El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-27
THE DESERTER.
a Story and Its Sequel All In a
Nutshell

One suitry day two students went 10
the river to battle, selecting secluded
spot where the water was overshadow-
ed with trees which formed the out
skirts Of a wood extending south to-
ward q fine dwelling n mile or more In
the upland. At the foot Of one of these
trees they left their clothes and plung-
ed from the bank into the cool. re-
fresbing stream. The river was deep.
afYouIiHg ample room for swimming
and diving and for the exercise OF all
those aquatic cvolutions In which Wig
orous young men are wont to indulge
Having SWAN some distance against
the stream whose flow was gentle, they
turned to swim back with the dow.
On looking toward the spot where they
had left their clothes they saw n man
hastily disrobing-
Somebody else getting ready for a
SWIM" said one of them.
yes, but IL is deuccd strange he
should select just that spot" the other
remarked
Keeping their eyes on the intruder.
rs they swan with n somewhat quick
er stroke. they beheld him cast down
his last garment and expected to see
prise when, after turning toward them
and evidently fixing his gaze on them.
they saw him coolly begin to invest
himself In their raiment Simultane-
ousiy they raised an outcry and struck
out vigorously in order to Intercept the
depredator before he could escape. The
distance between them and him was.
however, too great, and he was too ex-
hnI
they reached the place he had disap-
peared. and. on landing. they found
that he had appropriated the principal
articles of dress of the larger of them
They looked this way and that but
nothing was TO be seen of the thief
The one whose clothes had evidently
been rejected. because too small. dress
ed himself and fastened back to the
village for an outfit for his friend On
his return the other had somewhat Of
. surprise for him.
Look" said he. pointing to a pile
OF clothes on the ground. IT found
these score of yards back in the
bush"
The clothes were such as are known
an the British army as fatigue dress.
and the exclamation which came from
each of the friends at the same mo-
meut was:
Hes n deserter!'
But that isn't ALL" said the larger
-eu-,' --oo che ground. under tne
clothes, was this pocketbook. and II
contains Is Bank of England to notes
and over pound in change"
Pie pocketbook was not such a one
as we are used to nowadays. 1t was
q inches by 4. of coarse brown leather,
well worn. and tied with string.
Why, the fellow is Il fool TO turn
thief when he had all this money In
his pocket" said one of them
II don't know that" was the reply.
You see. his plan was to keep out of
sight so long as he wore clothes that
would betray him, whereas If he could
ONLY get rid OF them in the way he has
done his chances of escape were far
better, even in stolen garments, than
H he had worn his soldiers dress or
attempted to buy new clothes OF
course there was the risk of being fol-
lowed and caught, but the fellow was
looking for just such 4 chance as we
afforded him. Well, he has got Off
with about 80 shillings in my clothes
and is therefore not without means Of
clearing out
But he certainly never intended to
leave all this money behind himI'
No, of course he didn't, but in the
haste to be off he thought more of
liberty than money and left this be-
hind him
We'll, think you are entitled to
what he has left. and in that case II Is
not 4 bad bargain
I'm a sense you are right 1 am no
doubt entitled to as much of It as will
replace the money and the clothes with
which he has decamped.'
Don't you think we ought to inform
the authorities, so that he may be cap
tured?"
Poor devil, Let him go. He'll have !
u hard time Of it as it is to keep out of |!
the clutches OF the corporars guard. :
who, you may be sure, are after him by
this time. As to the money, I'll take
care of It for him. for who knows that /
may not come across him one of these !
days.
Three days later the young man
whose clothes were appropriated re- /
ceivcd "A letter from the thief, brief and .
to the point. thanking him for the tenn /
porary aid afforded by the use of his
garments aud asking him to accept the
contents OF the pocketbook as only too
smaH an equivalent for the service
rendered.
He's an educated beggar. whoever !
he a. said the recipient of the letter.
But how the deuce did he know |
your address,
HE found one of my letters in the !
clothes
l was well acquainted with both |
these young men and vouch for the !