The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-04-03

lowed the man into the camp. Ihey
nassed between the silent tents, seeing
sentinels standing here and there llNe
statues. At last, near the center OF tne
encampment. they came to a large tens
which showed that a light was burning
within. The Sergeant, or whoever ne
was Jimmy had been too recent re-
cruit to know the distinction OF the
ARMY. raised flap Of the tent and en-
tered. An officer with stern and nag
gard face looked up from rough table
whereop he was writing. The Sergeant
said to him.
Caught asleep at his post. sir
"Ah." said the officer with a deep
frown on his face. and drswing long
breath.
Il took his gun away from him AMI
had to speak twice to him before ne
awoke"
"Ah." repeated the officer; then to
Jimmy: what have you to say. sir!
Il suppose It's true" admitted JIM
my. u did my best to keep awake.
''The usual excuse" replied the OH
Ger. turning to his writing again.
place him under guard till daybreak
Then have out file Of twelve men and
shoot him."
Good Godr' cried Jimmy. you sure
ly don't murder a man who has come TO
fight for you in that off-hand way with
out even hearing what he has to say
for himself"
Il have heard YOU" rejoined the Off
Ger quietly. take him away, Ser
geant."
The Sergeant grasped young Stee-
vens roughly by the arm and led him
out of the tent.
"rhs isn't right, you know" protest
ed Jimmy. Il must be tried by jury
or something"
"Oh. don't trouble about that, sonny"
replied the Sergeant. what the Gen
eral says is usually right; If there is
anything wrong about it there will be
an inquiry later. but that won't help
you much. See, it is beginning to get
light IN the east already"
|
meY" asked Jimmy, in despair.
1--WE found you at four o'clock, when
we came to change guard"
Then Jimmy saw that further protest
was useless. He had slept two hours
and half
"Oh, If ! had only another chance, 80
he groaned. II don't feel much like
sleep now. Don't you think the Gen
eral would give me another chance?"
The Sergeant shook his head unsym-
pathetically
TOO much depends on It," he said.
"rhe General has wanted to make an
example for some time, short and
sharp, and you're the man to furnish
the example"
The Sergeant turned Jimmy over to
two armed men.
Guard this youngster." he said.
Hes to be shot at daybreak, and it's
getting near that time now. I'll 90
and rout out a squad. Don't waste any
time lamenting, youngster" This to
Jimmy: IF you have any prayers,
now your time.
ITS all irregular" cried Jimmy to
the sentries on each side of him. "A
mans life can't be taken away at the
simple word of another man"
But the sentries' business was not to
answer, so they stood, two grim. voice
less automatons, one on either side of
him. All the time there was running
in Jimmy's mind horrible sense Of the
irregularity Of IT all. If the country, II
the newspapers knew of this there
would be a fuss made, but he felt that
when the fuss came it would be toe
late to help him. The steady tramp of
number Of men broke into his reverie.
The gray of the coming day was
spreading over the east
Right about March, said the Ser.
geant. and Jimmy mechanically march
ed as he was told.
They stood him up with his back
against tree. the twelve men drawn
in line before him, and appallingly
near.
Il won't have my eyes bandaged,'
said Jimmy, Il want to see them fire. "
Every WELL" replied the Sergeant
putting the handkerchief in his poke,
nonchalantly, as If 1t were a point moi
worth discussing.
Jimmy felt as II he would choke. Hi.
heart was beating with tremendous "a
pidity, and his breath caae in thick
gasps. There was a short. sharp com
mand from the Sergeantand the lively,
rifles were leveled at his breast. IT.
heard the word Fire" and then tn,
ringing of dozen shots, and 1t struck
him as curious that they did not 20 OF
simultaneously, but with a perceptibi,
interval between, as II some had hest
tated to pull the trigger. Then tn,
amazing fact struck him that all th,
bullets had gone through the palm OF
his hand, which was the more astonish
ing because he had kept his hands be
hind him. He found himself lookin,
curlously at the palm of his hand. an,
feeling the warm blood trickle over II
well, I'll be blessed said Jimmy
this was a dream. too, but what a hor
rlble one. My hand has come down OIL
the bayonet point. after all. wonde
how long I've been asleep this time I
was half past one when last looked
my watch