The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-12
THE DESERTER.

When Captain Peyton scrambled up | the hill of San Juan at the head of what was left of Company B of the Sixth Infantry, he found in the trenches from which the Spaniards had fled an abject | figure in a. soiled blue uniform. Take him alive!" shouted the cap l tain. It's deserter." The men closed in on the unresisting | figure and in the excitement of the butt of his rifle.
 He's a mere kid, sir" said a ser geant; "he can't be more than IS" Hes old enough to know better" said the captain fiercely. Here, one of you fellows, pour some water on his face. We'll hear what he has to say for himself" A soldier tilted his canteen with re- luctance, for water was precious, and drenched the face of the deserter, whose eyes slowly opened.
 Why don't you kill me while you're about it?" he moaned.
 "Nobody's going to kill you" said the captain, and he added in his beard: At least not now Come, men, get him to his feet" The youth was dragged up, and, half supported by the men, he looked the captain in the eye for a moment.
 What regiment do you belong to, sir?" said Peyton sternly.
 The Ninth answered the boy in a voice scarcely audible.
 Come, speak, up! What were you doing In this trench?"
 "I refuse to answer; you wouldn't be- lieve me"
 Let me be the judge of that" said the captain. "Why did you desert?'
 q didn't desert" The reply came in dignantly.
 What, in Gods name were you do- ing, then in the enemy's lines?"
 q can't tell you. You wouldn't be- lieve me if I did. Nobody would be- lieve me" And the boy broke down, and wept with girl-like hysteria.
 Barnes, take three men, and march the fellow down to headquarters" said Peyton indicating the trail.
 All the way down they cursed the deserter. As they waded the Aeua- dores, the bark, short and sharp, of a sharpshooters rifle rang out from mass of foliage, great mango tree, on the right. The deserter spoke up for the first time a cold smile on his lips: "Oh, wouldn't duck if were you; it isn't like soldier" The men turned on him with frightful impreca- tions, and one of them seized him sav- agely by the throat. Barnes tore them apart, for the boy showed fight, like an animal at bay
 What's this, Wiley?" said the gen. eral, when the little squad was brought up to the headquarters tent half an hour later. The great man, and with his coarse fan i nel shirt open at the neck, was sprawling on a camp stool.
 "A deserter, General" said the tall officer gravely. Captain Peyton of the Sixth found him in the enemy's trenches on the hill.
 The general scowled at the boy.
 "Confound it,' he said "this is too | much. Haven't I got enough to do examining deserters?" And. { running his fingers through his touzled hair. he roared at the youth:
 What made you desert?"
 q didn't desert. so help me God!" said the boy, strengthening up ...
 But you were found in the enemy's lines. What have you got to say for yourself?"
 Nothing" despairingly.
 What is your name?" put in Lieu ter ant Wiley mildly.
 "George Gardner"
 And your regiment?"
 Ninth Infantry Company D.
 How did you get into the enemy's ines? Were you there of your own iccord?'
 No. I wasn't"
 But you couldn't have been taken prisoner, There has been no out ,ost fighting"
 The deserter looked nonplussed at