fit for soldierin'. Maybe the
iime1l come well need 'em-but not
vet. I'm goin' to send him home 10
his mother"
noisy racket of bugles stirred the
little circle of still figures around the
campfire in the dull gray OF the next
morning. As they sat rubbing their
aves and yawning, sounds OF moving
troops came to them from the road.
Sounds like business" Burke an
nounced to the group as he buckled on
his banket-rOll.
Where we goin'?" demanded the
Doy anxiously.
Some fankin' move. kid" explained
Burke. Got to edge round 'em fore
It's light
Hell of a time O. night to start a
Dattle," grumbled the tall soldier as
he tripped over a stump.
The group fioundered out into the
darkness of a road already choked with
men. where two divisions were trying
n converge on the town whose electric
lights had glimmered the night before.
Nervous. half trained officers bawled
orders in the darkness;
men laughed. swore and sang by
urns.
Lord" snorted Burke in disgust,
is this here war. or are we goln' TO
watch a circus unload?"
The long column stumbled into
ort of motion. Across the helds
,uIked the dark mass of the parallel
,olumn. Behind them the single lght
till glowed in the window at head
,uarters. The tall soldier commenced
';naipo. an invisible officer at the