The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-20
Skates sharpened. Wright's, II N. Ari,
WAS A LOVER FIRST.
Orders of Cupid Superior to His Com
mander


mander.
Edward Hammond has been appoint
ed a passenger brakeman on the Big
Four system. and thereby hangs a tale
Hammond formerly lived in Boston,
and comes of a family that dates back
to Plymouth Rock and all that stands
for the puritanica. pilgrims of that time.
firing of the monotony of Eastern life
he drifted into Muncie, Ind, several
years ago. with plenty of good looks
and business ability that readily Sc
cured him position as bookkeeper with
department store.
OF good address, and with a plentiful
supply of stylish clothes, which he wore
with certain grace that can only be
inherited, he was soon society favor
lite, especially with the ladies, to many of
whom he showed marked attention, The
wandering attentions OF Hammond final
ly became fixed en- Mary Shaw, who
was considered the belle OF the town.
To him in a short time there was no
other girl in the world, but when he
told her SO the capricious beauty who
knew of his attentions to other girls
moving in the same circle as herself,
only laughed at his protestations, and
charged him as flatterer, saying: you
H.
and you must go way back"
Hammond pleaded, but Mary remained
firm in her decision not to accept him
as her affanced husband. This proved
maddening to him, and, after trying for
several months to induce her to change
her mind, he shook the dust of Muncie
from his feet, left the obdurate beauty
in ignorance of his destination, and
hunted up recruiting Office in Chi
cago, meaning to sink her memory in
the routine of army dries.
For a man like you," said the SER
seant, 1.-The army is just the thing: step
in and take the examination. If you
pass you are made man."
Physically perfect and we'll educated,
he had no trouble in meeting Uncle
Sans test, and was assigned to the
Twenty-ninth infantry, stationed at
Fort Sheridan. where his time was fully
occupied with the manual of arms for
several months, until finally the SER
geant removed him from the awkward
squad. and he had more time to himself.
Then he was lonely. and finally sum-
moned up enough courage to write Mary
of his experience. This accounted for
friendly correspondence that finally
terminated in Mary inviting him to at
tend her 10th birthday, that was to be
celebrated on October 26.
leave of absence was requested for
three days, and the captain inquired the
reason.
"Quite impossible to allow our men
time for sweethearts," was the curt
reply.
Boiling with rage. Hammond left the
captains presence, more determined
than ever to be resent at the party.
To go he would have to desert, and
the gravity of such a step he was fully
aware of. Between his duty as a SOL
der and his duty as a lover there never
was any wavering in his mind. That
night at taps Hammond was missed by
his comrades, and shortly after shots
and cries Of "Deserter!" aroused the
camp. He was not captured. and made
his way to Muncie. reaching there two
days later. and he at once wrote the
marshal that q deserter would surren-
der himself at II o'clock that night, 80
the officer could return him to camp
and claim a reward Of $50 and $50 ex-
penses for returning him.
Edward was the life Of the party. but
never once spoke Of his exertions in be-
ing able to keep his appointment. At
10:45 he bid Mary Goodnight" and