The San Francisco call., 1899-09-24

HAVE been to see the idol of the
7 Fighting First'-Chaplain McKin-
1t is early when l start-so early
i that nothing save stern duty could
have dragged me forth into the chill
dampness of the foggy morning to go
a-tobogganing over the up-hill-and-down-
daley Union-street car track out 10 the
distant Presidio.
l furl my futtering garments about me
as best l can, and opposing myself brave
ly to the onward rush Of the sweeping
wind and the swirl Of drifting sand that
accompanies IL, climb to Adjutant Jossc-
lyn's tent, there to meet disappointment
Figuratively speaking, my bird has Town.
but, the adjutant assures me, his night
cannot possibly be a long one, for 1t is not
his wont to leave camp without reporting
hero. a polite young officer suggests
that the chaplains tent is empty and that
I may there await his arrival.
The chaplain's tent is the last small
one" of the line and staff row. 1t con-
tains nothing but board floor, camp
stove and few small flags. The smiling
Goldior who acts as scout for me-a
chubby boy is he. Just turned IT. he con-
fesses when 1 accuse him of Illegal ado
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS on a foraging eXpedl-
ton, which results in the capture OF q
nail keg reasonably solid as to one END,
but a wild sprangle of disunited slaves as
to the other and upon this seat myself
-girgerly, because of its dust, ana gently
because of its alarming lnstaplilIty'
The dimpled soldier, who, chlld tnouSH y
he is has seen more OF war ana ploou
and hardship than ! can ever know, con-
stitutes himself my personal guarG ana an
sits down, like a masqueradlng Cupld,
upon the rough platform that separates
the tent from the Snnunel $ lrahplns-
way. While l gaze mildly out at him two
women-decent German ewlVes|ap-
prOach him eagerly, and coming close,
regard him, both with disappointment,
and one with tears. -,
You amt Heinrich, after all, says
the least moved one accusingly, as II the
boy were to blame for his own person
ality I'VE thought you was when we
saw you in the parade, and we brought
this Dicture"-ndicating Il soiled photo
graph which the other woman carried as
II 1t were her ore treasure" ana the cap
tain said that it looked enough IKE you 70
be you and so ne sent US over here-nut
you amt Heinrich"
No" walls the other woman, .'he amt
Heinrich. On, what shall I do? What
shall | do? ! thought my boy had come
home at last--he ran away last year
when ] didn't want him to enlist, you
see"-this explanatorily to the mysttfied
Volunteer 1 was sure he would
come back on the Sherman and now he
The boy who has been proof against
Filipino bullets is routed in disorder by
the tears Of grieving mother. lie
grasps eagerly at the first form of con-
ISOLATION that presents itself 10 MS mlnu
and lies frankly and iuently.
You don't need TO worry about that
kid" he declares, handing back the pic
ture at which he has gaZed long enough
to formulate a plan of action. II seen
that feller lots Of times down in the Phil
ippines an he's all right, you bet. He'll
come back on some of these here trans
ports before you know 1t. The last time
/ seen him he had the rosiest kind O
cheeks on him, an hadn't been In the
hospital even once.
The Sobbing woman wipes her eyes and
regards him with watery smile.
'You are sure ii was the same boy?'
she asks, and the youngster meets her
gaze unwaveringly.
Sure" he asSeVerateS cheerfully, and
the comforted haus-frau puts out toll
hardened hand and pats him on the
shoulder
Your mother must have been awful
glad to see YOU" she says earnestly.
The boy turned a hunched shoulder
abruptly upon her.
II amt got none" he says.
A big black shadow comes between me
and the tableau. A long, slender, bronzed
hand lifts up one side of the triangular
doorway and a massive, STOPPING body
forces itself with heaving lurch through
the inconveniently circumscribed aperture
into the inconveniently circumscrtbed in
terror of the tiny tent. While conditions
rob this entrance of something of the i'm
pressive dignity which rightfully belongs