Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-07-17
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a VI
: A CLOSE SHAVE FOR The LIEUTENANT \,
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hour or two to spare, know you have:
don't say no." and with this the lien.
tenant grabbed his friend by the arm.
mouoned his prisoner to walk ahead.
ana the three went on half trot into
the office of hotel across the street,
kavanaugh threw 81 bill before the
clerk and ordered room. He hurried
the astounded Jack Bacon and the
prisoner into the apartment on the
second floor.
Jack said Kavanaugh, in a low
tone, las you love me, watch this man.
l must see Norah Desmond. She's off
for Florida. Take this gun and don't
fall me-" and with that First Lieuten-
ant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh showed
revolver into Jack Bacon's hand,
bolted through the door out of the no.
tel and on to trolley car. In twenty
minutes he was with Norah Desmond,
who was In the midst Of the last hour
OF preparation for her Florida trip.
In twenty minutes more the door bell
OF the fiat rang violently. The maid
opened it, and in rushed Jack Bacon
flushed and fairly beside himself.
Bob he yelled, your prisoner
skipped. He kicked open a door into
the next room and jumped on to Il
low roof and then into the alley. |
took a pot shot at him, but missed,
and when l got down he was clean
gone'
Bob Kavanaugh sank into a chair
his face pale. "Norah," he said, this
means court-martial and dismissal for
me unless l can catch the fellow. Its
clean case Of neglect of duty, awful
neglect of duty, and Old Mugs doesn't
love me too well, anyway. It's all up
dear, If l don't get him, and If I'm
kicked out of the army l don't know
what I'll do. | can't even dig ditch,
though I'd try willingly enough for
you. But this won't catch him. I'm
off, but I'll be at the train to say good
by and kavanaugh was out of the
door and down the stairs four steps
at time.
Over on Halsted street In room
above store pretty, pale girl sat
talking to a soldier in uniform. Its
all up, Polly" he was saying. II hit
the top sergeant He deserved It, but
was put in arrest and was to be tried,
and 1t meant two years. just cut
away from cit whom the officer
who had me In tow left me in care of.
The officer went to see his girl
guess he's in love, or he wouldn't have
done such fool trick. Well, I'm In
love, too, Polly, dear. but I've got to
get out Of this as soon as l can get
other toys on"
"Oh, this Is awful, JIM" said the
girl, land you'll be deserter, too"
II won't get any more for that than
I'll get for the other. l don't like the
idea any better than you do. l guess
the otficer'll get it harder than l will.
It's neglect of duty with him. and
thatll kick him out of the service. I'm
sorry for him, for he isn't half bad
sort" Then, suddenly changing the
subject, the soldier asked: "How's
your mother"
Better, jim, but she'd have died II
1t hadn't been for Miss Norah Des-
mond. She's an angel. l had to stop
work to nurse mother, and the money
gave out and got sick, and Miss No
rah gave us a nurse and a doctor, and
did lots else. l think she saved my
life. too"
"Norah Desmond, Polly9 That's the
name of the girl the lieutenant l cut
from Is to marry. He'll be disgraced
and the girl will suffer. She saved you
and your mother, did she, Polly? Get
on your things, quick. She leaves for
Florida. know the train. The lieu
tenant'll be there, know that. Hurry,
girl"
Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kava-
naugh was kissing Norah Desmond
good-by. His face was pale and anx-
ious. I'm afraid it's all up with me-
Norah," he was saying, but keep up
n good heart"
Just then from behind him came a
voice loud and with something of a
ring Of humor in 1t. "Sir, are all pres
ent and accounted for?" Kavanaugh
turned like n flash. There stood Pri-
vate Spencer, saluting with his right
hand, while his left was holding that
of very pretty girl.
spencer, you're brick" said Kav-
anaugh. and nothing but army training
kept him from slapping his inferior
on the back. "I'll use every official
friend l have to get you out of your
scrape."
A year later in pleasant quarters at
Fort Grady sat Captain Kavanaugh
and his wife. "Norah," lie said, First