Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-08-10
is worst in the drip of the floating


spond of dying day. The boom of the
sunset gun from Alcatraz fell sullen-
ly on the ear even as the soft trumpet
of the cavalry, close at hand, began
sounding the retreat" At it's last
prolonged note the sharp crack of an
old three-inch rife echoed the report
from Alcatraz, and from the invisible,
st-shrouded top of the staff the
dripping folds of the storm-fag came
tapping down in view, limp and
bedraggled, and the guard sprang
again to attention as a burly, red
faced, manipulating soldier, with
captains insignia in loop and braid
on the sleeves of his overcoat, broke
way through the group of lockers
on and, barely waiting for the salute
and report of the young lieutenant
commanding, began sharp scrutiny
of the prisoners before him.
Down along the line he went, until
at the fourth man from the left in
the front rank he stopped short. A
bulky, thick-set soldier stood there, a
sullen, semi-defiant look about his
eyes, grim set to the jaws bristling
with week-old beard of dirty black.
Then came the swapping colloquy:
"Your name Murray"
"Thats what they call me-
"What was your name before
that?"
"Jim."
Whereat there was litter in the
ranks of prisoners. Some of the
guard even allowed their mouths to
expand, and the groups of volun-
terrs, ch1ckling in keen enjoyment,
came edging in closer.
instantly the voice of the officer
of the guard was heard ordering 81
lence, and faces Strengthened out in
the twinkling of an eye.
The elder officer, the captain, grew
trifie redder, but he was master of
himself and the situation. 1t is with
schoolboys as with soldiers, their
master is the man whom pranks or
impudence cannot annoy. The Off
Ger of the day let no tone of temper
into his next question. Looking
straight into the shifting eyes, he
waited for perfect silence, and then
spoke:
"Jim what? I wish the name I'M
der which you served in your previous
enlistment"
'Never said I'd served before"
mo. You declared you had not.
But I know better. You're a deserter
from the Seventh cavalry"
The face under the shrouding cam
paign hat went gray white with sud-
den twitch of the muscles, then set
again, rigid and defiant. The eyes
snapped angrily. The answer was
sharp, yet seemed, as soldiers say, to
chang fire" a second.
"Never seen the Seventh cavalry in
my life"
The officer of the day turned and
beckoned to a figure hitherto kept
well in the background, screened by
the groups of surrounding volun-
teers. A man of middle age, smooth
shaver and stout, dressed in business
sack-suit, came sturdily forward and
took position by the captains side.
At sight of the newcomer Murray's
face, that had regained a bit of its
ruddy hue, again turned dirty white,
and the boy lieutenant, eying him
closely, saw the twitch of his thin,
half-hidden lips.
point out your man." said the
captain to the new arrival.
The civilian stepped forward, and
without word twice tapped with his
forefnger the broad breast of Pris-
oner Murray and, never looking at
him, turned again to the officer of
the day.
''What was his name in the Sew
enth?" asked the latter.
"Sackett.''
The captain turned to the officer of
the guard. 'Mr. Ray" said he, 'tsep-
arate Murray from the garrison prfs-
oners and have him put in a cell.
That man must be carefully guarded.
You may dismiss the guard, SIR
And, followed by the stranger,
Capt. Kress was leaving the ground
when Murray seemed to recover him
self, and in loud and defiant voice
gave tongue:
''That mans damned liar, and
this is an outrage"
"Shut up, Murray" shouted the
sergeant on the guard, scandalized at
such violation of military proprieties.
cts gagged you'll be, you dot" he
added between his set teeth, as with
scowling face he bore down on the
equally scowling prisoner. "Come
out of that and step along here ahead
of me. I'll put you where shoutin'
won't help" And slowly, sullenly,
Murray obeyed.
Slowly and in silence the groups of
spectators broke up and sauntered
away as the last of the prisoners
dragged back into the guard-house,
and the guard itself broke ranks and
went within doors, leaving only the
sentry pacing mechanically the mar
row, hardbeaten path, the sergeant,
and, at the turn of the road, the
young lieutenant whom Capt. Kress
had addressed as Mr.. Ray. This Off
GER, having silently received his SUI
perior's orders and seen to it that
Murray was actually behind the
bars" had again come forth into the
gathering twilight, the cleaning of a
cherries day, and having fastened to
the bend, from which point the forms
of the officer of the day and his as
sociate were still family visible,
stood gazing after them, puzzled
look in his brave young face.
Not yet month in possession of
his commission, here was a lad to
whom every iota of the routine of a
70 E.
though ne had drawn the pay for
decade.
ITO Be Continued