Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-10-19
THE DESERTER
A Story and It's Sequel All In a
Nutshell.

Ouc buitfy Nug TWO ttuueu4 went 10
the river 10 battle. selecting a secluded
spot where the water was overshadow-
ed With trees which formed the out
skirts OF a wood extending south to-.
ward a Cue dwelling a mile or more In
the upland. At the foot Of one Of these
trees they left their clothes aad pluDg-
ed from the bank Into the cool, re-
freshins stream. The river was deep.
Anording ample room for swimming
and diving aud for the exercise Of all
those aquatic evolutlons 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 Cow.
Oh looking toward the spot where they
had left their clothes they saw a mar
hastily disrobing.
Somebody else getting ready for a
swim" said one of them.
"Yes. but II Is deuced strange he
should select just that spot" the other
remarked.
Keeping their eyes on the Intruder.
a. they swan with a somewhat quick
er stroke. they beheld him cast down
his last garment and expected to see
him take n plunge. Imagine their sur
prise when. after turning toward them
aud evidently fixing his gaze on them.
they saw him coolly begin to Invest
himself In their ralnent. Slmultane-
ously they raised al cutlery aud struck
out vigorously in order to lntercept the
~deprGhator before he could escape. The
distance between them and him was.
however. too great. and he was too ex.
pert on donnlng their attire. Before
they reached the place he had dlsap-
pearpd. and. on landing. they found
that he had appropriated the principal
articles Of 'ress of the larger OF them.
They looked this way and that. but
nothing was to be seen Of the thief.
Tie one whose clothes had evidently
been rejected. because 100 small. dress
ed himself aud hastened back to the
village for an outfit for his friend. On
his return the other had somewhat Of
a surprise for him.
Look" said lie, pointing to a pile
OF clothes on the ground. II found
these a score Of yards hack In the
bush"
Thc clothes were such as are known
IN line British army az fatigue dress,
AMI The exclamation which came from
each VI the friends ut the same mo
meni was:
Hes = dcserterr'
"Iiut that ISN'T ait" said the larger
youth On the ground. under the
clothes. WIS thls pocketbook, and II
contains Is Bank Of England IS notes
and over n pound In change"
rhG p~OckctboOk was not such n one
as we are used to nowadays. It was
o inches by 4. OF coarse brown leather.
well worn. and tied with a string.
why. the fellow Is a fool 10 turn
thief when he had all this money Ia
Lis pocket" said one Of them.
Il doa't know that" was the reply.
you sec. his plan was 10 keep out OF
sight so long as he wore clothes that
would betray him. whereas II 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
II 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
locking for just such a chance as we
afforded him. Well. he has got OF
with about 80 shilllnRs In my clothes
and Is therefore not without means Of
clearing out"
But he certainly never intended to
leave all this money behind hlmT'
mo. OF course he didn't. but In the
haste to be OF he thought more OF
liberty than money and left this be-
hind him"
well. ! think you arc entitled to
whas be has left. and In that case II Is
not a bad bargain"
"In a sense you are right. l am no
doubt entitled to as much of 1t 0s win
replace the money and the clothes with
which he has decamped."
Don't you think we ought to inform
the authorities. 20 that be may be cap
turedf'
"PooF DEVIL Let him go. He'll have
hard time OF II as It Is to keep out Of
the clutches Of the eorporal's guard.
who. you may be sure. are after him by
mis- time. As TO the money, I'll take
care OF II for him. for who knows that
may not como across him n Of these
days7'
Three days later the young man
whose clothes were appropriated re-
ceived a letter from the thief. brief and
70 the point. thanking him for the tenn
DOrary aid Afforded by the use Of his
garments and asking him TO accept the
contents OF the pocketbOOk as only too
sman an equivalent for the service
rendered.
He's an educated beggar. whoever
he IT," said the recipient OF the hitter.
"But how the deuce did he know
Jour addreasT'
"Hs found one Of my letters In the
eBothes."
wal well acquainted With both
these young men and Voueh for the
facts ~ narrated. Furthermore. can
relate the sequel.
A few years after the occurrences
herein narrated I met At q hotel IN Biz
mingham . very sOclable an~6asgeeab5e
gentleman about even ~ eight years
my senior. He seemed 10 take q lik-
ing to me and. AFTER attending TO bis
business during tbe earlier part OF the
- 0wrfaaA 49, D. Arfva rue 18th him