OCR Text |
Show ZmAKD D. Clark T army headquarters In the tapital it li always possible to pick up stories of the serv-loand let It be said that they are not always stories of "war. Cupid was armed, even though his weapon was only a bow, and Mars takes kindly to Cupid. Two of these army-tal- es made a listener take the liberty of asking the right to reproduce, and so here the; are given with some slight chansre of namerbut with no e, - - -- change of circumstances. First Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh was pacing up and down his narrow "quarters !n Fort Grady, Michigan, holding a telegram Efuh4Tad- - It JL!8--MB.- 1ut -t- wenty-tlmetr every second turn in his nervous walk he read it again. The telegram was dated Chicago, and this is what it said: "Leave Thursday for Florida. Uncle Frank 111. Stay Indefinite. fjl Norah Desmond." Lieutenant Bob Kavanaugh and Norah Desmond were engaged. They were to be mar rled as soon as a few accommodating superior officers would consent to be killed off or die in their beds and thereby .give Bob a chance to write captain Ins nis name on official papers." ThcTcOTIg officer" had fixed the limit of his waiting at about a year. "Koran's going to Florida," he muttered to himself. "I haven't seen her for three weeks and, won't see her for six months to some. Uncle Frank is one of the kind who never dies and never gets well, and Norab'U stay down there until the old man Is willing to let her go. She's more of a stickler fo duty, than Old Muggs, the commanding office! , and that's saying a lot He won't give me a leave. I've had too many.. Great Wlnneid Scott, but I would like to see Norah. before she goes." And Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh Ighed. Kavanaugh couldn't keep anything to himself, and In five minutes he was telling his woes to Captain Fercy Lanyard of the artil lery corps. "Drtce up, Kavanautrh." said lan yard; "Mugga ffl going to send a general prisoner throogh Chicago to Fort Sherman to stand trfal. He was going to send a sergeant hi cllirge. It isn't a very pleasant duty, but you'll volunteer, I think Muggs will send fou, and you can stop off on your way back from Sherman it Is only a few miles from Chicago and see your blue-eye- d Norah before she gets on the Florida 'limited.' " Twelve hours from that time Bob Kavanaugh was sitting in the smoking car of a Chicago bound train, with abigvColt- - revolver "l I John-To- weed; He'd finished with aJJL of that habit. Indeed! K week sauntered by, and ho wanted a ""'wnoke; He haiikert'dXa It till he thought he would Wnk: But Jie. took a cigar and he said with hie nilRht: "I'll show you and your end I'll not light!" '(Hut ho did.) ng, ' James Green,- - and his wife had a little "dispute That 1 Mrs. Gnjen talked whlla her husluind was mute. Bhe wanted a rug that he thought cost me. good of 1 - ' 1' half-curiou- s ; A year later in -- 1 tion?" "Bob. if you don't," said Norah, eyes dancing. "111 get a. divorce." with her The story of Robert Emmett Kavanaugh and Norah Desmond was told by an "ancient" Just about, ready to takejil place On the retired list The second, stbry of West Point life came from; the Hps of ai etriptngrso!d1er who perhaps'had recent and keen memories of ' the matter In hand. - J good-by,- ; . pleasant quarters at Fort Grady sat Captain Kavanaugh and his wife. "Norah." he sald."First Sergeant James Spencer has applied for a furlough to. go to Chicago to get married Shall J approve the applica- -- for-y- ... .. .' :'. '..: ','"' , "I think you are right. Mr. Lang There's a certain nobility about It that eppeals to one " Billy Iing was bwgely pleased 1o find that on the subject of duty Frances Curtis jdeas coincided with his own. , He changed-thsubject, however, abruptly "I see that Mr. Jackson Is here." he said. looking at Frances In a " way answered, the girl, a touch of color coming into her cheeks, "he came up bn the Powell - yesterday- - and is to stay here until tomorrow Frederick. Jackson was a .civtlian admirer e "Spencer, you're a brick." said Kavanaugh, and nothing bgt army training kept him from slapptng his Inferloron the back. "I'li use 1 have to very official friend get you out of ' " your scrape." HI face Kavanaugh sank Into a chair.. this means I can and dismissal for me unless of catch the fellow. It's a dean case old neglect Muggs of duty, awful neglect of duty, and Its anyway. too well, me any love foesnt I am and .If him. 1 don't get all up. dear, If kicked out of. th army--t 1 don't know what III ditch, thoogh I'd try: rdtg-fdoTr can't But this wont ou. willingly enough at the tra)n 1 be ru but catch him. I'm, out of the was and Kavanaugh say - should always do his duty up to the handle. no matter what direction It takes dor whom heart." tj girl ; but court-martial- .1- - 'It.must be hard work, this walking up and down all r'ght Jong, Mr. Lang,", said Frances, "but. then it's duty and I always did admire a soldier's devotion to h's duty." "Yes, du'y Is everythin- g- 1 was always a "One great stickier for it," answered Billy JuBt then. from behind him came a voice loud and .with something ofarlng of humor In It "Sir, alt are present and accounted for " Kavanaugh turned like a flash. There stood Private Spencer saluting with his right hand, while his left was holding that of a very pret- - Curtis. , "I'm' sorry I'm on guard today. Miss Curtis." said Billy, "for there Is a hop tonight In the mess ball, and I can't be there. I shall think of you walttlng while I am walking my dreary . . post" "What number are you, Mr. Lang f!-"Number four," answered Billy. "It's Just back of the commandant's tent and runs parallel to this road leading along the bluff Ae-4hotel. I go on poet at- - taps ( and walk until midnight I'll be there JuBtat the time the' ... fe horr-l- ' .Hurry l -- : ten-.-- -' Norah.9a3.jayJnhuJteep-up-- a . t. ". - - . hoved a revolver Into Jack the hotel and tlted"tb.rough the door, out ofminutes he was In car. twenty on to a trolley who was In the midst Desmond, Norah vlth the last nours of preparation for her Flor pale' ""Norah," he said. U&V) rf ; I 'Bob j3P wsm 'ISi. 1 . -- ; apartment.on.the second floor. "Jack.Liald Kavanaugh, In a' low tone, as this man..' I' must 'see inve me- - watch . J. Take nonua. ne s on 10- IM vnmh Desmond. 3on1talFme7ndwTlFfhat hi. run and Kavanaugh First Lieutenant Robert Emmett Bacon's hand. 'In li "Do your duty though the heavens fall." said the commandant of cadets to the battalion of stripling soldiers. The commandant had a curious way of mixing his aphorisms, but be meant well- Obedience and devotion to duty are the key-notes of the BCale of life's harmony at West Point. Hilly Lang was a first classman' Billy was a private. He probably would have been a cadet officer If he hadn't been caught the previous winter taking a trip to .Cold Spring .over the .frozen-surfac- e the Hudson. It was In Billy's "ygaTiing eamp" that tie met Frances Curtis. Hilly. Lang was the oldest nian- In bis class and consequently was called "dad." He was Just under the age limit when be entered and would be within a month of 26 when he graduated. Now Billy was in love with Frances ' Curtis. , He was with now her undeMhe trees sitting ( near the camp "guard tents Billy was on guard, though off post for the time being. "You. see. Miss CurtlB," he said, "the second class being on furlough and the 'plebes' not being military enough yet to do duty,, we first classmen' have to walk post to help the 'yearlings'- out. When the plebes are turned In to tfcj battalion we will do guard duty only as door and down the stairs four steps at a time. Over on Halsted street In a room above a store a pretty, pale girl sat talking to a soldier In uniform. "It's all up, Polly," he was saying, "I hit the 'top' sergeant He deserved it, but I was put In arrest and was to be tried, and It meant two years. I Just cut away from a 'clt' whom the officer who had me In tow left me In care of. The officer went to Bee his girl. I guess he's in love or he wouldn't have done such a fool tricky Well, I'm In love, too, Polly dear, but I've got to get out of this as soon as I can get other togs on." "Oh this awful, .Tim " Bald tlm .girl, "and- you'll be a deserter, too." 'I .won't get any more for that than I'd get. for the other. I don't like the idea any better than you do. I guess the officer will get it harder than I will. It's neglect of duty with him and, that'll kick him out of th'e service. I'm sorry Jor him, for he isn't "half a bad sort." Then suddenly changing the subject the boI-dl..' said, "How's your mother?" "Better, Jim.'but she'd have died If It hadn't been for Miss Norah Desmond. She's an angel. I had to stop work to nurse mother, and the money gave out and I got' sick, and Miss Norah gave us a' nurse and a doctor and did lots else. I think she saved my life too. "Norah Desmond. Poljy? fbatrs the name of the gM the lieutenant I cut from to maf; ry. HeTl be disgraced and tW girl wilt suffer. She saved you and your mother, did she, Polly? Get on jourthlngs. quick, She for" Florida, I know' the train. The lieutenant '11 be there, I know that Hurry, girl." Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh was His face was kissing Norah Desmond good-by- . pale and anxious. "I'm afraid It's all up with o of the twenty minutes more the doorbell maid opened it and The violently. flat rang beIn rushed Jack Bacon, tlushed and fairly he prisoner "your yelled, "Bob.", himself. side He kicked open a door Into the kipped a" roof and next room and Jumped onto a low shot at him. I took alley. the Into tten when I got down he was clean missed.-an- MWM, ? - "Now, I simply won't stand for tho touch." he flew Into Every time she broached rage and dug' out at double time And said things that we never could print a'. hasty gooi-bon this page for the gun rack outside the first guard tent And wHJ do ffatt, friends " a ootth a- ' And lie said: Vj Curtis o mm too much, S'Jrvi ft ,MffitaV4H1tiXXfc.6 y .n stated tlrmly he'd sworn oft the moon and one-ha- lf of the stars Thnt never again should he puff at the with a downcast look, sitting alongside of him. Bob Kavanaugh had a soft neart The soldier at his side had seen eight years of service and had never been In trouble before. He had assaulted the "top" sergeant, a serious offense In the army, as may go without saying. "Cheer up Spencer," said the lieutenant; "you've been a good soldier, as I know, and I don't think it will go very hard with you six months at the most and then you'll be restored to duty." "I hit him, all right,, lieutenant," answered Private James Spencer, "and he deserved It If ever a man did, but you can't do such things In the army, no matter what the "top' says to you, and so I am good for two years and a 'bobtail' discharge. It's tough. I never saw the Inside of the 'mill' before In my eight years' service, except when I was on guard." Part of a freight train went into a ditch ahead of the Fort Grady passenger train. Kavanaugh and his prisoner were delayed five hours. The lieutenant fumed and said things under his breath. Finally the way was cleared and the train ran on to Chicago-- It as Thnrs- train would day and in four Hours Norab leave for Florida. It was utterly impossible for tte officer to get his prisoner to Fort Sherman and to return In time to say good-bto his fiancee. Kavanaugh and his charged stepped from the train into the Chicago depot Bob's heart was sore. "I must see her' he said to him self. 'Tcairt stand it for six months." At that'lnstant he saw at the depot cigar stand, making a purchase, Jack Bacon, a Chicago club map and an Intimate friend. Kavanaugh hurried his charge over toward the young fellow. "Jack, old man. glad' to see yotl You have an spare, I know you have. Don't hour or twp-4thai the jleutenant. grabbed say .ho,"-his friend' tijMthe arm, motioned his prisoner twant ahedand the. thre went 03 a haJJ the office, of a hotel across the streets kaVaoaugh threw a $2 .bill before the "clerk and" ordered aroomr He hurried the astounded Bacon and he prisoner Into the !ro-Tnt- nes el pars; Ho Hwure by -- ) V" up and turn put, first relief,"; yelled the corporal of guard, and Bljly Lang said - . ..';. ?. hard ou It was eleven o'clock at night. Taps had sounded an hour earlier. Billy Lang was pacing up and down number four between1 the trunks of the groat elmshjch with the sentinels, guarded the ramp. It was Jhe blackest klind of a night Up on Crow's Nest mountain and to the northward toward the Catsklls Hudson's crew was playinc tenpins It Is a long bowling alley which Old Rip's friends use The when they begin their favorite game thunder came nearer and the lightning played Overhead. This Is a time when the sentinel, with his steel bayonet pointing skyward, feels more nervously apprehensive than when In the face of a human enemy. Patter, patter, patter, the rain began to fall on the leaves of the elms. The sentinels' on number four knew that In a minute the gates would he onen and then deluge The flickering oil lnmp at the south end of the post sent a' feeble gleam out Into the darkness. Forty yards down the roadway "Who Billy Lang saw.someone approaching. ecmns there?" rang out the challenge. - "Friends," came the answer in a man's voice. "'; A flaph of lightning lit up the roadway and BUly Lang saw Frederick Jackson and Frances Curtis held motionless by. his challenge At Uriibrellaiess that instant came (he deluge the yonns .and unprotected In where they knew was a young fellow with a . bayonet tipped rifle. Hilly Lang knew that he could strain a point and let the two pass. Any cadet in Ue corps wouldliave dofre it on recognition as certain as his Rut Hilly was a stickler for He knew his orders "Halt, friends.'' duty he said, and then raising his voice, he yelled,' ; "Corpora! of the guard No. " How the rain did come down. Frances Cur tls' Heht bail dress was n rng: She was ehlll ed through and she'P'bod holding the"arni .of her escort and shivering from her light slippers to the bedrapsled rose thtat crowned her hair Frederick Jackson .was In as bad a plight, though he didn't allow himself to shiver. . It's my duty."-saiHilly Lang to himself "and Frances Is a stickler for duty; she'll ' better for It." like me ' The corporal came at last. He allowed the shivering couple to pass on to the hotel He Raw the plight they were In. and If he hadn't been a 'yearling' corroral and Hilly Lang a first classman he would have told No 4 that " a llYC!e"com mor sene and allowing the pair to. .. all-th- (To himself, you see?) gleaming eye "For t he last, time, nowt that rug I'll not buy!" Htern, He Hald: (13ut he did.) And a beautiful damsel once hung her fair head At ;the amorous words Xhat- - a . young fellow said. And she blushed in dismay when he asked for a kins, Which he vowed would lift him to the uttermost bliss. Then she earnestly said that she never could, no! And she hoped he would kindly say goodbye and go, For, she stoutly declare: "Ah, I Just never can Even think that I could give a kiss to a man." (But she did.) They are T. U. starting a boom for the valiant , And the henchman are whooping near and far. It up But bold Teddy declared In some talk terse and straight When Hie matter came up: "I am n candidate." In editing now and Is having much fun, So he says that next year he can really not run. Now,wcan any one name by some magla ' divine The three words that should come In the very next line? He Ill "I understand that Lizzie Home-leig-h has taken . up this;, new. fad of thinking in curves to make herself beautiful," Bays Gladys Montmorency. "Yes," replied Elise Hollalowder, but the spiteful thing is so much oo cupled with thinking that nobody else is good looking that her brain oever gets a chance to thinly about her." 1 -- True 5et to-H- er ' Crow was imnontunlng: l Fair Young Female Crow to 9 hla Mate. But she would not answer "Yies" to hla entreaties. . ' When he Begged her to tell hlra Why she Objected to him she giggled ' A Love-sic- k sut: "Oh, 'Caws!"- - A Female Sherlock Holmes. Rev. Saintly (to wife, as cgrega- Mrs. asaemhTes WEere Ta tfon Fashuns this morning? She Is usually among the early comers. . pats Mrs. Saintly She will ""be late toFrederick Jackson left for New York; the saw I her next morning When he was relieved from day. buying a new hat last guard Hilly Lang catVd at the hotel. Miss week. Curtis could not be sen that day She was The text afternoon Billy slightly Indisposed . r Artificial Courage. was in Frances Cur Lang received a note. Miss Sourface I'm sure Mr. Dasht tie' handwriting. It read like this: "A tele was intoxicated when he called last gram from New York trt's mother that Mr. He actually tried to kls evening. JacksOn Is dangerously ill with pneumonia as me. a result of exposure In the storm. He has no Miss GabbyYes, they say drink; relatives nearer than England. I am a great men to desperate deeds, norvea stickler for duty apd so mother and I ere I " Just leaving for New York to nurse Mr..Jackfc ." ' son. You will doubtless applaud my course, Force of Habit. for you are one of duty's own disciples." The angel paused 4ust after she Frances Curtis did npt jeturn to West Point Had entered at the pearly gate. that 'summer. It was late In the fall when And asked with earthly earnestness: the postman one day handed Billy Lang an en"Please tell me,, is my halo velope postmarked New York. It contained . ' straight??" : weddlnr cards in which the names pf Curtis and Jackson were prominent Lesson.' An Every-Dacorporal stuck his head in the door. "Tomorrow, Lang - be said, "you are on Wills of rich men oft remind us ' We- can make our own some daym .. ,., special duty."' ' ' ' said Blllv.' And the lawyers will most likely . "Dn doty." An-th"who was officer of tt in the same old way. the Break day y passing "skinned" him for profanity. storm-stricke- '-- It ; - y - , e . |