The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-28

We were just as startled as II we
had not been expecting 1t. For q full
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 first
1--WE have come back" he an.
nounced definitely.
What is this-a hoax" demanded
Captain Jones .savagely.
NO" responded the general, plac-
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'll"
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 shammlng So
leaned over the key and shook his
arm. He had tainted away
my old heart trouble" sighed the
general. Always comes on when
am especially anxious to keep awake
What chance missed! But what
do you suppose this glorious fellow
did," he demanded.
What any decent man would do, of
course!" responded Gray. What could
do? was sheer murder to sit there
and let him be blown to atoms, abso-
lutely helpless, when breath OF his
might have extinguished-
DO you mean to insinuate that I
F., would have blown out that GAMBLER"
stormed Delmar why, man, you in
suit me In a way cannot overlook
must hold you personally"
Il insinuate nothing" interrupted
Gray. But your condition violated
the ethics Of the code. 1t left all the
responsibility on my shoulders; l had
a right to let myself be blown up but
not to see an unconscious third party
foully murdered"
Third party"
"Yes-third party. Directly you
went fifty, you cease to be a partici-
pant. You could not have blown out
the candle, and l would not. So"-
turning to us-"I hauled him outside"
Yes. he did, confound him." grum.
bled the general, casting an affection.
ate but irritable glance upon Gray.
But that was nothing, gentlemen-he
went back"
"Of course l went back, you helpless
old IDIOT"
And he ran back" wheezed Del
mar, looking at him with a sort of
wonder In his eyes.
Ran back?" some one Intercepted
Had to-" said Gray. Candle most
burned down to fuse; afraid l might
be too late"
1T was who almost too late" said
the general shaking his white head.
"What-did you go back, too?" de-
manded Harris.
He laid me on my back in the
grass explained Delmar, and the
dew revived me, When | opened nv
eyes thought had been blown there
by the powder. Then l saw that |
was all together, so started up and
made for the light in the shanty. There
was just an eighth of an inch of can
die left when arrived, and there sat
this fool smoking a cigarette and
humming that detestable ditty every
one forgot ages ago"
He means 'Therell Be a Hot Time
in the Old Town Tonight explained
Gray in an injured tone.
81 demanded an explanation" con.
tinued the general, and he told me
and said how glad he was | had come
back, as it was lonesome, and besides
he knew how bad would feel to miss
1t all. The fuse was beginning to
sputter, and l seated myself Just in
time to enjoy the climax"
They both cut and rum" ouoth
Jones, disgustedly "All bets are orr"
captain Jones, I never have been