Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-04-30
PRIVATE HOGAN,
COWARD

zee. %
Ii WAS really tie Srrgeant'S fault
from the lrS ming. lie had been sent
out on the mountain road To protect
the citizen lalorcrS who were cutting
telegraph poles, and hc had sat himself
down with his back Ia Il rock and fall
On asleep. There WIS danger from
marauiing Indians. hut h. had posted
no pickcts
Private iicsan WAS new recruit
who had never seen Il hostile warrior
Ia act in ease OF an attack. Two hours
had PASSED quietly away when ten
Sioux warriors Jumped the party.
They attacked suddenly and with
whoopS and wells. and the Sergcants
guard WAS thrown into Il panic and ran
away. All rallied after II short Hight
I'LL but Hogan. lie WAS thoroughly
frightened and continued his Hight for
mile Then his Irish courage return
al and forced his legs tc take his body
back. and he arrived just in time 10
help his comrades out of Il bad fix. \
citizen and Il soldier had been killed
and II second soldier wounded. and
Sergeant Davidson Iuaked as he
thought of the report he must make to
his colonel. There was one way To eX
cuse his carclcSsncsS. and he seized
upon it,
In due course of time Private Hogan
was court martialed for cowar,lice.
He had run away from the enemy and
left his comrades To fight il out. True.
they had run Also headed 10y the ser
geant. and il was also true that Hogan
returned AT n critical stage and fought
we'll but the sergeant piled il ON 10
him at the trial and made out bad
case against him. lie must save his
neck by putting the rope around an
others. AMI the sentence was that Fri
vate Hogan be- dismissed from the
army for cowardce.
Two weeks later lie was escorted TO
the gate of the fort one afternoon and
told To go. AS lie left the gate the dis
graced man turned toward Wolf creek
and walked away without once looking
back. He had made n poor defense,
but lie knew that he was no coward
and that he had been sacrificed TO
save the sergeant. To he thus dismiss
ed from the army meant that he must
get out of the country. AS a branded
coward even the squaws of the half
breeds would he licensed Ia spit upon
him.
There was but one house at the cross
ing of Wolf creek. that of the Widow
Thompson. She had lived there with
her daughter Mary. now Il girl of twen-
~. for three or four years past. fur
nishing meals 10 the transfers and be-
ing the only postmaster for many miles
around. Several soldiers at the fort
were sweet" on Mary. but Sergeant
Dawson was supposed 10 have the call
over all of them. His term of service
would he out in less than year. and
in his own mind he arranged Ia marry
Mary and settle down on the ranch. 1t
had been long since the Sioux raided
up Smoky valley. but there was no
telling when they might come again.
anu
the soldiers for the women To light in
case they needed help night or day.
When Hogan reached the postofiice
he sat down ON the doorstcps and let
his chin fall into his hands and did
some thinking. by and 10y the girl
came ont and found him there She
had heard of his trial and sentence.
and she pitied him.
Il suppose you deSpise me the same
as the restI" he said as he knew of
her presence. but without looking up.
You have been drummed out:" she
queried in turn.
AYE drummed out and disgraced
forever. I'm more of an object of con
tempt than a squaw man. Why don't
you order me 10 20 on
See here. Hogan. I'm sorry for you."
she said as she laid hand on his arm
You might have lost your head for a
time. but that wasn't cUNardice''
Thank you for that, missy" he said
ss he looked up. with tears in his eyes.
You'll have TO 20. but don't he hu-
INFLATED. Some of the men have hint
ed To me that you might nave made II
stronger defense nj the trial.
Yes, could have said more he
unused as he nodded his head. but n
scapegoat was wanted. and I was new
To the company and had no chums.
Miss Mary. I'm mind to- But let
il go. I'm Citizen Hogan the coward
and will bc till I'm 5,D miles away and
among men who'll never hear of this
II they'd only have sent me TO the
guardhousc for six months and given
me another chance
Don't fret over it," soothed the girl
But To call me coward-me. an
Irishman-and TO prove il against me.
! can't abide il. missy. cant do it,
IL only had another show Id make
EN- sing different tune. I'm ,lisarm-
ed and disgraccd and turned out. but
Id go for the Sioux with n club if the
Lord would only send EN- this way"
But that can't happen. and I'm tell
ing you
Che ,vaa ;nfarruptnI l,, chonts ,nI