La Junta tribune., 1907-10-12

must order court mariiai. which Eiust
/, pass u dcath sentence on this boy. who.
after all, was doing the hardest and
most undesircd duty soldier is called
upon to do.
General Alton broke the silence. Is,
have decided. Colonel Curtis. 10 offer
this prisoner his life On condition that
he reveals al that he km.ws about
these papers"
Colonel Curtis rose. feeling the inter
| View was over.
I'VE VIII make the hearing at 80
tomorrow morning. II you please, colo
mel, and VIII have Captain Lawton
also present. In the meantime detail
q special guard for the prisoner and
see that he has comfortable care.
| Good night
The footsteps died away down the
| long, empty hall. and General Alton
was ngaln alone. Ii had been a hard
day, and he was glad II was over. The
| gravity OF this last complication made
his face unusually old aud worn. For
some weeks strange things OF this kind
had come 10 light. Now this must
!
been understood.
Can II be-" he thought wondcringly.
.'that In all the world there Is man
so base as 10 sell for money the infor
nation n soldier would die to pre-
server"
Then le fell To thinking OF the hoy
/ whose life lay In his hands and OF all
the stern Justice OF war. lnvoluntarily
| his hand rested on II letter with u
northern pos,mark. 1t had come to him
from Princeton that morning. Before
( him passed the eager, pleading words
OF his son. urging. implorlng his father
to let him give up college and 20 to
I the front. The soldier blood the let
\ ter ran, ''thc blood of all the Atoms. Is
calling I" me day and night, making
study Impossible. do not desire to
grieve You by giving up my work with
out your consent. but ! am no longer
sure Of myself, Let me do what my
conscience urges me tn do. When
peace is declared l will take up my
| profession II YOU desire it.
He must consent. OF course. Richard
was a man now and mist make
| mans fight for the old flag. Perhaps
some dan in the fortunes OF war his
only son, his fine. brilliant Richard.
would stand as this boy stood today
under the shadow OF death.
The prisoner. in his well guarded
tent. had spent one of those never TO
,,e forgotten nights that most of us
can remember somewhere in life.
There was little doubt of his fate, and
with II strange. awcd look on his young
face. telling OF The nights conflict. he
waited Tor the hour of The interview.
I He knew nothing Of the offer to he
made him aud felt HAT ii was only a
preliminary Of his death warrant. lie
inngeti, with boyish longing. for his
I uniform 10 wear this morning. In that
gray and all 1t stood for he felt he
could better face the worst.
General Alton. Colonel Curtis and
Captain I.awton were talking earnest
~ when the orderly announced the
prisoner aud his guard.
"Ho@ young. pitifully young" was
the thought that was In their minds as
the prisoner cOurteously saluted and
stood at attention. The excitement Of
the moment had brought back a faint
color In the cheeks and taken the
wenriness from the face.
General Alton faced the boy with
keen scrutiny. You understand. do
you. that you are under the gravest
charge In military lawY" the general
began. his voice full OF the stern CON-
nand Of the soldier.
Il do, General Alton" the boy replied
quietly.
The young officer. acting as the gen
erals secretary. prepared to take his
notes The examination had COM
menced.
What ls your name:'
seton Dabney, suh."
Where do you Hve!"
"My home is In Pulaski, sub"
The general paused In the examina-
ton There was something trihe dis
/ concerting In the frank. boyish face
strangely suggesting that other boy in
northern town, restless for the life
which had brought this one to grief.
When the general spoke next bis
voice had lost much of the stcrnness
and ImpersonalIty. When General AL
ton ch0se to take that tone 1t was diff
cult TO resist him always.
mfr. Dabney. may l ask, is your ia
TIERS name Edwin Dabney, and was he
first lieutenant In the old Sixteenth
Virginia In the Mexican war!"
The prisoner looked surprised: then a
smile Of pleasure warmed his face.
"Yes. sub; his name Is Edwin Dabney.
and he belonged to the old Sixteenth
Virgins. It was the delight OF my
childhood to hear him tell those stories
OF army life. When the trouble came
between the states begged with all
my heart to go with my father In the
Ninth TAnnessae l WIS only eiRhtaen