Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-07-08
A CLOSE SHAVE FOR THE LIEUTENANT



fail me-" and with that First Lieuten-
ant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh showed
a revolver into Jack Bacon's hand,
bolted through the door out Of the ho-
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 a
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 chair,
his face pale "Norah," he said this
means cOurt-martal and dismissal for
me unless l can catch the fellow. It's
a 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 don't know
what I'll do. l can't even dig a 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.
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Over on Halsted street in a room
above a store a 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 it meant two years. l just cut
away from a 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 togs on"
'Oh, this is awful, Jim," said the
girl, land you'll be a deserter, too"
81 won't get any more for that than
I'll get for the other. 1 don't like the
idea any better than you do. I guess
the officer'll get it harder than l will.
It's neglect of duty with him, and
that'll kick him out of the service. I'm
sorry for him, for he isn't half a bad
sort" Then, suddenly changing the
subject, the soldier asked: 'How's
your mother"
Better, Jim, but she'd have died if
it hadn't been for Miss Norah Des-
mond. She's an angel. had to stop
work to nurse mother and the money
gave out and got sick, and Miss No
rah gave us nurse and doctor, and
did lots else. l think she saved my
life, too"
"Norah Desmond, Polly? That's the
name Of the girl the lieutenant 1 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. "Tm afraid it's all up with me,
Norah," he was saying, "but keep up
good heart"
Just then from behind him came
voice loud and with something Of a
ring Of humor in it. ''Sir, are ali pres
ent and accounted for?" Kavanaugh
turned like a 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 KAY
anaugh, and nothing but army training
kept him from slapping his inferior
on the back. I'll use every official
friend I have to get you out Of your
scrape."
A year later in pleasant quarters at
Fort Grady sat Captain Kavanaugh
and his wife. "Norah," he said, ''Tirst
Sergeant James Spencer has applied
for. furlough to go to Chicago to
get married. Shall 1 approve the ap-
plication?"
Bob, if you don't" said Norah, with
her eyes dancing, ''I'll get a divorce"
Chicago Record Herald.
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