Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-22

on an electric car for 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
ard this, too. had something to do with
their mistaking the hour. At any rate,
when there was still twilight they
heard a clock strike Q.
Roberts heart sank within him. His
leave had expired. and be 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 q sheep as 4
lamb. Wen stay here as long as we
like"
Nancy endeavored to induce him to
go back at once. but he would not.
So they ordered Il supper and after
that continued to enjoy themselves at
the various places designed for the
double purpose of giving people pleas
ure and getting their money. When
the money was mostly spent they took
a car and went home. Passing a sa-
loon kept by one Murphy. Robert wish
ed to go in and get Il glass OF beer. but
Nancy disgrIaded him. Robert left her
at her house. then went to his moth
ers.
Though It was late. Mrs. Hammond
was just about going to bed, Robert
told her that he had broken his leave
Mother-like. she persuaded him TO go
to his own room that he had occupied
as a boy and remain there overnight
He did so and in the morning over
slept. Then his mother begged him to
take breakfast at home. By the time
he reached the fort It was long past
reveille roll call.
Robert was put in arrest. And what
was his establishment when told that
the saloon keeper. Murphy, had been
murdered the night before. that some
shreds of blue uniform and several
army buttons had been found near
the body and a soldier answering his
description had been seen near the
saloon.
The young soldier was troubled only
at the prospect OF being reduced to the
ranks. There could be no doubt of his
proving that he had not been in Muir
phys saloon and that he had been
with his sweetheart and later with his
mother He gave the captain the ad
dress of both women and told him to
go and ask his mother and Nancy If
he had not been with them during the
night of the murder
The officer, in order that there might
be no collision between Robert and
the others. said nothing about the
charge of murder 10 either woman in
order to better conceal his object. He
told them that the soldier was in dan
ger Of being tried for desertion. Both
women knew enough of army ofenses
to understand that desertion was Sc
rious charge. Neither knew what rea-
son Robert had given his superiOrs for
his absence. and both feared TO say
anything about him for fear OF dis
proving what he had himself said.
The consequence was that both denied
having seen hin, the night before.
This was quite enough to convict
him, If not of the murder. certainly Of
falsely accounting for his absence. He
was turned over to the civil authori-
ties to be tried for murder.
Il ----saI~ - i.>-'~--i'Dl-> to si'-s> ~