The suburban citizen., 1901-03-09
with Funston in the Philip

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THE Kansas man had served
with Funston in the Philip
pines, had returned safely,
had been a town hero for a
month or so, and then went on the
stump in the campaign. Several of
the campaign orators met for a Sun
day in a Western hotel where their
roads crossed in their journeys to as
signments, and were comparing notes.
The man who had served with Funs-
ton gradually assumed command Of
the conversation, and the talk drifted
from a discussion Of the question why
men rushed to serve in the Philippine
campaign to one of the problems why
men, in many cases, Unexpectedly,
show not only rare bravery but down
right recklessness in battle. The Kan
sas man, for whom the name Max
well will do so far as this article is
concerned said:
"As was saying, we found men out
there who had been wild, and whose
parents were glad to see them enter
the army; We found men who had
been crossed in love; we found men
who had been n failure in life, even If
they were mere youths; we found
many daredevils, and, curiously
enough, most of them were cautious
on the firing line; we found some who
had pasts that they wanted forgotten;
we found some under assumed names,
for one reason or another we found
the usual number of bullies, braggarts
and buffers, and being once under
fire was the cure for them. But all
these made up very small number in
comparison with those who had enlist
ed for love of country, with perhaps
a desire for adventure thrown in.
But Of all the curious characters l
came across the strangest was n man
named Bond. He was silent as to his
past; he made few friends there was
a glitter in his eye If we were in dan
ger which was positively magnetic,
and we came gradually to respect his
reserve and to be proud Of him. There
was one man in our company, how
ever whose propensity for nosing into
others affairs was especially marked,
and who, it was plain to be seen, was
offensive to Bond. The name Of Pc
ters will do for this lnquisitive man.
He was a good fellow, and meant moth
ing more than friendly interest when
he was poking around to find out all
about his companions, and we learned
at last to overlook his weakness-all
but Bond. 1t was evident that Bond
was desirOus Of curing Peters or of
Furnishing him for his offensive beha-
vior. Bond gradually became reckless
on the firing line. Any one could see
it was not assumed, but was genuine,
and this conduct deepened the mys-
terry as to his past and made Peters
the more Jealous to find out all about
him.
zone day Bond fell with a wound.
Peters carried him to the rear, cared
for him, stayed By him as long as he
could, did everything that could be
done under the circumstances, like Of
fering to write home, and all that sort
Of thing. He was apparently sizing
mp his chances of living. He was also
thinking whether 1t was worth while
to forgive Peters for the past OF to
give him thrust he would never for
get 1t was about midnight that Pc
ters returned to his place with us, and
the next morning he had a story to
tell to three Of us in whom he con-
hded."
Maxwell paused and, Just as his
hearers were becoming uneasy, he said
this was the story Peters had related:
Boys, we've got a murderer among
US, not only murderer, but the worst
kind Of a one, man who killed his
father, and who, If 1t were proved
against him, would, up to this time,
have pretended that it was an acct
dent He's Bond. 1t explains why he
has bee = so reckless lately; he wanted
to be killed. Matter OF conscience, you
see. He whispered 1t all to me, asked
me to write home, saying that he was
dead and h,.1 passed away forgiving
every one and revealing the secret.
His name isn't Bond, but Pm under
pledge not to tell what 1t is. He asked
me to write without waiting for him
to de actually, and he wanted me to
get him reported dead so that 1t would
be cabled home; said his friends would
recognize him under the assumed
name It's a mighty sad story.
Bond told me that he came from
Ohio. His father was a bank presi-
dent and was found murdered in the
bank vault two years ago. Robbers
mad Killed him and maze their escape.
DE had evidently surprised them.
Young Bond was the real murderer.
He was just under twenty-one. He
had been stealing from his fathers
private j siness for more than a wear
so as to keep on gambling with n fast
set of young fellows whom a sbarner
got together regu 'rly and was plun.
derlng right along. On Bonds TWEEN.