Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-05-28

the 0atn!
Again the left nand was raised, and the
Judge, turning to a deputy, shouted:
"Arrest that man for contempt of court.
He refuses to hold up his right hand.
Judge" said the man, dilapidated
specimen Of humanity, Il can't hold up
my right hand-l left it at Gettysburg
good many years ago. But can swear all
right with my left hand"
There was a sensation in court No
one had noticed that the artifcially stuff
ed sleeve was tucked into the coat pocket
at the wrist, giving the figure that defiant
air that hao aroused the anger Of the pre-
siding officer. Now when they knew that
NO hand, was there, a thrill Of sympathy
ran through the crowd, and the judge was
visibly agitated and even apologized.
81 did not know that you had been a
soldier" he said gently, as If that fact
were excuse enough for any lapse OF duty
On the present occasion.
81 am soldier yet" said the man in
the witness box; "once soldier always
q soldier, is my creed. I'm under march
Ing orders and likely to join my regiment
any time. It's many years since l first
went soldering. 1 was likely chap
then, Judge"
(, ayes, yes," said the judge, who had
been staring fxedly at the man while his
face. flushed and paled with some secret
emotion, but this is hardly the time or
place for "reminiscences. Your testimony
In the case on hand is all that is required
now. Counsel for the defense will exam
Inc this Witness" and the judge turned
to other business as If the subject no
longer interested him.
But he had not done with it. When he
went out of the court house on his way
home, the one-arme1 soldier was waiting
for him, and he stopped with an impatient
air to hear what he had to say. 1t was
evident that the man had been drinking,
and his general appearance was more
down at the heels than before.
"Judge," he asked, with tipsy gravity,
~might your name be ShieldsY"
Eyes, my name is Shields. Have you
any further business with me? 1 am in
something Of a hurry"
''So'm l, Judge Shields. I've been wait
ing over thirty years to ask you a ques-
tion and get an answer. You don't hap
pen to know me, judge"
"No," came the low answer as the judge
booked into the face of the soldier with a
shifting earnestness, taking in the whole
hSure III tndt uncertain way, uOu
think ever saw you before"
'Think again, my friend-you are my
friend, amt you-did you ever know a
young mana robust, strapping fellow
named Leonard HurstT
my God, Aan, Leonard Hurst died
during the war-he was killed in the bat
tie of Gettysburg, and is buried up in yon-
der cemetery" sg
us he? That's news to me, Hiram
Shields, and it's lie. He had friend
. young man like himself-no, not like
him, for Leonard Hurst would have given
his life for that friend, and thought it no
sacrifce-but the friend didn't enlist. He
staid at nome, and while Hurst was fight.
ing the enemy at the front, Shields, his
friend, won his promised wife away from
aim, married the girl Leonard Hurst had
loved all his life"
"Tn hear the story at another time,
said Shields, who was in a panic of nerv
BUSINESS over this strange recital.
"You'll hear it now" retorted the other
man, swaying back and forth, yet speak