On the Firing Line

oop, four troops make one squadron," the monotonous voice ran on. Then it

bed-bordered room; but there were few within it now who were ignorant of the plucky ride made by the lean, boyish-looking Canadian trooper. A part of the story had come by way of the doct

en he shuffled forward to demand news from some passer-by whose sleeve was banded with the Red-Cross badge. Then he shuffled back to his former post and sat himself down on his heels once more. Kruger Bobs poss

hat of his mother, one of his captain, and the third that of Ethel Dent. With all three of them, he appeared to be upon the best of t

, he straightened himself into a rigi

on't wash my face for me," h

air of a mother smiling at a fret

fresh you?" sh

, with flat, ungr

have been sleep

of his own grasp, and he str

interrupted hastil

ence. Then she as

hall I

t still he held fast to the

bully

ere smiling; but her eyes clouded

he was greeted by a white-

," he said coolly. "

He looked puzzled. "I thought we fellows in hospi

old friend, the number isn't

he impassive curiosity of a man just coming

id-" he be

pile of ink-black hair. "There!" she said, with a smile. "Does that make

thin. The smile on his lips was the boyish, frank smile which

brings you here?"

d to find you again, even if the Johannesburg hospital isn't a good place

ative instincts and his years of training asserted themselves,

n't

answered, her hand

e too had learned the meaning of an or

e you go, tell me this:

ded in

fro

wer me honestly. Have I mumbled thing

Then, one afternoon in her rest hour, Alice Mellen let him have his way and

have I b

t a

d I get

rain from K

at

d treat you better here." Her repl

ght it was a M

o bad; but the long ride an

errupt

now about my r

hat the woman was n

. Even in these days of pluck

e color came into his cheeks

thing. I d

Bobs has in

Bobs? Is

she laugh

ff; but he merely hitches over to the other end of the steps and refuses to budge farther. We discovered him, the first night you were

is hands at the

tradict you," he answered, with a touch of his old humor. "I can remem

no

ans here before, Mr. Weld

been here?" he as

wee

ou lik

should I

sense

hat brough

able. It seemed a part of

hed to come?

te, and I walked through it, like a puppet with somebody else's hand pulling the strings." He paused and shook his head. "It is no use. I can't make yo

coverings above his wounded leg; then sat up aga

Perhaps it is because I am selfish; but I usually

eeting here?" he

ed in the

it. Fate, if one believes in such a t

e broke

uld be none," she retorted. "Fate ou

n wh

d be endless and durable. But a man with a Mauser hole in his leg and a fever in

imself back

s to the same thin

pleased with the notion. She is absolutely independent, and

is sh

nswered, quite unaware

d w

she is having a wonderfully gay time. Since Lord Roberts went back to Englan

sti

she questioned, in swift challeng

ely. "The glory doesn't lie entirely in the pulverizing the Boer arm

ing color in his face. Swif

m. It's not only for herself; it is what you would call Fate. She happens to be the only girl of her set who is just out from London; she had met a good many

on s

hero-worshippe

ke their heroes to have a little personality. One can't make o

s to two blue, black-fringed eyes gl

really be chums with his hero. Or, even if he

her watch, rose

ne; and Cooee declares that she wishes no pedestal at all. If her hero is worthy of the name, he mu

later, she ca

enough to see Kruger Bobs for

y eyes

five," he ans

sight of his prostrate master, the lower one was rolling outward in a sudden wave of pure pity. Beside the cot, he halted and stood looking down at Weldon with eyes which, for the moment, transformed his

. At last Kruger Bobs drew his ma

Boss," he s

, it wa

average healthy being for invalid ways. Moreover, he longed to be up and doing. With his growing strength, the orderly, noiseless routine of the hospital came upon his nerves. One of the nurses always walked on the points of her toes; and he was conscious of a wild longing to throw a pillow at her, as she went diddling to and fro past him, a dozen times a day. The doctor

, that morning, and pa

t last," she said, as she held

shining with merriment and with something that yet seemed to him closely

e said, laughing. "But I am about to retire from you

a tall figure stopped at his side in the full glare of a sunshiny window which all at onc

ought himself of his manners and

sin, the girl stood looking down a

t perhaps be Cooee here, to-day; but it will have to be Miss Dent, to-morrow, when you are bac