The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 22, 1904, Page 6

THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. M \ \ \ \\ deny that Private a drunken yd a man to the Phil- ho has a natural taste will Sparrow weas vou send him to his th Filipinos will ever see 1l the juice They is not nd call it vino. , but it f the old E s and Danes shall the fighting of been hot blood ma active w , the men gar- t from took and nk vino, n 1 glasses of the could be hen he let there tter sol- all the H splendid record pre- 2s s coming to the > » of San Ramon, st co: mander he possibly much as periodical jamborees for three days had been Vigan, on g up the main they discovered h ght arm with an imag hand, and yel gs. a challen m could do a red and d kitten, taken up to San Ra- uard, but they could not and yellow kitten away Where he had found the could guess, but young beast was, its mangy fur king ears gave it the f a fit companion to disreputabl Private Spar This time the captain said, “One week in the guardhouse.” It was a ight sentence d Sparrow took it with a melanc meekness. 'd you hook on to the kit- asked the sergeant of the guard. ig enough to be a full-grown she’s got cub paws. Where'd eyes looked down dle of scraggy fur rolling playtully his feet. “Bleesed if I know,” he responded. “Some what was too kindhearted to drown it must have taken advan- tage of my state to get rid of it.” That was all the history there was to Sparrow’s cat. When he ‘came out of the guardhouse it came with him, and it grew bigger and uglier, and still its paws were too big. Unlike most kittens, it was clumsy and heavy, and they called it the cat cub, and later the cub. It spent the daytime curled up on Sparrow’s cot, and its purr filled the barrack room. At night it disappeared, but regularly at dawn it showed up agalp. The beast seemed never hungry, and sometimes there were red clots about its jowls, redder even than its red, scraggy fur. “Blessed if I don't like him, after ®lL” remarked Sparrow one day, as the cub turned disdainfully from a piece of tinned army salmon. “He don't like our grub, so he gets out end hustles fer somethin’ he does like. Thet's the kind o’ spirit I admire.” “That's s0,” admitted Buck Taylor, & huge Tennesseean. “He’s got to have some virtues. Every critter born has. He ain’t handsome, he ain't useful, he pin't got no morals, "cause if he had he wouldn't &' chummed up with you when he did. So he’s got one virtue— he's pelf-supportin’.” “Ef he keeps on growin’ that way,” commented a big California back- woodsman, “he won't be no cat—he'll be & b'ar. When he gets big enough sbout the body to fit them paws, it'll be abput the time I'd rather see him take to the woods.” Sparrow held out his forefinger, and the cub closed his white teeth about it lovingly. “They den't lke ye, cub,” he said, affectionately, ¥ye snore when ye sleep an’ ye don’t Jook pretty, but I'll stand by ye anyhow—that's what.” The cat rose to a sitting posture and Jooked patronizingly at his friend. Then he seemed to wink a wink that said plainly: “You bet—me, too.” The rainy season was coming on and there was unrest in the air. Noth- ing had occurred for weeks to disturb the soul-kiiling monotony of dally guard mount and drill. It is such an existence that drives men to drink. The mess call had been sounded and the men gathered about their mess tine on the broad patio ground, pre- ferring the open air 10 the mess room. As usual, they were jollying one an- other, bandying names that would have sent the blood of anger to the cheeks of men who live gentle lives. The sun was lowering into the flufty tops of & bamboo thicket beyond the houses on the other side of the plaza. “Where's Sparrow?” shouted Buck Taylor. “Any of you fellows seen him around since mornin’? Must be off on one of his jags.” “I saw the lopsided galoot down't Acosta’s shop, suckin’ out of a vino flask,” vounteered Rob, brother to Buck. “Wal,” commented the Californian lazily, “hope he finds a soft spot to lay down on. Here's his blamed old = \ i\ A\ - h A\ n cat—why don’t the critter go an’ look after him?” “Reckon that's him announced a Montana a comin’ now corporal, “an’ from the swing of his gait, I should say he wasn't loaded mor'n . jus’ enough to be nasty The men could see the big, biue- shirted figure come swinging across the plaza, his campaign hat shoved back from the handsome, red flushed face. Sparrow came heavily up the gravel walk, and his sandy mustache drooped with sinister significance. “Hello,” he said, mcociiy, looking darkly about ar the groups of eating men. “Did any of you brass- buttoned veterans have the decency to lay holt o’ my r ms?"” the shoving rrow’s full mes hind him, “we jest reckoned youwd be too full ¢’ vino to go dog biscuit an’ carabao meat, so we jest naturally onto your whack for our- ed not to hear. but doggedly by jerks, lik ed by the picadc arrow,” commented I ith blase e as a dc nough to 1 down an’ we'll bring you some hen ye lcok more pretty. lor nasty mean Go 1 chow ‘Fellers,” aid Sparrow, thickly, “I've just heard there's some g0O- goos a-campin’ up th’ mountain, an 1 am a-goin’ to bring 'em in in sets o' fours. Whe my Krag?”’ “Go lay down, you half-boiled lob- ster,”” came from the Montana cor- poral. “There's yer cat a’' meowin’ for g0 pet it." Sparrow turned and walked toward rs. His gait was perfectly uted the Califor- carabao meat await- went on unheeding, ppeared into the main ~ had d entrance to the barracks. * “YWhat's that cussed fool got into his head now?” wled the third ser- gea sourl; Run along, some one, an’ see't he doesn’t fool with matches.” Rob Taylor rose and made for the sleeping quarters. He had gone half way when Sparrow reappeared, this time with an ammunition belt swung over his arm and a Krag rifle In both hanc As he saw Taylor coming to- ward him he raised the gun and shout- ‘Stand back, ye white-livered hoss thief!” Taylor still advanced, his hands raised, palms outward. “Stand!” yelled PArrow. There was a spurt of flame, a cough of sparks, a sharp report, and Taylor dropped to a kneeling posture, then on all fours and finally rolled over on his side. With a wild, exultant yell the crazed homicide dashed down across the patio to the solitary church belfry that stood to the rear of the church. The door was open; he dashed in and slammed it to. Two men had jumped to the pros- trate figure of Rob Taylor. The rest rose and stood in a dazed stupor, not moving. The deed had been so sud- den that none realized its significance. The first licutenant came hurrying across the vlaza from headquarters “What's the row?” he shouted, as he reached the still stupefied men. “Any- body been fooling with firecrackers? What in the name of God does this mean?” he was staring at the dead man. “Sparrow shot him, sir,” first sergeant, saluting. A shout came from the top of the belfry. It was Sparrow, his gun in one hand, his other waving the am- munition belt. “Come on, ve white-blooded coy- otes!” he yelled. “Come on! TI'll lick the whole damned lot of ye! Sparrow’s ‘my mname—that's me, you snub-muz- zled carabaos. Let the whole “lamned army come, an’ I'll give it the only scrap it's ever had in this blasted country!” Another yell, and they saw him level his plece. The men broke for quarters, but not before one had fallen almost over the dead Tennesseean. Soon they were opening a fusillade on the belfry tower, but the madman sheltered him- self skilifully. Darkness came on and the shooting ceased. The captain appeared and posted guards at various points around the belfry. with orders not to fire unless Sparrow tried to escape. Then he de- tafled four men to remove the dead. They moved cautiously out into the patio. By the starlight they could see the body of Rob Taylor, even the dark pool beside him. “What's that?” detail. “My God! the cat! Kill it—it's his!” A gun stock came down like a club. There was a fierce yowl, a hiss, and the creature shot up and out into the darkness. The men, quivering with terror, carried in their fallen com- rades. ‘Then began the watch, with an occa- sional shot from the tower. Through the darkness they heard Sparrow rav- ing, calling them all, from the captain down, sons of things unclean, and he challenged all men who wore blue or khaki to mortal combat and said things that made strong men shudder. At about midnight the captair was called down by the rattle of renewed firing. “Sparrow’s gone,” reported the first lieutenant. “Made a break—shot Cor- poral Walcott badly—and §ot away in the darkness.” This was true. When daylight came the belfry was empty, the door wide open. The murderer had leaving three victims behind, two dead and one wounded. Later in the day a native came in and reported having seen the fugitive making for the pass, and evidently wounded, for his clothes were bloody. Men who had trailed red Indians failed to find Sparrow—the jungle swallowed him up. said the gasped one of the A reward was offered for him, dead or alive. A week later two natives brought in an object in a sack and collected the reward. Private Spar- row, of Company C, was ofiicially re- ported dead. M while, the cub had also disap- peared. and natives came in with stor- ies of seeing a wild beast in the jungle that resembied a cat, but,was twice that size, and it preyed om chickens and ducks, and had even carried off a young goat. Some said that the crea- ture was as large as a wolf, and as the weeks .went by these stories be- came more numerous. One day a pink-eysd, flaxen-haired naturalist came up from Vigan with a letter from General Young and a de- sire to study the country. It was he who announced the startling fact that he had discovered a new species of panther, whose fur was red and yel- He offered a reward of $50 to whosoever would bring him in a speci- men. Seven weeks had passed since Spar- row’s last jamboree, and the affair was beginning to be dropped from daily m conversation, when one after- noon the Montana corporal took a stroll out into the near-by jungle and Il sleep under a big mango tree and low. 1 thought he dreamed a. strange dream. Over his head on a limb appeared big creature and it had the body of a tiger, but the head of a man. And the head leered und .grinned and winked a huge green eye and from its mouth protruded, long, yellow fangs. Then the face changed and the cor- poral struggled . spasmodically to scream, for the face was the living of George Sparrow. With a vell the soldier sat up. A reddish ob- Ject shot from a linib to the ground— a huge, gaunt cat, with a bird’s wings fluttering from its whiskered jowls. It bounded off into a thicket. In a sec- ond the corporal was after it, his re- volver drawn, ready for use. And the thicket of tropical foliage closed over him, too, as it had done with the cat. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. The corporal reappeared, his gun in its holster, but his face white, his colorless lips apart. His eyes were un- naturally brilliant. He quickly glided down the trall toward the village into the first street, into the plaza, across to the barracks. He found Buck Tay- lor oiling his gun in the shade of the belfry tower. \ “What's up, Jack?” asked the man from Tennessee. “Look’s though you'd seen the devil.,” “I have, Buck, or something as bad. T've got something to tell ye that'll make you hair curl. Listen!” The corporal dropped beside Buck Taylor and as he spoke rapidly in a low whisper the other's face turned as white as his, companion’s. Then there came a sharp snap of his jaw, the two men rose and walked toward the barracks. They met the Califor- nian on the veranda. It was still two hours before dusk when three men left the town and struck the trail up the mountain— three stalwart sons of pioneers, who knew a trail in a tropical jungle as well .as in an American forest. For half an hour they pushed on in single file, the Montanan leading, their heavy army shoes as noiseless as the barefoot tread of natives. Each man had his Krag slung through the crook of his left arm, as hunters, not sol- diers, carry guns. Finally they reach- ed a ravine which led squarely into the mountain side. The foliage was so thick that it hid the light above. Ahead was solid rock. “Yere's where I saw him,” whis- pered the corporal. “There’s a hole straight ahead.” A black cavity in the rock appeared above the thick underbrush. They rose cautiously and looked. At the mouth of the cave sat a man, bending over a small fire, giving Yorth hardly any smoke. Beside him crouched a huge red and yellow cat, its ears pricked up, its eyes toward the brush in which the three men were hid. “What's the matter, Cub?” said a voice. “Now,” whispered the corporal, “up at him. The three men sprang up and dashed toward the cave mouth. “Hands up, Sparrow, we've got ye dead to rights!” they shouted. | What to Eat and Drink in Hot Weather CCORDING to Dr. Wiley, chem- ist for the Department of Agri- culture, “the devil lurks in the soda water fountain, and iced tea is simply suicidal. If persons would only use precaution there is no reason why one should suffer more with sickness in summer than in win- ter. A few of the most delicious and palatable edibles, as well as drinks, have got a bad reputation as producers of summer sickness, when, in fact, the whole trouble is due to the careless preparation of food and drink and the too lax law as to inspection. “The custom of constantly dosing the stomach on ice cold drinks in sum- mer is simply suicidal, and turns one's stomach into & refrigerator. The ex- treme oold contracts the pores through which the pepsin is secreted and tends to congest the coats of the stomach. ‘When thirsty in hot weather, one should drink water at from 60 to 65 de- grees. All water should be sterilized before using. Drink slowly and all you want and you will find that water at this temperature quenches the thirst much better than iced water.” There are certain things, however, in the way of food and drink which are 1t By John Morris T — peculiarly well adapted for use in hot Wweather. Stuffed tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers are excellent dishes for warm weather. Green peppers are good if filled with equal quantities of bread crumbs, tomatoes and corn. Sea- son with salt, pepper and just a trifle of onion juice, in order to prevent the pepper from being too strong. Re- move all the seeds and white veins, which may be done by cutting either lengthwise or at the ends and scoop- ing all the inside out. The serving of fruits of all kinds, in all combinations, is one of the most tempting things possible during the summer season: and any kind can be put together that will suit the taste of the family. Fish is to be preferred to meat dur- ing hot weather, as meat is more heat- ing to the human system. Salads are good to be used during this time of year. Dressed with oil, acid and condiments and sometimes honey or sugar, it is a most delicious and tasty plece of n- -ishment. The dressings in most common use are the French and mayonnaise. The propor- tions for French dressing may be varied to suit individual taste. Usu- ally equal portions of oil and vinegar are used. This dressing s often used for green vegetables, also for fruit and nuts’ The mayonnaise dressing is largely used for meat, fish, some fruits and vegetables. Among the important points to be re- membered In salad making are the following: Green vegetables should be served fresh and crisp. Meat and fish should be well mari- nated and cold. The ingredients composing the salad should not be combined until the last moment before serving. Salad making is an art and, al- though one of the most important branches of the preparation of food, it is less perfectly understood than any other culinary operation. The salad plants are useful for the mineral matter which they contaln, for the amount of water with which they supply the body, for their cooling and refreshing properties, and for their stimulating effect upon the appetite. All salad plants should be fresh and crisp. They should be thoroughly cleansed of all impurities and left In very cold water for a little while be- fore being made into = salad, then carefully drained and dried. Salads should not be mixed with a dressing until a little time before serving. o~ - 4 LAY BAOY SIETE G The man at the fire turned like a flash, but found three gun barreils lev- eled at him. “All right, boys. It's worth it, jest 10 see ye,” he answered calmly, rising to his feet with some difficulty. The cat had leaped into the adjacent jun- gle and was gone. California selzed the rifie that stood against the liff. It‘was Sparrow with- out doubt, or what had been Sparrow. His gaunt jaws were covered with thick beard, his hair was long and his clothes were tattered. He had been eating a chicken which he held in both hands. His captors looked at him, their strong faces solemn, stern, with per- haps a gleam of pity in their eyes. They saw that he was a helpless crip- ple. - His left leg, bandaged with strips of blue flannel, was as wood to him. It needed not even a surgeon’s eye to see that he must die. “Boys,” said Sparrow, “I was a pret- ty good pal before I took to vino, ye won't forget that. Don't take me back to camp. Give me a square deal. I can’t stand trial. Buck, you and I was good friends. Do Dy me as you'd like to be did by. “Ye killed my brother, George.” know it, as I might ’a’ killed my own brother, or my own father. But don't drag me back to camp.” | “What d'ye want us to do?” “Ye know what I mean.” He locked steadily into their eyes; they understood, and nodded. “We will, George,” they said, one after another. “How, in God's name, have you lived?” asked the corporal, breaking the silence that had suddenly fallen upon them. His eyes rested on a heap BEFOEE JE COULD Look UF AN e of bones In one corner of the dlees space, and some scattered about the bushes. ‘“Who foraged for you?™ “The Cub.” For the first time Spam row showed strong emotion. “Boyw™ he added, “don’t kill the poor critter. He's got & human soul in him.” They nodded again. At last one of them spoks. “Come om, George, farther wp the oy.” .‘Bnpl.rrvw rose with difficulty. The eorporal and Californian each took an arm. Buck Taylor leaned agalnst a rock. “Boys,” he sald, “I can't do it—I've got cold feet, sure.” The two others looked back. “Stay there. We'll be along direct- Ty The three men, the cripple in the center, went on, and disappeared inte the foliage. Buck sunk down, shiver- ing, and covered his face with his hands. Minutes passed—ten, fifteen— then came the double report. His whole body shook convulsively. Suddenly he heard a rustling of leaves overhead. Before he could look up a heavy body struck him, sharp tecth and claws were tearing his threat and shoulders. He fought desperately, hugged ghe beast to his chest, they rolled over and over, and his screams echoed up the ravine. Then all was black. The two soldiers dashed into the clearing, then came to a sudden halt. On the ground lay Buck Taylor, hug- ging the Cub, and both were dead. The two warriors fled in panic, for there is a limit to courage, even in big, strong men. (Copyright, 1304, by Albert Seanich- sen)