The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-11-13
IN The LINE Of DUTY
sy 6. n. oLasrEAp.

Dy G. N. olMsrEAD.
In the long ago days. when trans.
continental travel by steam was pass.
ing from the dream Of the visionary
into the actually Of construction, the
regular army was called into service
to protect engineers and laborers from
the curiosity and malice Of the red.
men, who viewed the invasion Of men
and instruments across their hunting
grounds with uncertain feelings.
Among the officers Lieutenant Jack
Harrison was easily most popular; the
construction corps also had nothing
but good words for his easy comrade.
ship and unselfish sharing Of burdens
which did not belong to the routine Of
his life at all. So when, finding him.
self . days gallop from the county
which was the home Of "the girl I left
behind me-" Mr.. Harrison asked for
leave to drop behind for . brief call.
his request was cheerfully. granted BY
his colonel. Back on time came Lieu.
tenant Jack, and to the amusement Of
an. perched on his saddle bow rode q
beribboned puh.ball Of doggis: . dog
for . lady's lap. oddly contrasting with
his rough surroundings. It seemed the
girl" had thrown her pct up to Jack
Ut the moment Of parting, s;he had al.
ready given his horse . jab to be IN.
der way, and the Wild notion came to
him-her dog would soft-pedal some Of
the ache In his heart. ~
Close to its new master kept the
dog, shared his blanket and his food
also the masculine fingers tried to do
things to the mat of curled hair and
the ribbon about the little neck. But
crossing the desert, the water became
very scarce. It was easier to push on
than to turn back. scant allowance
was served the men, none for the dog;
but Jack gave up his limited supply,
In spite Of protest from the men, for
the comfort Of his dumb pet. A change
came over the one.time lively Jack,
hardly explained by the misfortune
others were bearing without q within.
per. He became moody. slipping of
with his dog to look at the cool stars
and suck bullets t. hep 1qus1ch rhis'
thirst. Mercifully, water was soon
found, but. Jack did not brighten, in
fact, his eyes became more bloodshot,
his face more haggard. Lying face
down in the white glare, OF the desert
moon, a still little form huddled mo-
tionless under nearby sage.brush, a
fellow-of11cer found Mr.. Harrison late
on the day the water was come upon.
What 10 It, Harrison?" brought an.
swer in strangled tones. Tier dog bit
me. and l cannot bear to look at water.
yet ! am dying for taste Of It."
With an arm about the resisting
Harrison the chum pushed back to
their Joint tents. Tumbling the con.
tents out Of . lit until he found Q oil.
yer cup, trophy Of the running track at
West Point, no stuffed Q, handkerchief
into It to deaden the Noise and hlled II
70 the brim with the now abundant
water. One moment he pressed tho
goblet TO HarEison's lips, who elutehed
It and tried to drink. the next, the
silver was crushed In his hand like .
cup Of paper and thrown from him.
mo use, ! cant!" groaned the stricken
officer.
There's no hope. old friend. The
poor little beast bit me; 1t was mad
from thirst and hest ! killed It to
save the others, now I must be killed
also. It's the only way. II you will
not fix it up for me with q bullet, I
will have to do it myself. Dear old
man, you wouldn't make a murderer
of me, would you? If I am shot by
the squad it's just in the line Of duty
my duty and the others. It's the only
way. For the sake Of all, it must be
done and at once"
There was no moodiness about Har.
rison at the crisis, but his friend was
utterly stricken.
Az the sun threw It's advance guard
Of rosy banners oyer the eastern hori.
fon they reflected on the calm. proud
9ace Of Harrison facing the squad Of
his men. A small black, square over
his heart showed the purpose of the
tableau. The breeze Of early morning
gently stirred his hair, his eyes turned
moment toward the sky bending
over the valley and her he would new.
or see again. But quickly returning
7 TO- the stricken faces. and shaking the
hands Of those who nefvously fingered
theaguns they at that moment hated,
he tried to comfort, the hopeless band.
."Roys. please do not mind. I am
glad to die before I hurt any Of you. I
know the poison IL running through
me now. God bless you. Don't tell her
ANYTHING but that I died trying to