The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-09-25
Daily Short Story


Two men were lying In the same
tente Clarifying quite close togeth-
er. because there is not much room In
15-pound tent: moreover. Il was bit
terly cold. They were two subalterns
OF the Royal Reds. and this was the
hrst whole night they had had In bed
during the last week-in fact, the reg
iment was just in from picketing a
ridge which covered the camping
ground OF the division. II was a COM
paratively quiet night after those they
had spent at the heel OF the outlying
pickets. and even now, though the
last post had gone some hours pre-
viously. the skulking Pathan was drop
ping bullets with the regularity Of
minute guns into the sleeping mass Of
camp. Martini bullets whistled wierdly
In the stiffness Of the night. followed
by the busy spit OF the Lee-Metford.
or the boring whir OF the soft lead
Snider. Most OF them were as harm
less as aimless: but the boys. as they
lay In their bivouac, often heard the
sickening thud OF the landing bullet.
followed by the cry. now so common.
OF Hospital. hospital" At intervals
one side or another of the camp would
burst into rattle of fire, as the men
at the breastworks located the enc
mys nashes or made out the move
ment OF dark prowling forms within
range. Such was this warfare on the
indian frontier-such that IL mattered
not now much a man has been under
hre In the day. he lay down ut night
with the knowledge that he was still
equally exposed.
The cry OF Hospital" sounded in
the mule lines quite close 10 the OF.
ncers quarters OF the Royal Reds.
isn't this beastly?" said Percy
Jones, as he rolled closer TO his COM
panions. There's another drabi bit :"
les. I'm sick OF IT," said Austin
I'm sick of II all. and nv hear;
bar" '"1' ''u'
| ia give anything 10 be back" said
Jones. or M least TO have a decent
snow. Here I've been under fire with.
out lntermission day or night for the
iast three weeks. and | don't believe
| We seen an Ard. dead or alive. the
whole tine. These weapons OF pre-
! cision are the very devil I'm all for
| peace. or decent show when YOU can
see the man you're 10 have a smack
at"
/
| TIN. nudglng him violently with his
elbow. II think it's a mighty cool
ming that you get neither, because
II you'd STAYED longer in Rindi you'd
have come to wholesale grief. The i'm.
| pertinence OF a second lieutenant fall.
ing IN love. and with a pretty girl.
100 And. nv young friend. n We had
bargal over again. you'd be shot; YOU
don't get on twice like that"
Percy Jones phlled his blanket and
waterproof sheet closer round him and
thought OF the letter he had I'm his
\ pocket-a letter from "A little fair.
haired girl in Pindi-a letter which
WAS straightforward and simple and
yet between the lines OF which he
loved to think he could read. She. too
had heard Of what he he'd done at Oar
gal. though he had never told her
How. during that awful pause as the
regiment had lain with their dead and
wounded few yards from them, SO
close that they could hear the groan :
and curses Of the diving and the walls
Tor help Of the less injured. the Young.
est subaltern in the regiment. unable
To forbear. had leaped up. and. facing
| mat awful fire. half dragged half cal
ried tho nearest wounded man hack
10 cover. His lie had been charmed.
FOR a hideous hail Of lead swept past
him: but though the man he sought 10
save was struck again three times. he
got back 10 cover with his burden
/ without scratch upon his own body.
3 She had heard all this. for the let
ter convened gentle remonsirance.
and toll him for his own sake 10 do
no more than was his duty. Yet h.
loved TO think that when she wrote
his oHn sake she meant her own
as well. and in spite of tho occasion
al bullets the boy slept With a peace
ful mind
The ROYAL Reds were ou' all the
next morning covering the usual FOR