Evening star., 1909-05-30
Without Capitulation
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i
ters-tiny things they were. whose father
dwelt on one floor of his own buildmg-com-
fortably ensconsed IN the Colonels palace
listening to the marvellous tales he told.
Just about that time had windfall on the
fifteenth of February remember, because an
impecunous engineer doesnt forget his first
big Job 1t took me to Boston, and on the way
back | rode IN the Pullman with my new en-
ployer man who had just been elected to Con-
gress and was rather proud of it He bored me
after awhile, and | gained respite by poring
over the morning newspaper which boy
brought in Really nothing much in it that
was more interesting than the conversation,
same old ring politics. funny incident in a
police court where an ex-Judge had been fined
for fast driving FIRE where an unknown man
had proved great heroism by rescuing some one
over a redhot fire escape, and SO forth.
SAME old CUFF but as ] threw the paper
- down my client sighted the staring :" Hero "
headlines, and somehow the conversation
turned to war stories He having been a sol
dier, told star story of valor about a Colonel
who led charge of such desperation that his
shattered regiment, after having saved the day
was able to muster only few score of men at
rollcall ] sat up in my seat with bounce
when he mentioned the name Howe c"
: ! suppose he was rewarded | said by way
of urging him
No He came to Boston after the war,
went into business and after many years was
to his friends
oh. friendships thing that has to be ap-
pealed to, IS II? interJected
He was somewhat embarrassed by my covert
truth. Yes I'm sorry to say that sometimes
it is obtuse. We were all to blame We thought
he was doing we'll until one day he vanished,
and then it was too late
of course no one could blame his friends
for not watching more closely and reasoning
M hat he l
They couldn't be censured for not seeing that
the raft OF commcrcIalism was breaking be-
meath his desperate hold to leave him at best a
dereliet Oh no. You couldn't any of you
help him Some men aren't built that way.
They have hearts. but they prefer to blubber
sentiment over the dead rather than get in and
boost for the living
This post mortem sympathy made me q rifle
bitter when mentally pictured white haired
ex-Colone shoveling coal under Mulligan for
forty month
We'll, would help him now and could my
new client retorted with some asperity showing
that the probe had struck nerve Colonel
Howe IS entitled to a pension that would enable
him to live decently. and the accrued arrears
would buy him home If l could only find
him"
Have you looked for him-very hard?'
Yes, and so have others who have known
him all his life You inferentially in a sweep
ing arraignment, accuse us all Of
e But what would be necessary for this-er-
act of sacrifice on the part of you gentlemen
who have suddenly wakened to your duties as
his friends, as fellow parts in big struggling
far reaching humanity"
He didn't answer for moment. and in that
time too cooled down
Nothing more than his discharge papers
| sat and thought for few moments and
then told him all knew of Howe 1t was his
turn to be surprised; but his sincerity was
shown by his announcing that we should lose no
time whatever in visiting the Colonel At the
Grand Central station he engaged a taxicab,-
something cant afford, land ! was as elated
as he was, because it was almost the if
myself was about to present Howe c with
few thousands back pension and get him out
of the coalbn for life. / pictured the joy that
would come over him at this unexpected for
tune. ! prepared speech for the occasion
bubblng over with lot of slush about ancient
heroes and all that sort of stuff.
THE taxi skidded round the corner into my
street and came to stop that was startling.
] looked out to learn the cause. Great Scott
Where my house had stood was nothing but a
pile of fire blackened debris some tottering
walls, and fire patrol working round the still
steaming ruins. l think ! spoke more ener-
getically than reverentially of the tricks of
Fate; anyway, made my companion under
stand.
WAS your stuff insured2' he asked, trying
to appear sympathetic.
Insurance be hanged,'' answered. starting