| Show r 4 T ur TODA TODAY'S YS Y'S SHORT Sf STORY Fiction P by Americas America's Greatest Writers J br by IN lb rt Funk FuIk A. A C CA 4 THE WICKED FLEE By Robert J. J I WIG as standing on Kearny street in I two two-hor San fian Francisco when saw a n. waon pass with tho letters Q rD I 1 US U.S. LC on on its Us tl o. o Tho letters I seemed to avo some personal cance n c So I ile h hailed tho the driver drier who wa was 1 I dress dressed d in n. n blue luo uniform and asked him what they meant Quartermasters Department United States Marine Corps he lie said Oh Ob I saId Is that it I thought they might mean Quick McDonald Useless 8 Suckers Mario Macin Comfortable Ho laughed a hit Your Tour name McDonald McDonald Mc Mc- oc- oc I Donald T TYes Yes 1 cs Well ell they might mean that too Got a n Job No Want Vant one 7 one r Yes with me Jump in and come como lb lio Ho took me to the r recruiting office at the foot toot of Market lark l street stroet and the tho windup of ot it ft W was wat K that before tho the lay ilay was waR over OCl I 1 w was siL enlisted In the marine marino corps as a private to at fifteen p per per r-pcr- per perhaps haps you ou s get t it and perhaps you OU don't dont clont and nd on m my way a to tho the bai barracks racks at nl Mare Iare Island Which Is all merely by wa way o of C ex explaining cx- cx how hov I c came me to b bl be doing a mid mid- w watch In an nn orderly box hox In front of the commandants commandant's house on that auspicious I n night ht four tour months later latr Shortly after midnight tho the telephone ran rang Commandants orderly I answered This is wireless Message o from Western Vestern Union I grabbed d n n. pencil and memorandum pa pad 1 and prepared to COl copy It IL Let t. t cr er ergo er ergo go I said This was sas tho astounding asto message se that I received Commanding Command ing Officer Marine Barracks Barrack Mare Maro Island via Ia Commandant Navy Yard l Place Jace Private Prod E. E McDonald 1 under under un un- un- un der Immediate arrest Further Instructions Instructions b by mall malI Signed BLISS Commandant Marino Marine Corps Fred E E. McDonald cDonald That was ts myself myself my my- self D By tho thio time I J had finished writing m my fingers were wre trembling so I could hardly hold the pencil A guilty guilt conscience you OU say sar Not ot as ng guilty aa ns you might think 1 Military law Ian Is a yet very peculiar thing thinE and what would ordinarily he be a mere mero merope pe peccadillo sometimes takes on the light of or ft n grave m Vo offense Such as slightly exaggerating ones one's ago aJO In order to meet tho the requirements requirement of ot enlistment for lor example Though mind you Im I'm not admitting anything lII My first Impulse was to destroy destro the message Then I reflected that would do no good It was simply a CO cony the original telegram would be delivered to the commandant In tho the morning Then it would bo be mo me behind tho bars charged with with what what 1 I remained In the orderly box for about half an hour after receiving tho message Ima Imagining all aU sorts Morts of or things Then m my nerve neno pave gave wa way was Rather than stay tay and amI face fuce tho uncertain uncertain tam tain charge with Its still more uncertain uncertain tam tain attendants of at trial and punishment punishment punish punIsh- ment I would run away Cowardly Well Well Well-I I eU-I I dont don't know Thero There are Gre different kinds of ot cowards Ono kind would Woul have ha stayed in the box and taken chances What with tho the sentries and civilian watchmen and guards it w wasn't going oln to bo be any cas easy time getting oft off the island and that I knew I took off oft my white belt and hung it over the tho fire extinguisher Then I slipped out of at the box antI and started down Davis street toward tho the waterfront I know knew where there was a shore boat lying alongside the seA sen wall at the cud of at the street I would steal that or borrow it rather and get awn away It w wa was a n ml mighty ht dark night I J had that in fn my ray favor avor I got half hnIt way down tho the street without being discovered But Dut Just n ns an I was passing the tho en engineering en- en building someone turned into tho street about fifty feet ahead I 1 stopped and slunk against the side of the tho building but ho had heard me Haiti ho crl cried d. d Vho's there It was a n sentry sentry- Now If It I had an answered nn- nn ho would have havo advanced ad me and asked for the tho countersign When he lie found bLind I didn't have ha It It ho he could have havo called ClUed for the tho corpora corporal of tho the guard suard and I would have havo be been rl up t It for two charges Instead of ot one So instead of or an answering I looked ool ed about for a means of at escape JURt Just above o me was a barred window I took tool hold of or th the ledge c and pulled myself myself my my- self up noiselessly There I clung monkeylike e. e In a rather uncomfortable position m my body in inclining In- In dining clining outward In my hands clutching tho the rall rahIM and antI my feet teet on tho narrow window ledge The rhe sentry challenged three times Then he ho proceeded to Investigate Ho He was certainly conscientious Ho Ito tri tried d every overy door loor ho look looked d In every i box ox and behind every en engine and pile i of machinery in tho th vicinity he peered up ev every ry alley Several times ho pass passed d mo tao so close that I could havo kicked d his hat off oCr But at last lat he gave it up and went his way and antI I went mine gratefully I made It to the sea sen wall Watt without further urther mishap I found tho the shore boat tied tlell where I had expected it cot got cotIn cotIn In and started to cast off oft And then the door of ot a n nearby arb building build build- big ing opened and a night watchman came out Ho He had bad a n. lan lantern tn In Ills his hi hand nd and nod It was tali focused de dead d on me Oh h ye 0 01 Ol havn n yc ye e havo have OI Ol ho he cried and anti made a n. dive for maYou mo ma You have not I said I sprang out of ot the boat an and dodged him ns as he lie came I sprinted up tho the waterfront at nt a ten second gt gait t with him lumbering behind Stop or shoot shoot ho yelled I didn't think ho would and ontI so I le kept kepton pt on running But nut all of oC a sudden ludden from in front atmo of at me mo camo came tho the sharp Halt Halt HaIti Halt of or a sentry entry I know knew that meant business There was only one one thing to do It was a n. long swim across tho the channel an and the undertow was treacherous but butI i I turned an and dove headlong from the tho sea wall Bang Sa Say did you ever make a n. running dive expecting to hit water and In Instead Instead In- In stead land square on a solid oak platform plat plat- form No Well that's what I had done A float for the use uso of ot horo boats had been anchored there I learned more moro astronomy In that Instant than I II ever had at school I The sent sentry and the watchman pulled me ot off the float lout I was pretty well wen lazed dared but got myself together In a moment A hasty Inspection showed m me that beyond a few bruises scattered over various portions of m my anatomy and a n acut acut cut forehead and badly scratched hands I wasn't much hurt Sure an ye yo are arc a n. luck lucky beggar r said the watchman What hat are aro yc ye 0 goin gem to do with him Turn him over to tho the sergeant of or ortho tho the guard I suppose sal said tho ho sentry What were you rou trying to do anyway anyway any any- a 1 way Im restricted I said I r was t trying ln to make a a. liberty I haven't been Deen off ocr the Island since pay lay day Wc Well I dont don't know as I blamo blame you much said sald the sentry who was u a reenlisted reenlisted re- re enlisted man and had probably broken restriction many times himself I But lInt Ill I'll have havo to report this I guess Or Or-I Or I dont don't know v. Sa Say Pat what'll wo do Sure Sur an an Its It's up to Well eU I dont don't think with those marks markson on him hell he'll ho he caring to make any so so- so cia cial calls tonight ht Tim Tho chances arc are hos ho's safe afo enough to go to barracks If It WP w turn turi him loose But If It an any ono one heard about It therod there'd bo be trouble Can you ou keep a secret I Ol oi 01 cnn can An tho the lad IZ anI only 1 to bo be a a. BO 80 Olm for fer lettin him go So thc they turned me loose and I started up Front street t. t pretty badly aged I had Just missed my best Lest ch chalice co for gaining c fr freedom edom And I knew that I must run the thc gauntlet of several more sentries be beCore before before be- be fore Core I reached the tho launch landing tho the next point from which it might be pos pos- sible Albie to get et a boat boat- The Tue rattle of a sword sounded ahead of oC me It was the officer of ot the thc cia day making malting his hll rounds round S So fo ho was to bo ho boWa howay Wa way p post past ct the other sentries And then came camo an nn Inspiration Wh Why not uso use him as aR a means of or gaining g my way WRY past pant ho other sentries I ed behind tho the corner o of a A. build In took toole out my handl handkerchief and toro tore It into three equal parts rhe These o I folded until tho they were about the width of or our whito he belts Its fastened tho the three together r and nd tied the whole around m my waist I would Impersonate a no member of tho the guard I had done watches on that post and thought I remembered all nil tho the orders I would mal make o a n. bluff at nt it anyway I walked boldly out In tho the street and toward the tho approaching footsteps When hen about thirty paces distant I stopped Halt Who's hos there I chal chal- he Officer of ot the tho da lay day Advance officer of or the da day with tho the countersign n. n Ho He advanced Halt Countersign n I J again when ho had arrived within ten paces naces Custer he lie paid laid What hat aro arc your our special orders on this post Ho held me there thre and made me mc give 0 him rn rny my special orders general orders number of the post number of tho the fire firo box method o of turning in alarm for fire and what not while I was trembling for tor fear tear that tho the real sentI sentry would turn up or that the officer r would woul notice tho the a absence senco o of m my revolver re Finally he turned awn away and I saluted and started on taking off oft m my ray Imitation belt soon as us I got ot out of or sight I walked boldly enough noush now I was halted b by several severah sentries but gave them the countersign and was allowed to pas pass But nut I knew that no countersign countersign counter counter- sign would assist mo me when It cameto came camo to shoving off ocr from tho island in a ashore ashore shore Bhore boat However cr while I J was nearing Hearing the launch haunch a n. big bl- white light comIng com corn corning I ing up the stream sud suddenly ent gave sav me mean mean i an inspiration It WItS was the Scheme from San Francisco Fran Fran- Francisco cisco and from tIm the curve sho she was making malt mal malting ing In- she evidently intended running tho the side ld wall In order to land hand a consignment con con- 81 of stores on the Island An Au Idea struck me mc I stole tole across th the street to the tho shed hid In th tho I I n m shadow of or It ft and waited Presently with a n harsh grinding the Scheme Shomo swung up tip a against lh the sea pea wall In another moment sho Rho was tI tied and her crew began to trundle cases of provisions previsions down her gangway to the freight shed Shel The corporal of or tho the guard who hn had come down from the tho guardhouse stood near lantern in hand lined checking off oft the I freight ns as it arrived I watched my opportunity At a l moment moment mo mo- ment o of some Bome little contusion confusion I J slipped from m my hiding place to a 1 point near the cases ses of or goods and then started boldly up tho the gangway hoping to bo be mistaken in tho the darkness for one ono of ot the workmen But Bul m my little plan didn't work Something Something Some Sonic thing or some one attracted the attention atten atten- tion of DC the he corporal o of tho the guard to me mo Ho let Jet a whoop out of him like a a. Comanche Halt Haht Hey there you you ou Stop I was wn alread already half hatt way up the gangway gang sang way I r didn't stO stop How could coull I. I I just JURt couldn't afford to be caught c. now Whatever er had bp been n my orl original status I r had committed enough of offenses of- of since leaving tho or orderly box to hang h me Leaving La m my post host of dut duty without proper authority attempting to lea heave the island hiland without permission attempting to break arrest In lug ing a sentry and thereby deet deceiving the thu officer of ot tho the day daY oh oh m my crimes were wre legion A general was tho the least I could expect I leaped up the gangway 1 Into Info the compartment of or the ship and up another another another an an- other gangway to th tIm tho upper d deck ck The corporal of or tho the guard was right at my heels I rushed to the port rail leaped over It It an and landed again aln on tho the sea wall I with ii a a. crash that well nl nigh h broke m my 10 j Tho 10 corporal of ot the guard followed me as far Car ns as the tho rail but I guess the Jump had him bluffed for he contented contented con con- tented himself with taking a lL couple of pot shots at me a as I scurried off In the darkness meanwhile calling for tor tho guard As I passed In rear o of the guardhouse guard guard- I house I saw lights flash lash In the relief rooms and heard tho the excited hum of at voices as tho guard grabbed their rifles and belts In thirty seconds I would havo have half a n. hundred men hunting me liko hilte a rabbit Thero There was wn 9 only ono one onoway wn way to go up Central street and I went on on a n dead run I heard the patter palter of ot footsteps behind mo me some of the tho guard were cro al alread already al- al read ready on my track Sentries were nil all around me mc ono one o of them theta was sure sum to hear the running and halt me I could see Bee no avenue of oC escape escape es- es cape but still I kept running A light loomed up ahead of ot me It was tho thio light of or m my order orderly box I rushed up to It it Jerked open the thc I door sprang inside grabbed my belt put It ft th the the- blood on wiping from m my face taco with my handkerchief JuSt Juat then tho the telephone rang I tooK toon up the re recci recci re- re vcr ver Hullo orderly This is wireless Where've you ou been Been trying to get you for fifteen minutes All right Take Tako this message It was a as follows Commanding Commanding- Officer Marine Barracks Mare Maro Island via Commandant Navy Yard I Error In preceding message The Private Fred E. E McDonald in lii question now at nt Brooklyn Navy an Yard Disregard he letter tte r. r Signed BLISS Commandant Marino Marine Corps I had Just started to COP copy this message mes me sage In tho the smooth log when the sergeant sergeant ser ser- geant of ot the guard stuck his hea head in fn at nt tho the door Say orderly ho said heard auy one ono pass s hero here have you On tho the run No Nol Funn Funny Ho He must have come this way Where could he have gone About half halt an nn hour afterward m my re ro- ro lief hief carne carno an and my watch mid was over But I had somo some trouble next morning in explaining how ho Id I'd got so badly battered battered bat bat- up over o night |
