Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-04-19
Old Comrades Meet
Original

-, for me to say anything ag'in their
yerllc. Howsoever, mebbe they
,.orIdn't mind my sayin that when
.,a crime was committed here in Ari-
.ons I was flghtin' the dagos IN Cuba"
~Wbv did you no, bring forward evil
.once Of that during the trlalT'
~Well. judge, the regiment fou't
,r,,h wasn't recruited from these parts,
,,1 most o my comrades left their
,scassas on san Juan hill No, there
,.anlap't he no use tryln TO prove
.rN I've had fair trial You.
,,aee nave made the perseeutin' at
,orney treat me right. and the jury has
convicted me ON the best kind o cir
eumstantal evidence.
Their, was something so honest APP
nearing In the old soldiers manner that
indre jury and spectators were yisibly
aGertt,i. one of the spectators edged
around to where the Judge sat and
whispered something in his ear.
This gentleman" said the judge to
the prisoner. says that he was in Cuba
duripr the spanish American war. and
perhaps you might prove your case by
him.
.Dont remember ever TO have seen
the gentleman" remarked the prisoner.
scrutinzing the person referred to sus-
pieiously.
"You say" said the man. that you
were at San Juan hillf
Il was
what regimentf'
1.-THE til New York"
ITS plain you're iyln'. since no such
regiment went up the hill"
aReckon there wasn't. but there was
a man as got separated from that rcgl-
ment and fell In with the --th Illinois.
the company on the right end o. the
line. and the Teller that fell in was
myself"
why, you cussed liar. commanded
the company on the extreme right OF
the -th Illinois myself"
You dldn't-no SIGH thing You're
playin' some game on me. Got some
grudge to send an innocent man to the
hangman."
Il ought TO know" said the other in
dignantly.
Il tell you," roared the condemned
man. "Cap'n Josh Bingham command
ed that company"
And | tell YOU" retorted the other
augrlly I'm Cap'n Josh Bingham"
At this the captain lifted his over
shadowlng sombrero to mop his brow.
and the prisoner scrutinizel him.
Great Scott. capn. how you have
changed" he said at last. I'd never
ha knowe,l ye."
But the other would not admit the
acquaintance.
Judge" he said, this man has uri-
doubtedly got hold of my army record
and is endeavorlng TO make something
out Of il. never saw him before In
my NE"
You set there. Cap'n Josh Bingham,
and say YOU never saw me before in
your fe' no you forget how when
we got to the top o the hill dirty
dago started TO club you with the butt
of bis rifle and how a man stepped IN
and after receiyin' the blow on HE
shoulder here the veteran tore opei;
his shirt and exposed q healed wound
run his bayonet through the dacc
Do you mean to say you don't remem
Der that?"
Yes, I do remember that, but you
wasn't the man that saved my life.
That man carried me OF the field few
moments later when was wounded.
and he got Spanish bayonet in his
forehead that left wound like Turk
iSh seimiter. I'd know that would
anywhere"
What was his name?" the prisoner
demanded, growing angrier and shout
Ing louder with every word.
Jim Hicks"
The spectators started. The prisoner
had been tried under that name.
Jim Hicks; yes. that war him--Jim
Hicks. and that war me You'd recog-
ME the scar anywhere would we,
capnf Well, what dye think o. tbisT"
lie pushed aside lock of shockt
hair and displayed scar the exact
counterpart of sclmlter. The captain
started.
WHY, Jim! Can it be? No-ycs.
HOW You have changed. Jim! That
campaign has told ON us both. Your
hand. old comrade."
while he was speaking he was edg
ing around TO where the prisoner stood.
ana, FIRST grasplng his hand. he after
ward took him in his arms. The spec
"'ors, having witnessed this dialogue,
vi which human life hung, no sooner
saw the denouement than they set up
. shout that made the log courthouse
mug The judge raped for order.
enarged the jury to retire to reconsider
lnelr verdict and to bring In one in ac
.oruance with the new evidence. This
uey did. pronouncing the prisoner not
guilty. Jim Hicks and his wet COM
panion left the courtroom together and
sauhtered toward the outskirts of the
settlement their arms around each
ohers neck, followed by the good