The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-09-24

Here, surely, was q difficult situa-
ton. The sergeant hostile. the captain
viIdictive. What hope CLEANED for
Mary's soldier? Yet l followed the in
SEPARATION. The proof-if l only could
get the proof! 1t existed, unless cun.
ming had destroyed It Again 1 ar
rayed myself in full hg. Again I
fastened ~ the ferry to the camp. I
sought the sergeant's tent and I found
him within and alone. Too stupid to
be provident,' was my mental glance.
Sergeant, your detail book. at once!'
/ commanded. The man stared and
gaped and then handed it to me with
out a word.
II went to a retired spot turned
the pages with trembling fingers. All!
fate had favored me. There was the
record for the night in question, and
among the reliefs I didn't find the name
Of Thomas Browne, but l did find that
Of Joseph Brant.
Then I visited the Judge advocate,
a friend of mine, n fine fellow. now a
supreme court judge of this state.
Put that in your civil pipe and smoke
it.
What sort of a man is Capt. John
SOM / asked.
"My friend shrugged his broad Shout
ders.
HUM he replied With all there
is back of him he ought to get the sim
gle star in six months
"''Fluence. hey?
"'Grcat. But, man to man. now, why
do you ask?'
lyon needn't go any further, old
fellow, your scruples reveal more than
they conceal. But to change the sub
ject- l am going to put a hypothetical
case to you, and ! want you to tell
me Just how YOU would act regarding
it And / detailed the facts of Mary's
soldiers troubles, using, of course, as
sumed names
The judge advocate deliberated. "A
difficult and delicate matter he said.
The man is innocent, but he would be
condemned The sentence would be
committed on review; still his career
would he ruined. think 1 should do
this: l should lay these inside facts con-
fidcntially before the president of the
court. Then, if he approved, at the
next session / should that
the main witness, the officer of the
day. was absent-and he would be, too.
And in view of the stress of other bust
ness, and of grave doubts as to tine de-
PENDANTS cu~lpability, ! should ask that
the case be dismissed
".You would surely do this?'
Certainly. 1t would be the quick
est and most prudent way out of a
nasty rush.
Then listen, old fellow And !
explained my parable to him. And
here's the proof | said, in conclusion,
and / showed him the ~scrgeant's detail
book.
The villains,' he exclaimed. I'll
stick to my word. lever fear. It's the
wisest course, too At this present
crisis the friends of that captain must
not be offended. His time may come.
But that sergeant should be punished
in some way
leave that to me. He shall lose
his c%hevrons, l promise you
Very well. I'm off to see the pres
ident.'
The next morning came, the court
Mary was present, anxious
yet hopeful, with her gaze fixed on the
erect, manly form of her soldier. So,
too, We're the captain and the sergeant
in attendance, the former cxultant, the
secretly worried. But | looked
in vain for the officer Of the dav.
The Judge advocate was faithful to
his rehearsal and lettcr-pcrfcct in his
part.
~ do, therefore. suggest" he said, |
conclusion, that this charge against
Thomas Browne be dismissed
This seems a proper disposition
,aiG the president. i think so, said
Zach officer, from the junior to the
senior, and Thomas Browne left the
i free man, with the devoted
Mary clinging to his arm
Il caught Capt. johnson as he was
,ncaking " with n white, scared
face. Captain ] said. 4 learned the
OF this matter, and | am RESPONSE
Dle lor tnl> eIIuilP- lou Z hiu Il luchE
Now, mark my words. You
will reduce hat orderly sergeant to the
forthwith. He won't appeal to
colonel, nor will the colonel qucs-
ion the act
81 will do SD. SIR he murmurcd, as
le hung his head and vent TO his quar-
.crs. never saw him again. but after
he war. at Washington. l me Mary, Il
Happy bride. with her soldier, and on
lis broad shoulders shone the insignia
IL n mninr " u Times