Democratic messenger., 1910-02-26
)-O-O-O-O-O-OO-O-C-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.
by ANDREW C. EWING.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

commanding the Narrows. Is 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 taste for 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 steady
young fellow and. having received a
pretty good education. resolved to try
for promotion through the noncom-
missioncd to the commissioned grades
lie had become corporal when that
happened which sometimes makes and
sometimes breaks mamie got a
sweetheart Nancy Alyord was about
Hammond's age and lovely girl
Nevertheless she was the cause of his
getting into trouble.
Famous Coney Island. where there
is multitude OF shows. Is but few
miles from Fort Hamilton. and one
summer day when the young soldier
had leave to 20 where he liked be-
tween midday and . p. III. he called
for Nancy. and together they stepped
Oh 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 ut the time ut their longest.
and this. too. had something TO do with
their mistaking the hour. At any rate,
when there was still twilight they
heard a clock strike ..
Roberts heart sank within him. His
leave had expired. and he would not
he able to reach the fort IN less than
half an hour lie would be broken"
that Is. reduced to a private-and his
dream of becoming n commissioned Of
fcer was ut nm end. At any rate he
would be obliged to begin all over and
by long period of good behavior get
again In line.
Very well. Nancy" he said; II may
as well be hanged for a sheep as a
lamb. Wen stay here as long MS we
like"
Nancy endeavorcd to induce him to
So they ordered supper and after
that continued to enjoy themselves n.
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
ear and went home Passing sa.
loon kept by one Murphy, Robert wish
ed to go In and get u glass of beer. but
Nancy diSsuaded him. Robert left her
at her house. then went to his moth
er's.
Though II was late. Mrs. Hammond
was just about going to bed. Robert
told her that he had broken his leave.
Mothcr-like. she persuaded him TO go
10 his own room that he had occupied
as n boy aud remain there overnight
lie did So and In the morning over
slept. Then his mother begged him 10
take breakfast M home. BY the time
he reached the fort II was long past
reveile roll call.
Robert was put In arrest. And what
was his astonishment when told that
the saloon keeper. Murphy. had been
murdered the night before. that some
shrcds Of blue uniform and several
army buttons had been found near
the body aud n soldier answering his
description had been seen near the
saloon.
The young soldier was troubled only
at the prospect of being reduced 10 the
ranks There could be no doubt of his
proving that he had not been In Muir
phys saloon aud that he had been
with his sweetheart and later with his
mother lie gave the captain the ad-
dress OF both women and told hirl TO
20 and ask his mother and Nancy II
he had not been with them during the
night OF the murder.
The officer. In order that there might
be no collnsion between Robert and
the others. said nothing about the
charge of murder TO either woman In
order 10 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 offenSes
TO understand that dcsertion was n Sc
rlous charge. Neither knew what rea-
son Robert had given his superlors for
his absence. and both feared 10 say
anything about him for fear OF dis
proving what he had himself said.
The consequence was that both denied
having seen him the night before.
This was quite enough 10 convict
him. II not of the murder. certainly of
falsely accounting for his absence. He
was turned over to the civil authori-
ties 10 he tried for murder
II would be impossible TO give an
idea Of the anguish of the mother and
sweetheart when they learned OF the
real charge that had been made
nvnfust tho son nf fhn ona and lover