The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-06
The CALI
Of the Flag
The Message That Inspired Private
Walters.


+ IT please the court / shall now
read the charges against the ac-
cusmed"
The prisoner, young soldier with
a haggard face and tired eyes, rose
mechanically. and stood gazing az
the judge advocate. who read IN clear
emotioniess tones. the charges setting
lorth that Private John Walters, Company
M, --th United States Infantry, had
been guilty OF miscontuct preJudicial 10
good order and military discipline ~ that
he had been drunk and disorderly in his
company quarters ana had disobeyed 60
officer.
you have heard the charges and speci-
lications preferred against you continued
the officer representing the government
as prosecuting attorney How do you
ple0d?'
The prisoner looked helplessly AZ his
counsel. a tail. bronzed man IN the uni
form of a FIRST lieutenant. who responded.
Guilty, TO the specifications and 70 the
"The prosecution here rests" announced
the Judge advocate
Has the accused any evidence TO Offer
y his own behalfY' questioned the presl-
dent Of the court.
The accused had none His counsel, IN
few words. begged the court TO consider
that the prisoner had been. at the TIME
OF his offense. under the influence OF the
poisonous Filipino binO. which had de-
prived him Of his sense OF responsibility;
he called attention 70 tho excellent ser
vice the accused had. at various time,
rendered under fire. az set forth IN hts
record. and requested thar such clemency
as was possible be shown him.
As Walters followed by Ills counsel.
left the room he let his eyes pass for
the first time over the group OF grave,
khaki-elad officers forming the court
martial.
''wHi the lieutenant tell me what he
thinks I Will get2' he asked. when the
door had closed behind them for the YER
dict.
IN the year Walters; | m AFRAID you can (
hope for less than discharge ana Twelve
months"
That night as Walters lay on his hard
bunk by the barred window OF the rude
stone building used as gunrd house,
he tried 10 analyze his position. DIS.
honorable discharge and twelve months
the though kept ringing IN his head a
year in Biiibld-nO hinQ and no nghtink-
Then he would be sent back 70 the states
--he never wanted 20 see the states again +
the battle OF life there had been too
strong for him; defeat had seemed tQ
pursue him IN every renewed effort. and
his repeated failures 10 conquer his in
satiato thirst for liquor had only brought
disgrace. upon MS family In his army M
service his reckless courage nneer hrr
had atoned for much OF his recklessness
in drink For long drink and battle mad
been the only sedatves 90 qulet me nre
one or wild with the passion of the oth-
er had he been able to forget the pangs
OF acknowledged failure. But iive years
In the tropics had begun 10 take away
this land. II emanated from the ind0ient
rustling Of the palm trees-ifpm the
golden dreamy glow Of the twilight
from the dangerous perfume Of the Yang
Wang He was slowly and surely I'M
hiblng the lotus flower potion of con-
tent. The East was dropping ~ spell
over his soul and he was grateful for is
faint rusilins without the window
attrncted his attention; he peered
through the baYs and saw IN the dim
light a form crouching close 70 the
..Isabeila" ne whispered.
A small brown hand came through the
iron uprights and pressed his fingers as
they rested on the sill Y was Filipino
girf whom Walters had once protected
from the Insults Of n drunken brute. and
who had thereafter lavlshed upon his
reckless gloomy young American all the
affection OF which she was capable. I'M
conscious OF the deeper feelings which
animated her, Walters had not been IN
sensible 20 the unfailing friendship she
had shown him. and between the two q
sort OF comradeship had arisen She
came 10 him for advice and sympathy Ia
the small affairs of ner life. and Walters
had found her h0Epitable home an agree
abe asylum when We wanted 70 escape
from the rougher conpanionship N his
associates. Her appearance below his
window. however. filled him with SUR
prize.
mo habia." sae murmured IN her
quaint mixture OF Spanish and English.
''Na habla I get you out
Walters heart ienped at the hope The
Eirl began working with some instrument
at the soft rocks forming the window sill
into which the bars were mortsed. II
Freedom seemed to kisa then toe most
glorious thing on earth-something he
must have at any cost
He tiptoed 10 the heavy bamboo parti.
tion separating the long room occupied
by the prisoners from the smaller space
IN front where the guard slept. Through
the cracks he could see lying on tnrlr
cots the members OF the guard who were
on duty ~ the door sat the sergeant
doing in hts chair; IN front the sentinel
was pacing up and down
Walters noted with satisfaction that the
two other soldiers confined with him
were sleeping on the side opposite his
bunk.
The guard house was a stone cnmarine
which has been used by its Filipino owner
FOR the storage Of sugar and rice u was
by no means considered invinclhle as n
prison. but the vigilance OF the guard
was intended 70 counterast its element
OF weakness.
However. there was anticipated no ef-
fort at escape on the part Of the three
incarcerated Americans, who could
hardly find an Incentive 70 risk their
lives In the dense. marshy country filled
as II was BY hostile Filipinos. The CON
sequent relaxation OF the watcnfuness
maintained over the building permitted
the girl TO perform her tasl, unfetected.
II was not a difficult feat for her slowly
to loosen and finally remove one Of the
crumbling porous stones The iron up-
right wus then quickly forced abide. and
Walters slipped through the window.
As the two crent away under cover OF
the darkness. Walters rapidly formulated
his plans.
"Isapena." he said. suddenly. "I'm 60
ing away from all this-into the noun
tains. I'm done vita America and
continued: You've been very kind "a
me Isabella WI you 80 with me TO the
mountains7"
The girl hesitated. while Walters
waited breathlessly for her decision.
''Yes. senor-I will go"
He pressed the hand that tremhled In
his. You Won't regret II, Isabella" he
said. You have been the only one that s
ever seen much IN me to care for. and I
will not forget H. Wen find a place
where nobody viii ever discover us. and
Wen build Us n home Now he contln-
ued. I'm going 70 slip into the quarters
what you need from home and wait for
me at the church"
After the girl had disappeared In the
darkness. Walters stood a few moments
looking through the door OF the guard
house. he could discern the sentinel on
No. l. Yes. he was satisfied. He cared
not to go back to America whore he had