Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-03-02

see service ~ tho front and not return
to ~punishmeot in his regiment never
Dreaming that In quitting . corps
doomed apparently to inaction at home,
and Joining n going straight to the
snemy'soountry, he was committing tho
grave crime Of deserton, "0ov" Prime
hsd spoken to some men in Stewards
regiment and was hidden to come along
and fetch his friend; for they were Just
a. ignorant a. he. Having still consid-
cradle money, "Gov" had bought civil
ian clothes and all the supplies they
needed while about town, and hired q
boat that rowed them, with certain
items contraband of war, to the dark
side Of the transport Al nightfall came;
and they were easily struggled aboard
and into uniform, and then, during the
few days stay at Honolulu, were for
mally enlisted and no embarrassing
questions asked.
And now poor Pat was gone and
Primes father had been cabling for him
to return home; but there was that awk-
ward matter about the desertion. Gen.
Drayton was trying to have it straight
ened out at Washington, for he had
been kindness itself the day Of his visit
to the hospital, where almost his first
act had been to seek out the wounded
young soldier who had been his beloved
nephew's boon companion, and at one
time sole support. The sentry wal re-
neved Of his surveillance, and eorp.
Merton Transferred to Corregidor to re-
c%uperate; and now that both lads were
well on the road to recovery, Drayton
had sent for them. Strictly speaking,
some one should have seen to it that
Corp. Norton, Of the volunteers, was
shifted back to Private Morton, Of the
-teenth, and the chevrons stripped
from his sleeves; but no one had cared
to interfere where the worsted was con-
oerned, especially as the boy had won
such praise for bravery at Concordia
Bridge. So there the chevrons stood
when the two were ushered into the
presence of the gray-haired chief, and
he arose, and, stepping forward, held
out q hand TO each.
II want you, boys" said he, ITO be
ready to take the next transport home.
The doctors say you need a sea voyage,
Gray; 80 there is the order. The doc
tors say your father needs you, Prime;
and the record will be duly Strengthened
out in Washington-the charge Of de-
s~ertion, no doubt, will be removed. It's
. matter of influence. Tonight you
dlne WIN me mere; ana I nave asked
your good friend, Col. Armstrong, to
come"
Again the blood rose guilty to Billy's
cheek. Not yet had he made his peace
with his conscience and that valued
counselor and invaluable friend from
whose good grsces he seemed to have
fallen entirely. Not once had oppor-
tunity been afforded in which to speak
and open his heart to him. AS for writ
ing, that seemed impossible. Billy could
handle almost any implement better
than a pen. But even in the few min
utes left him in which to think he knew
that now at least he must "face the mu-
Sic" like the man his father would
have him be, even though it took more
nerve than did thatperilous dash on the
Tagal works that Sunday morning.
Billy would rather do that twice over
than have to face Armstrong; stern,
searching eyes, and hear again the cold,
almost contemptuous tone in which the
colonel said to him the day the doctor
led his vanquished and %hysterical
charmer from the ROOM: Don't try to
thank, man; try to think what you risk
what you deserve to lose-for putting
yourself in the power Of such a woman"
From that day until this, here on the
banks Of the sw%ift-running Pasig, they
had not met at all; and it seemed to
Gray as though Armstrong had aged q
year. There was q lump In his throat
as he went straight up to the colonel,
his blue eyes never dinching, though
they seemed to fill. and bravely spoke.
"Col. Armstrong, I have an explanation
that I owe to you. Will you give me q
few minutes on the gallery"
Certainly, Gray" was the calm re-
ply; and the youngster led the way.
1t was a broken story. It told of his
desperation and misery through Cam
ker's persecution, of his severe illness,
then of the utter weakness and prostra-
ton; then her coming, and with her
comfort, peace, reinsurance, gradual
return to health, and with that, gradual
surrender to his nurses destinations.
Then her demand upon him, her plea,
her final insistence that he should prove
his gratitude and devotion by getting
for her those dangerous letters, and his
weakness in letting her believe he could
and would do SO. That was the situa-
ton when they went on to Manila; and
Armstrong knew the rest-knew that
but for his timely aid she might have
triunphed over his repentance; but
Armstrong had c.le, had vanquished
her and poor Latrobe's last wishes were
observed. The Hateful packet contain
ing the three letters that were mostim-
portant was placed in his uncle's trem-
bling hand.
! -"But how was it@Hhat va i tbAtle