Smyrna times., 1910-09-07
F-C-OEO-C-O-O -OO~O-7O-O-O-O
Saved by
A Parrot
But There Were Links Be-
tween the Bird and
the Outcome.
BY ANDREW C. EWING.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
-O-O-O-O-O-OO-O-O-O-O-


commanding the Narrows. is a fort.
That on the east shore is called Fort
Hamilton, that on the west Fort
Wadsworth These forts are at all
times garrisoned by United States
troops.
There lived some years ago near
Fort Hamilton a widow named Ham
mond whose boy. Robert, growing up
in close proximity to an army post
imbibed a taste for a military life.
When he became eighteen years of age
he went into the fort one day and en-
listed and then went home and told his
mother what he had done.
Robert Hammond was a steady
young fellow and, having received a
pretty good education, resolved to try
for promotion through the noncOm-
missioned to the commissioned grades.
He had become corporal when that
| happened which sometimes makes and
sometimes breaks u mamie got
sweetheart Nancy AlvOrd was about
| Hammonds age and a lovely girl.
| Nevertheless she was the cause of his
getting into trouble.
Famous Coney Island. where there
is a multitude of shows, is but a few
miles from Fort Hamilton. and one
summer day when the young soldier
had leave to go where he liked be
tween midday and 8 p. IN. he called
for Nancy. and together they stepped
on an electric car for a visit to the is
land. Robert had money enough in
his pocket to enable them to take in
most of the shows. and so great was
their enjoyment that the time passed
more rapidly than they realized. The
days were at the time at their longest.
and this. too. had something to do with
their mistaking the hour. AT any rate.
when there was still twilight they
heard clock strike ..
Roberts heart sank within him. His
leave had expired. and he would not
be able to reach the fort in less than
half an hour He would be broken
that is, reduced to a private-and his
dream of becoming a commissioned of
ficer was at an end. At any rate, he
would be Obliged to begin all over and
by a long period of good behavior get
again in line.
Very well. Nancy" he said; Il may
as well be hanged for a sheep as
lamb Wen stay here as long as W.
like"
Nancy endeavored to induce him t
60 back at once, but he would not
So they ordered a supper and afte
that continued to enjoy themselves a
the various places designed for til
double purpose of giving people pleas
ure and getting their money. Whe
the money was mostly spent they too
car and went home. Passing a So
loon kept by one Murphy. Robert wisl
ed to go in and get glass of beer bu
Nancy dissuaded him Robert left be
at her house. then went to his motl
er's.
Though it was late. Mrs. Hammon
was just about going to bed. Robe
told her that he had broken his leav
MOther-like, she persuaded him to
to his own room that he had occupit
as a boy and remain there overnigh
He did so and in the morning owe
) slept. Then his mother begged him
2 take breakfast at home. By the tin
) he reached the fort it was long pa
reveille roll call.
) Robert was put in arrest. And VII
was his astOnishment when told IN
5 the saloon keeper. Murphy. had be
murdered the night before. that soi
shreds of blue uniform and sever
z army buttons had been found ne
; the body and a soldier answering /
p description had been seen near t
s saloon.
2 The young soldier was troubled OF
> ut the prospect of being reduced to I
= ranks. There could be no doubt of
s. proving that he had not been in NJ
2 phys saloon and that he had be
s. with his sweetheart and later with
y mother. He gave the captain the
s. dress Of both women and told him
2 go and ask his mother and Nancy
8 he had not been with them during
y night of the murder.
5k The officer. in order that there mi;
2 be no collusion between Robert /;
s. the others, said nothing about
p charge of murder to either woman
81 order to better conceal his object.
y told them that the Soldier was in d
IS ger of being tried for desertion. 3
p women knew enough of army often
X to understand that desertion was a
I9 rlous charge. Neither knew what
son Robert had given his superiors
his absence, and both feared to
anything about him for fear of
proving what he had himself s.
The consequence was that both deI
r having seen him the night before
This was quite enough to con
~ him, If not Of the murder. certainl.
falsely accounting for his absence.
was turned over to the civil autf
ties to be tried for murder.
1t would be impossible to give
idea of the anguish of the mother
sweetheart when they learned Of