Evening journal., 1911-09-27
BY F. A. Mitchell

OF fiankers, noticed colin lying not
far from the road.
That evening in camp Captain Tim
berlake was chatting upon the events
of the day with the adjutant and the
major Of his regiment. talking about
who had been killed, who wounded.
how the Spaniards fought and how
they had the advantage Of the Amer
leans In the matter Of arms and smoke
less powder when Tiinberlake spoke
of the strange sight Of a coffin lying
beside the road.
If men have not the curiosity of wo-
men. aad the statement has been de-
MED by the latter. they have a trait
equally peculiar. Men. especially those
who lead eventful lives. are prone TO
bet about everything which is a mat.
ter of opinion or hazard. The ques.
tion came up between these officers
whether there was a corpse In the cof-
fin OF whether there was not One OF
the party bad noticed cemetery on
the way not far from the line Of
march and suggested that a funeral
had been interrupted by the fight. the
mourners had fed and the coffin spilled
out Of the hearse. There was doubt
less an unburled corpse in It.
Now. the outcome Of this suggestion
did not result. as might have been ex
pected. in the burial Of n corpse. but
a bet. The major made the suggestion.
and Captain Timberlake offered to bet
him $40 even that the coffin was
empty.
The stakes having been put up. Cap
tain Timberlake called Pat Mulcahey. a
recruit picked up just before leaving
the States. and told him TO go back
half n mile and look out not far from
a bridge over a creek for a coffin. Hc
was TO discover whether it contained a
corpse or whether il was empty.
A full moon stood about an hour
high and made all nearly as light as
day. A desultory firing was still going
on. but had nearly died ont Pa
crossed the bridge and about a hun
dred yards beyond saw the moonligh'
reflected from a number Of points on
the brass ornaments on the coffin. Pal
went on TIL he got near enough to see
what the object was. then stopped. a
coffin probably with dead body in Il
az night in a lonely spot did not appeal
to him. He was wondering how he
could determine what he had been or
dered 20 discover without getting any
closer 70 the casket when the lid seem
ed TO lift of itself. and the moon light
ed up white face.
"Howly motherr cried Pat. crossing
himself. and. turning. beat hasty re
treat Reaching the other side Of the
creek. he paused for another look be
hind him What he saw froze the
marrow I'm his bones The corpse was
coming with it's coffin on its shoul
I der
= Pat tried to run, hut for a time hil
b legs refused Go carry him. II was onl,
when the specter reached the hithe
side Of the bridge and seemed 10 bl
! coming right down on him that his ter
ror had a different effect. and with 9
howl he ser or like the wind for camp
{ Captain Timberlake. the major ant
the others were sitting I'm circle wait
ing for the decision Of the bet wher
Pat approached. AS he drew neal
them the soldier reasserted itself. ano
he slowed HIS steps TIL he came down
to a walk. Approaching the group, he
saluted.
'wel. Pat" said his commander
'who has won3
III We PLACE. sir. what's the bet?"
,, "The major bets the coffin has q
corpse in It. bet that It is empty"
\ ''rhe corpse was in it when / win
r there. and now it's out OF It."
"What do you meanT
"The corpse got out when was
e lookin' at the coffin. and now he's com
= in with It on his shoulder"
n There was a burst Of laughter.
1 "Oi got me pay in me pocket" pull
r. ing out "a roll Of bills. "Ofn bet it al
y that he is"
IS Several men standing about. ready {
e take advantage Of the greenhorn, GOV
cred his money 10 TO l. The bets haC
:. barely been made when a man with
n coffin on his shoulder approached an'
asked half in Spanish and half in Ene
lish where he could get a pass.
k There was another burst of laugh
. ter.
} The captain looked around for Pat
He was nowhere 20 be seen.
i've won and Pat has won." salt
: Timberlake. 'Now Wen hear this man
2 story. But first let me tell you some
Z thing l happen to know. The poo
class OF Cubans hire collins for thei
4 dead. The body is placed in the cofii'
I before the funeral and taken to IN
I cemetery In t. There IL is remove
2 and buried without any GOVERNS
Since the lid Is not screwed down the
z use hinges. This man was not goln
70 a funeral; he was carrying the cai
x ket away from cemetery after n
corpse had been taken out of It,"
4 ''You are right" said the Cuban.
= was carrying the coffin from the Gem
= terry when the battle began. To escaI
= the bullets lifted the lid and got Il
% side. stayed there till the firing hs
nearly died away. when ! proceed'
" on my journey. But now there a
soldiers everywhere. and / would III
a pass to get home"
ID. He was sent Oeaving his load till
es return) to headquarters. where he I
NJ cured his pass.