Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-20

Captain. this young fellow Is doubt
less Ignorant OF the cnormlty Of his
ofTensc. and we need every man mt
his post OF duty You may release
him. iIns the escaped prisoner been
rcnrrcstcdT
Gle Inns. colonel"
The march was resumed. In the
evening as the colonel wns refreshing
hlmGclf with smoke the captain re-
turned with Private Herman Mcsncr
again In arrest
Colonel" he snid. when the prison
crs were inspected after the days
march Private Carl Mcisncr was miss
/ Ing. and this man, Private Herman
Mcisncr, was In his place"
The colonel knit his brows.
"What did you do that for" he asked
, OF the boy, after my lcnicncy to you
this mornlng?'
"Thcy told me my cousin would like
ly he shot for sleeping on post"
''rhnt Is his affair. not yours. DO
you want to get yourself shot In his
placer
II would rather. colonel"
That's very, very rldic-vcry noble
OF you, but It's unjust to yourself. II
seems to me, captain. that this boy
has the true elements of soldier I'm
him. but hc needs instruction. You
mny return him 10 duty, Has the real
prisoner been rearrcsted7"
"Yes. colonel"
The next morning Private Mcisner
was again brought before the colonel
I'm Inv linz III
free his cousin. This time he Ind fnil-
cd TO even get the prisoner away from
tho guard. Tho colonel sent the In
corrigihlc Herman bnck to, take his
plncc with the other prisoners. to stand
trial Mt the proper time for mutlny.
"iou IRE IL little fool" said the COM
mnndcr. "Your cousin Will be shot for
sleeping on post, and you Will be shot
| for mutlny"
| Herman smiled.
"Are you sure he's sane, captainT
asked the colonel.
Perfectly sane"
"Well, take him away"
The next day there was n roar OF
artillery Mt the front AS the colonel
was mounting his horse tho captain
| ubptbitN uiti, tull.
"Thc prisoners desire permission to
take their place in the ranks for the
coming battle"
Grant II for my In whom you have
confidence. | suppose those two cous-
ins arc among the applicants"
| Carl Mclsncr has applied. His cous-
I'm who tried to effect his escape has
not"
"Thnts strange" said the colonel.
and. putting spurs to his horse, ha
rode away.
Tint day was fought the battle OF
Gravclottc. When 1t was over the cap
thin appeared before his colonel. this
time with both the Alclsner cousins.
Colonel" he said. II have to report
that decided TO put NIL the prisoners
In the ranks for battle Carl Mclsncr.
who was In arrest for sleeping on post,
distinguished himself by conspicuous
gallantry. His cousin Herman ran
and hid himself behind log"
The colonel looked mt the prisoner III
perplexlty.
and you." he said to Herman. ..arc
the man who wished to get yourself
shot to save your couslnr'
The colonel expected him TO hang
his head In shame. He did no such
thing. lie simply smiled. smiled with
his beautiful blue eyes. his deiicateIy
curved llps every feature In his boyish
face.
II wish," said the colonel to the cap
tain. they would stop robbing the
cradle to procure material for the
army" Then TO Herman, How old
are you. boy?"
Twenty"
The colonel sat thinking. Presently
hc said to the captain:
"Sec that the charges against Carl
Aleisner are withdrawn and make him
corporal. AS for this coward-what
the dickens he meant by trying to get
himself shot in place of his cousin
don't know, but we can't lie incum-
bercd with him on campaign
him back under charges of both mu-
tiny and cowardicc."
| Private Herman began to cry.
! What are you SMILING for?' began
3 the colonel. when Carl interrupted him:
Colonel. she IS woman-iny wife
We have two little children Mt home
and sshe should be there to take
care of them. But she would not let
me go to the war without coming with
me, fearing l would get killcd-just az
IL she could help that"
"Phew" exclaimed the colonel. "a
woman. That accounts for her
strange behavior. ready to die In place
OF the man she loved. but no stomach
for fight. We'll, captain. you must
I send Private Herman AIcisner back
home 10 take care of the children. I