The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-31


minute no one had the courage to
make first move, and even as we
fingered, cycling one another shame
facedly. the door opened. and. framed
IN the blackness, appeared the bag
gard faces OF Delmar and Gray, and
with them was Captain Sage of the
engineers.
1t was the general who spoke frst.
I'VE have come back" he an
nounced definitely
What Is this-a hoaxY" demanded
Captain Jones savagely.
No. responded the general, plso-
ing his hand affectionately on his late
opponents shoulder but have found
man. A hero!"
Nonsense" growled Gray. you
were fool to come back to the
shanty!"
Sir" exclaimed the old general
Your language demands an apology!
hold you personally responsible!"
Cut 1t out" demanded Harris In
disgust. Since you refused to be ex.
ploded like gentlemen, at least ex-
plain to US how you came to patch It
, up between you!"
! 1T was this way" said Gray. help
ing himself to Scotch. I'VE had sat
there perhaps FIVE minutes after you
left, and was trying to blow double
rings, when happened to glance at
the candle"
Here young Wragge uttered an Of
fensive word-but subsidized as Gray
turned his eyes upon him.
From the candle my eyes travelled
naturally to the general; and what do
you suppose? He was apparently sound
asleep! Asleep, gentlemen"
He paused, that the full effect OF his
words might be felt.
Now he was, Of course, within his
rights In sleeping, but did not pro-
pose to keep any lonesome vigil, and
besides, | was unjust enough to fancy
that he might be shamming So
leaned over the keg and shook his
arm. He had tainted away"
my old heart trouble" sighed the
general. Always comes on whep
: am especially anxious to keep awake
What a chance | missed But what
J do VIM sfippose this glorious fellow
: diq?" he demanded;
} hWhat any decent man would do, Q
course!" responded Gray. What coult
I do! was sheer murder to sit Their
. and let him be blown to atoms, abso
q lutely helpless, when breath OF hi
might have extinguished-"
r 30 you mean to insinuate that
4 would have blown out that candle?
d stormed Delmar. why, man. you II
r, suit me in way cannot overlook.
8 must hold you personally
& Il insinuate nothing" interrupte
# Gray But your condition violate
the ethics of the code 1t left all Tn
d responsibility on my shoulders; ma
a right to let myself be blown up, b'
n not to see an unconscious third part
g foully murdered"
sr Third party"
le "Yes-third party! Directly yc
went fifty, you cease to be parti'
" pant You could not have blown O
/ mould mt So
IN turning to us-"I hauled him outside
at Eyes, he did, confound him. grul
in bled the general, casting an affectio
p ate but irritable glance upon Ora
But that was nothing, gentlemen
n went back"
al "Of course went back, you helple
ny old IDIOT"
IN. And he ran back" wheezed d
ns mar, looking at him with a sort
er wonder In hts eyes.
lst Ran back" some one interrogat'
he Had to-" said Gray. Candle m'
be burned down to fuse; afraid mis-
be too late.
nd ut was l who almost too late" 81
the general, shaking his white head
en- What did you go back, too"
, a manded Harris
"He laid me on my back In
he grass" explained Delmar, and
AGO dew revived me. When | opened
nd ewes | thought had been blown tn
ow by the powder. Then saw tina
= was all together 80 started up
made for the light In the shanty. IN
mel WAS lust an eighth OF an inch OF c
die left when arrived, and there
Jot this fool, smoking a cigarette
hin humming that detestable ditty eV
one forgot ages ago"
raj "He means 'There1l Be Hot II
md in the Old Town Tonight, explai
hat Gray in an injured tone.
,ait 81 demanded an explanation,
rch tinued the general, "and he told
pod and said how glad he was ] had &C
back, as it was lonesome, and besi'
em he knew how bad would feel to n
re- II all, The fuse was beginning
,ity shutter. and ! seated myself just
ar. time to enjoy the climax.
"They both cut and run" gu
a., ZONES. disgustedly, "All bets are
,ast Captain Jones, ! never have D
a..,, insulted IN my life"