The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-03-31
PRIVATE HOGAN,
COWARD
. y C. B. L e tOf4
Copyright, 1903, by T. c. Mcclure. f..

the citizen laborers who were cutting
telegraph poles, and he had sat himself
down with his back to a rock and full
en- asleep. There was danger from
marauding Indians, but he had posted
no pickets.
Private Hogan was new recruit
who had never seen hostile warrior,
and he should have been warned how
to act in case of an attack. Two hours
had passed quietly away when ten
Sioux warriors Jumped" the party.
They attacked suddenly and with
whoops and yells, and the sergeant's
guard was thrown into panic and ran
away All rallied after short flight
all but Hogan. He was thoroughly
frightened and continued his flight for
mile Then his Irish courage return
ed aud forced his legs to take his body
back. and he arrived just In time to
help his comrades out of bad fix. A
citizen and a soldier had been killed
and second soldier wounded, and
Sergeant Davidson quaked as he
thought OF the report he must make to
his colonel. There was one way TO ex
cuse his carelessness, and he seized
upon 1t.
Ii due COURSE Of time Private Hogan
was court martialed for cowardice.
He had run away from the enemy and
left his comrades to fight it out. True,
they had run also, headed by the ser
geant. and it was also true that Hogan
returned at a critical stage and fought
we'll. but the sergeant piled it on to
him at the trial and made out a bad
case against him. He must save his
neck by putting the rope around an
others, and the sentence was that Pri-
vate Hogan be dismissed from the
army for cowardice.
Two weeks later he was escorted to
the gate of the fort one afternoon and
graced man turned toward Wolf creek
and walked away without once looking
back. He had made poor defense,
but he knew that he was no coward
and that he had been sacrificed to
save the sergeant. To be thus dismiss
ed from the army meant that he must
get out of the country As Il branded
coward even the squaws OF the half
breeds would be licensed to 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 u girl of TWEEN
nishing meals to the teamsters and be-
ing the only postmaster for many miles
around. Several soldiers at the fort
were sweet on Mary, but Sergeant
Dawson was supposed to have the call
over all of them. His term of service
would be out in less than n year and
in his own mind he arranged to marry
Mary and settle down on the ranch. 1t
had been long since the Sioux raided
w Smoky valley. but there WAS no
telling when they might come again,
and ii beacon had been prepared by
the soldiers for the women TO light in
case they needed help night or day.
When Hogan reached the postot1ice
he sat down on the doorsteps and let
his chin fall into his hands and did
some thinking. BY and 10y the girl
came out 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 restf' 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 IA squaw man Why dom
you order me to 20 on
See here, Hogan. I'm sorry for you,
she said az she laid hand on his arm.
You might have lost your head for a
time, but that wasn't cowurdice"
Thank you for that, Missy" he said
az he looked up, with tears in his eyes.
you'll have to 20. but don't be hu=
inflated. Some of the men have hint
ed to me that you might nave made IA
stronger defense at the trial"
Yes, could have said more" he
unused as he nodded his head, but a
scapegoat was wanted, and l was new
to the company and had no chums
Miss Mary. I'm mind to But let
it go. I'm Citizen Hogan, the coward
and will be till I'm 500 miles away and
among men who'll never hear OF this
II they'd only have sent me to the
guardhouse for six months and given
me another chance"
nIloO'f frot nuor n onofbaI q o{T
but to call me coward-me. an
Irishman-and to prove it against me-
| can't abide it. missy. cant do it,
II | only had another show I'd make
EN- sing different tune. I'm disarm
ed and disgraced and turned out but
I'd go for the Sioux with a club if the
Lord would only send EN- this way"
But that can't happen, and / m tell
ing YOU
She was interrupted by shouts and
shots and the clatter OF hoofs, and
next moment the soldier mail rider APP
peared around the bend of the road
forty rods below. He was lying down
and clinging to his horses neck. and
behind him were twenty hosties on
their ponies.
Into the house. missy-in for Gods
sakew shouted Hogan ms he sprang
up and pushed her before him and
barred the door.
A Winchester rife hung on the wall
in the public room, and almost before
the girl and her mother could realize
what was happening Hogan had fired
from a window and tumbled the lead