The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-11-14
A Soldiers Vindication


fOFtRinal.l
Bob Hazard was a good nafured.
devil may care sort OF fellow, whom
everybody loved. His hair was fax.
his eye was robins egg blue. and he
wore a perpetual smile on bis lips. He
looked so good that butter wouldn't
melt in his mouth.
When the Spanish American war
broke out. Bob. who was a member OF
the national guard OF his state, went
with his regiment 10 Cuba and fought
through the battles that resulted in the
capture OF Santiago. He seemed insen.
sible 10 fear. and his companions said
OF him that be was too lazy to worry
about getting shot
Bob didn't get shot, but with thai
luck which comes to reckless people
wh1 rather deserve punishment he re
eelyed Il wound just severe enough 10
enable him to show the scars OF a war
veteran. 4 Mauser bullet went
through the blceps Of his right arm,
giving what might pass for two
wounds, one where II went In and one
where Il went ont.
Hazard. not being able to handle
musket during this time, had abun,
Gant leisure for mischief. Removing
two balls from cartridges, he sent one
to his best girl, with letter in which
he said that 10 her and her alone he
gave the Spanish bullet with which he
Ind been shot. The other he sent 10
his other best girl. with a similar met
sage. He enjoined each 10 keep the Sc
cret Of his preference, since he didn't
wish to appear TO attach any impoF
tance 10 his wound.
Now. the recipients, Miss Edith
Spencer and Miss Della Marsh, were
extremely feminine young ladies
While Mother were In love with the
young soldier. both were proud OF the
preference. Each knew that the other
counted Oh Private Hazard as one on
her especial friends ut the front IN
those exciting days when not to have
an especial friend at the war mnde a
girl feel aud appear like a wall
flower" at bali The next time Miss
Spencer met Miss Marsh after the re.
eeipt OF her bullet she nslIed, with a
triumphant sparkle In the eye aud toss
Of the head;
f.Heard FROM Bob Hazard latelyfe
The response was doubtless lniiu.
enccd BY the questloner's manner.
''Yea; the poor fellow has been severe.
y wounded
II know" replied the other. with ali
air Of superiority. "He wrote me all
about it,
go 10 dld me, ana sent me keep.
'Hs ssht mean. uillst that struck
him"
Miss Marsh gasped for breath. II
have that bullet" she said. Sin any
eacrltoiro"
sand have II IN my jewel box"
This WINS che preliminary part OF a
conversation that led 20 the exhibition
OF two hullptM each with a polished
surface. which Sc never found on one
tkMt haRn nFaa fEain a gun. to say
nofnlus being sent through a mau's
arm. Aina ne elFla boom dislnterested
they wo have smiled. AZ II was
they y0w that when Private Robert
HaRard rssfrned he should explain
this strange proceeding and pronounce
upon the eenulneneas Of the ball that
had wounded him.
when the war ended. II virtually be-
San for hob Hazard. An enemy
awaited him which would have strick
en- terror into any man OF less bravers
His regiment marched through TIC
city from which II had departed with
tiying coloFs aud martial music, The
frst communication he received afte,
being mustered out was a note FROM
Miss Spencer asking him 10 come and
see haw she hal mounted the keep
sake he had sent hsr. lie callel Tint
evening and found Miss Spencer a&t
Miss Marsh taS1ther On the t4hl
was an open Jewel haS that hal hc,