The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-12-02
! THE GALL OF TIE FLAG.
~ ~ 80 -

SC F it please the court, | shall now
/ read the charges against the &C
cused."
The prisoner, young soldier witt
a haggard face and tired eyes, rose
mechanically, and stood gazing at thu
judgeadyocate, who read in clear
emotionless tones the charges setting
forth that Private John Walters
Company M, til United States In
fantry. had been guilty of conduct
prejudicial to good order and military
discipline, in that he had been drunl
and disorderly in his company quar-
tiers, and had disobeyed a lawful or
der. given him by his superior officer
"YCu have heard the charges and
specifications preferred against you,
continued the officer representing the
government as prosecuting attorney.
Flow Go you plead?"
The prisoner looked helplessly at
his counsel, tall bronzed man in the
uniform of first-lieutenant. who re-
Sponded: Guilty, to the specifications
and TO the charge"
''The prosecution here rests" an
nounced the judge-advocate.
HAS the accused any evidence to
offer in his own behalf?" questioned
the president of the court.
Tho accused had none. His counsel.
in a few words, begged the court to
consider hat the prisoner had been
at the time of his offense, under the
influence Of the poisonous Filipino
biro, which had deprived him of his
responsibility he called attention to
the excellent service the accused had,
at various times, rendered under fire,
as set forth in his record, and request
ed that such clemency as was possible
be shown him.
As Walters, followed by his counsel,
left the room, he let his eyes pass for
the first time over the group OF grave,
khaki-clad officers forming the court
martial.
''Will the lieutenant tell me what he
thinks | will get?'' he asked, when the
door had closed behind them for the
verdict
well, this is your sixth conviction
within the year, Walters; I'm afraid
you can't hope for less than dis
charge ant l. months"
That night as Walters lay on his
hard bunk by the barred window of
the rude stone building used as a
glLard-houSe, he tried to analyze his pc
sition. ''Dishonorable discharge and
II months'-the though; kept ring
ing in his head. A year in Bilibid-
no bino and no fighting. Then he
never wanted to see the States again;
the battle of life there had been toe
strong for him; defeat had seemed
to pursue hin: in every renewed eff
forI, and his repeated failures to con-
uuer his insatiate thirst for liquor had
only brought disgrace upon his family
In his army service his reckless cour-
age under fire mad atoned for much
of his recklessness in drink. Fol-
long, drink and battle had been thu
only sedatives to quiet the fire in hi:
brain; Only when drugged with ont
or wild with the passion of the other
had he been allie tn forget the pang
OF acknowledged failure. But NV
years in the tropics had begun to TAX
away the sting. There was forgetful
ness in this land; il emanated from tn
incident rustling of the palm tree
from the golden, dreamy glow o
the twilights-from the langorou
,,rf,rro of tba V;.po vIapo He wa
slowly and surely imbibing the lotu
flowers potion IF content. The cas-
was dropping its sreD over his sou
and he was grateful for its mercy.
A faint rustling without the win
lew attracted LIS attention; he peere
through The lars, anG saw in tn
din, light forI crouch!ng close
the PRISON wall
isabella he whispered.
A Shall brown hand came throug
the iron uprighis ard pressed his fiji
gers as they rested On the sill.
Sas Filipino girl whom Walters ha
once protected from the insults of
d"..nken h:ut'.. one who had therea
tsr secretly lavished upon this reel
loss gloomy young American all Il
affection, cf which she was capabl
Unconscious OF tile deep feelin,
which animated her, WATERS had n,
been uIsensiblt to tLe unfailing frien
ship she had shown him, and betwee
the tgo sort of Comradeship hi
arisen She came TO him for advi
and syr.parhy in the small affairs
her life. and Wai,ers had found
hospitabIe home an agreeable asylu
when he wanted to escape from t
roashpr companiouship of his assoc
ates. Her appeari Ice below his wi