Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-09-26
A Soldiers VindicatiOn
loriginaI.1

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 his lips. He
looked so good that butter wouldn't
melt In his mouth.
When the Spanish-American wal
broke out, Bob, who was a member OF
the national guard Of his state, went
with his regiment TO Cuba and fought
through the battles that resulted In the
capture Of Santiago. He seemed inscn-
sible to fear, and bis companions said
Of him that he was too lazy to worry
about getting shot.
Bob didn't get shot, but with that
luck which comes to reckless people
who rather deserve punishment he re-
ceived a wound just severe enough to
enable him to show the scars of a war
veteran. A Mauser bullet went
through the blceps Of his right arm,
giving what might pass for two
wounds, one where 1t went In and one
where 1t went out.
Hazard, not being able to handle q
musket during this time. had album
dant leisure for mischief. Removing
two balls from cartridges. he sent one
to bis best girl, with q letter In which
be said that TO her GOD her alone he
gave the Spanish bulls with which he
had been shot. The other he sent to
hisSother best girl, with a similar mes
O He enjoined each to keep the Sc
cret Of his preference, since he didn't
wish to appear to, attach any impor-
lance to his, wound.
Now, the recipients, Miss Edith
Spencer and Miss Della Marsh, were
extremely feminine young ladies'.
While neither were in love with the
young soldier, both were proud of the
preference. Each knew that the other
counted onNPrivate Hazard as one Of
her especial friends at the front in
| those exciting days when not to have
an especial friend at the war made q
girl feel and appear like d wall
flower at a ball. The next time Miss
Spencer met Miss Marsh after the re-
ceipt Of her bullet she asked, with q
triumphant. sparkle in the eye and toss
Of the head:
Heard from Bob Hazard 1ateiyY
The response was doubtless inffu-
enced by the questioner's ann
Eyes; the poor fellow has been severe
Iy wounded"
II know" replied the other, with an
air of superiority. "He wrote me all
about IT,
$50 he did me, and sent me q keep
sake
~He sent me the bullet that struck
him.
Miss Marsh gasped for breath II
have that bullet," she said, Fin my
escritore."
"And I have 1t in my jewel box"
This was the preliminary part Of a
conversation that led to the exhibition
Of two bullets. each with a polished
surface. which is never found on one
that has been fred from a gun, to say
nothing Of being sent through a mans
arm. Had the girls been disinterested
they would nave smiled. AS It was.
they vowed that when Private Robert
Hoard returned he should explain
this strange proceeding and pronounce
upon the g~enuineness of the ball that
had wounded him.
When the war ended, 1t virtually be-
gan for Bob Hazard. An enemy
awaited him which would have strick-
en- terror into any man of less bravery.
His regiment marched through the
city from which 1t had departed with
flying coiors and martial music The
first communication he received after
being mustered out was q note from
Miss Spencer asking him to come and
see how she had mounted The keep
sake he had sent her. he called that
evening and found Miss Spencer and
Miss Marsh together. On the table
was an open jewel box that had held
a pair OF solitaire earrings, and In
place OF the earrings were two bullets.
The expression ON the faces Of the
girls was ominous.
"Will you please" said Miss Spencer,
"tel1 us which Of these two bullets
wounded you"
Bob looked at the leaden missiles.
Their polished surfaces should have
brought the blush of shame to his
face, but they did not. Indeed he
took no note Of anything, he vas
thinking how to wiggle out Of the
scrape he had brought upon himself.
Finally, with an injured air be asked
permission TO take off his coat, which
was granted. Removing the coat and
a pair of gold sleeve links, he rolled
up bis shirt sleeve.
'4This wound" he said, pointing to
the scar where the missile that had
really struck him ON the inner surface
of the arm, "was made by the bullet
on Che right. This" pointing to the
scar where the original missile had left Z
his arm, twas made by the bullet on
the left" q
The girls looked at each other. ! !
"You two young ladies'" he &C,
tinued, "as especial friends Of mi O.
/ thought might like to have q bu, Z q
that had struck a simple soldier
tha SnnniSh war. Having q bullet aoo,