The times., 1899-05-21

death, in the presence of his regiment, the
following day at noon. The action of the
court-martial had been approved by the
commander, and but a few short hours re-
mained for the condemned man between
this and the other world.
In the old San Juan blockhouse, that
served as prison now lay Private Nor
ton. stretched on the rough floor, and COW
cred with his blanket. There was time
enough 10 sleep here: and that sleep which
seemed so precious but short time ago,
and which would finally cost him his life.
why would it not come to him now and
shut out the awful realities of his posi-
tion? Why could he not stop thinking for
a moment and sleep? Perhaps it would
come if he would only turn on the other
side. No, that foot panied too badly Why
did 1t not pain enough to keep him awake
that dreadful night-when was it. year
ago. or only last night? He could not tell.
for he had lost all sense of time. Was
he going crazy? 1t was not such a dread
full thing to die. He had faced death a
thousand times and was not afraid of that.
During that charge up the hill the lieuten
ant had called TO him, Private Morton. cut
these wires.' He was not afraid then hut
had stepped out OF the brush into that hor
rets' nest of lead, and with his nippers cut
every wire before he left-and not bullet
or ten other men fell dead before they got
through the gap he had made. Perhaps he
bore a charmed life. and they might hot hit
him when they came to kill him next day.
1t was the disgrace of it all. though. In
the presence of his regiment"-tha had
been the sentence, and the disgrace of
standing before his comrades, condemned
for neglect of duty, he. Private Morton,
who had served six years in his regiment.
,.rt Il, an-1y IA l. ho
fore. This was worse than death. II he
could only sleep a little while and forget
that part of it. But that tooth would per-
sist in paining So and one ragged point
kept cutting his tongue and filling his
mouth with blood that almost cholied him
at times. so that no sleep would come.
Outside, the guard was pacing back and
forth, keeping faithful watch over the
wretched prisoner within who turned and
tossed upon the hard floor in vain effort
10 find relief in sleep. He could hear the
sentinel's steady pace. and began to count
the footballs. as a sort of relief FOR his
wakefulness About sixty of them would
make a minute or would 1t take hundred
perhaps not more than thirty. He would
count while, and then try to nix the time.
Perhaps the sentinel would go to sleep.
Possibly he was asleep now, and he might
walk out TO liberty. e If only he were not
so tired he would trylit; but he must sleep.
With such feyerish fancies did the night
pass away, and then the brief forenoon
| seemed all too short. They would come for
him in a few moments and he would
march out and meet his doom before the
whole regiment. WHO would come and who
would be told off for the firing party? He
hoped they would be good shots "Reddy'
James would surely be one; he was always
on every special detail, and that bristling
red mustache would be sure to stand out
sitter than ever today. Mealy Mason
would be another. He was the man the
sergeant always detailed to shoot the sick
| and disabled horses the summer they were
up in the Bad Lands. But before he could
count up any more the lieutenant came to
| inform him that the time was up. and he
| must march TO the place of execution.
II struck him as little peculiar just
| then that no chaplain had been sent TO
| help smooth his pathway to the grave; but
it did not give him much concern. as he
never had much use for a chaplain any
way and all the boys knew it Another
thing seemed queer Had he not seen the
! lieutenant fall there at the barbed-wlre
| fence with bullet through his head? but
| here he was, and did not seem to be any
| the worse for it, only his face was terribly
white and CHASTITY, and great splash OF
blood almost covered his once white gaunt-
| let. Now he came to think of II, 'Mealy
| had fallen at the fence with the whale side
| of his head torn away, so after all he