Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-30


moment. the next she stepped determinedly
Listen she murmured hurriedly.
Don't touch my hand. I'm going to help
you, but not for your sake-for the same
| reason helped you before, when, in your
1 9rlnklng craze, you shot the cowboy In
| shame of hearing his father was hanged.
want to save him again"
| Little Martin-the baby! Bessie, is he
mere! LetNme see him-Bess"
Never, she cried fiercely. Hes doing
well. he's 8. boy to be proud of. He studies
ana Will pass foc a commission in time.
| never shall. I'd die first. Do you think I'd
see the boy creep about in shame for his
| Iather, a deserter, twice murderer?
Could he hold up his head among his COM
man. as he will be, as he deserves to be?
! See you! Never! You must go away
escape. else there are some here will recog-
nize YOU
She was trembling now, and he gulped
| the steaming coffee sulkily. The men
snored: the corporal nodded over his stove.
what name have you gone by? You
dare not call yourself Revell?
| Hardly" he grinned.
Take this" she said, and gave him the
tool from her dress. Its all could find
a gimiet. You bore hole after hole in the
planking of the floor. until piece Is loose
It's slow and you must be cautious of. the
guard seeing you. Get through by night
| after next If you can, for they are eager 10
send you to prison. There's a foot and a
half between floor and ground. You can
crawl out. 1t was done once by man at
Fort Mckinney. Look out for No. l. He
passes round the guardhouse every quarter
of an hour"
He took the tool eagerly and she turned
away.
"Bassien'
She paused
Il saw in a paper that Pollock was made
q major. He always had luck. You and
remember him as a big buck private when
| the Say, is he-1S
he stuck en- you still? l cut him out for
fair then, didn't 1? 1 half thought you'd
get divorce and marry him"
She looked at him fiercely.
The major good man. not fit for you
to name. Get away from here as quick as
you can, and remember this-there's only
one thing l love in the world. and that is
the boy
She slipped quickly from him and
through the guard room, past the drowsy
corporal. and regained her home before
the sun was yet above the plains far rim.
The young sergeant came to his mothers
little breakfast table in a poor humor.
Mother, can you give me something to
eat?' he cried. They've detailed new
cook, and he can't either bake beans or
make coffee. The mess breakfast was
ruined. This is something like. Nobody,
alive or dead, ever made hash like you.
mother, and this is coffee, not bootleg. Say.
mother, you're pale. What have you been
doing to yourSelf?'
Up she answered, and the soft. sweet
pink spread on her cheek. I'm all right,
Martin. Are YOU off duty today?
He shook his head.
mo such luck. Guard" he answered.
and bent hunGrily over his plate.
Mother Revell paled again and trembled
Guard she said at last Why. Mar
tin, you were on the night before last.
Cant help it. Schiedermann's gone
sick; Foleys acting sergeant major; NC
Mllan's on detached service, mending tele-
graph wires; Fairlegh's provost sergeant
and on. There's only Bob Otis and for
duty-one night n"
Its a shame II she cried, jumping up in
a passion OF fear You can't, you must
Why, MOTHER"
'You-you-I'll go and speak to the
major!"
What on earth! Mother, you know such
things often happen. It's all in the five
years. Don't get excited.
"You-you1l be- ILL.," she began to cry.
It'll tire you out"
Mother" he said stepping to her side
and petting her. you are i'll. Why, you.
of all people, know one night in is no hard
ship. 1t won't last. Look hereI I'm GO
ing to ask the hospital steward to send
you down tonic. and don't you move from
your stove today. I'll run up and see you
at dinner time Now l must hurry and
clean my belts a Bit
He left her shaking silently, but turned
at the open door.
That hangdog road agent is to be sent
| to the railway tomorrow. The sheriff will
| take charge of him there
Mother Revell huddled up in her chair as
| the door closed behind her and became
| nervous bundle of anxious fears
Tonight. she muttered. He must es-
cape tonight, and Martin guard If he
should fall, II the guard shoots him-a son
! shoot his father down. Oh OH And If he
| succeeds, Martin will be tried for allowing
| the escape for neglect of duty and be re-
| duced, 1t will ruin his chance of promo
| ton. Oh, OH"
| She sat stunned until the bugles on the
parade ground announced guard mount
She stole to the window and watched
Crash went the band: all the familiar
! stirring maneuvers were performed in the
| bright winter sun. The band ceased the
adjutant and sergeant-major saluted the
shrill bugles advanced and the new guard
marched off to the guardroom. the tall
and bright-eyed young sergeant in CON-
| mand. She could hear his clear voice even
when he was out of sight at the distant
| guard house-"New guard! Present arms"
Evening stable call and the troopers in
| white stable dress. trotting at double time
| through the frosty air of the failing day
| supper call-retreat and the sunset gun
| Martin ran in to see her and found her so
! white he resolved to bring the post SIR
| eeon in the morning. Darkness but she lit
no lamp. and at last came tattoo and taps
| to usher in a windy night with white
| clouds swiftly crossing the half moon
| Night-the final click of the billiard balls
| in the club. the final song at Captain Vests
| evening party, the first silent round of the
| officer of the day. The sentry at the guard
| house lifted uo his voice: No /, L.
| o'clock and from the corral, from the
| cavalry stables. from the haystacks and
| from the distant saw mill came the swift
replies of lonely sentineIs-"12 O'Clock and
| alps well."'
Mother Revell rose up, unable to wait
| longer to bear suspense. She stole from
! the house. Well she knew the old post ami
! how to hide in the shadows and how to
| avoid the sentries. Unseen. filled with 4
| shuddering disgust at herself at having 20
| to hide, she gained the rear of the guarl
| house. There stood little clump of scrub
| oaks by a spring of clear water and in
| their shadows the little woman crouched
| ana watched.
| Tramp tramp. tramp. to the end Of the
| porch: to the rear, march. and tramp
| tramp. tramp to the other end; shift car
| bine to the other shoulder. and it's time
| to patrol round the guard house. So went
| No. 1 monotonously, distractingly. Once
twice. thrice and four times he passed
| round the building. and it was l O'Clock
| Again he sang. the hour, and again came