Arizona republican., 1902-06-22
Willie Jones, Trooper

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sSNcSSc'cNcNcctccS:>c< c$c<cNc<:Hcc>cS { thought that he had left him in camp. Blinllie then tCld his story with q touch of humor. but the face of the other clouded as Blinkie related that he had not left the camp with per mission. but had walked outside the lines with the deliberate intention of following Willie. He said that he felt very much injured when he discovered that his friend and bunllie was going to undertake a dangerous mission, and 1 that he was forbidden to accompany him. He explained that when Willie had left him in their tent to get his rations for the trip, he had hastily buckled On his cartridge belt and talk ing his carbine and haversack had started out. He first went to the com pany mess and persuaded the cook to give him some hardtack and a piece of bacon, and had then sneakad through the lines and waited for Will lie to put in an appearance. When l Willie had passed the outpoSts Blnl.ie followed him cautiously some distance i behind. He stated that the night be- fore he had almost stumbled on him as he was sleeping under a tree. and that he had taken his position, a hun LII al Us away nun W 4iilS anu lietti also gone to sleep. He was but short distance behind Willie when the latter had stopped to bathe in the stream. He had noticed him asleep beside the stream, and fearful that Willie would | wake suddenly he had hid in the | bushes till the other should wake. As he was watching he had also fallen to sleep but was aroused by the sound of voices. He peered through the bushes and saw Willie surrounded by a party Of Spaniards. He kept him. self well out of sight until the party started off with their prisoner.
 He followed short distance behind, and at last ne discovered what he thought was a brilliant plan. It was to fire on the Spaniards as rapidly as he could load his magazine, and give them the impression that they were being followed by a party of Ameri- cans. He thought that when he be- gan firing the small party would take the alarm and scatter leaving Willie an opportunity to escape. He did not think they would offer any resistance.
 He fired as fast as he could work the magazine of his carbine, when it be- came disarranged by a shell getting jammed, and while he was busily en- gagged in trying to eject the shell he found himself looking into the muzzles of a half dozen rifles. This was the party that had made a detour and sur rounded him. As they were attempt ing to bind him he had struggled
 which accounted for his torn clothing. and he had managed to get in one good lick on a Don, when he was struck over the head with the butt end of d riff Nnrl1i knocked him senseless.
 This ended his story, but he received little consolation from Willie, who told
 him that he had deserted his com , mand, and was liable to be shot by his own comrades even if he should escape , execution at the hands of the Span iards. He also told him that he was q variety of fools for being so rash as to , fire on the Spaniards, and thus bring , himself into trouble, when he might
 have been the means of saving him CWillie) by following and devising
 some scheme to effect his escape.
 Blinkie's eyes opened when he was , told that he was liable to be shot by , his own comrades for desertion. as
 that phase of the matter had never en- : tered his head. He groaned and
 meekly replied that he would rather be
 killed by the greasers than be executed
 as a desertr.
 Blinkie wasn't the person to worry
 very long over anything and he SCOT
 recovered his wOnted equanimity anC
 began complaining that he was hun. l-gry, not having had the pleasure o
 an introduction to hardtack fol
 some hours. He began kicking agains
 the grating oi the cell door with sucf
 vim that the sentry on post outside
 in the corridor thought they wer,
 making their escape. He ran hastily
 to the grating and gruffiy asked
 Blinkie what he was trying to do
 Blinkie did not understand, of course
 but said that where he came from i
 was not the custom to leave prison
 CTS starve to death. The two jabbereC
 at each other for some moments
 neither understanding the other, unti | Willie, who had been laughing at tn
 ,,olloquy, came to the rescue and pc
 itely told the sentry in Spanish tha ii- they were hungry, and they would con K slider it favor if their wants in tha n matter were attended to. The guar' n laughed boistcrously at the request d lt if he considered il q joke. He replie' .h that the American pigs of sucl :, vauntcd courage should not be trou le bled by such trifie, especially as tn IS prospects were bright that they woul fe be shot in the morning. Willie com De municated to his comrade the resul e ot the conversation, and Blinkie sai ,s to te1! the sreaser that he was no to ready t3 slip eff tho earth until he ha ,s ss been furnished with one 5ood i1ceal ts then, ii necessary, he Was willing t T. die.
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