Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-27

tried to get Brownele to reconsider but before his
speech was ended the man had gone.
My Captain told that he walked the decks,
night and day, until he to Hongkong, where he
cabed to his banker to forward the fifty thousand
dollars worth of bonds to Lieutenant Martin in
Manila And then came the relaxation. He dreaded
to return home to meet the wondering questions of
those who had known that all his life wrapped
in his profession and furthermore he knew that for
the first time in his life he must work to exc out
existence. He had nothing more than a few hundred
dollars saved from his salary and his profession He
had no hope from the past and a cherries future
which he must needs to conquer or-go down
failure.
CAN'T tell you of all he did. He tried to get work
engineering through China he hoated through
India, and the Suez he subsisted by day labor
when his money all gone. He worked his way
stoker to Marseles, and in time came to Paris.
1t seemed that his i'll luck would end, and for
than two years he struggled as best he might
until finally there came the alarm of war 1t the
call of his old profession, the call of arms and he
private.
You know how it resulted. Merit cannot be
whipped. 1t rises uncomfortable and phenixlke
from the ashes of dead hope to reach its place.
And So from that day when l met him by my broken
motor car, his fortunes seemed to mend until
climax, | saw him come before army on parade
receive the of the Legion of Honor-the bau
ble-and commission as Captain in the army of
France
The war was over in three months-the that
resulted in draw and impoverished two nations!
Fercey it was fought and in that fierce fighting he
had his share, did all of us. He gained more than
our respect and comradeshp; he earned love.
He was one of us, banded into that unspoken
bond of the Captains Three. Knowing his shipwreck
of love and, from my advanced age able to estimate
his colossal misfortune, tried to make attractive
his new career SO unexpectedly opened, and some
times l think l succeeded but ever and anon l
would surprise the heartbrea in his eyes and know
that did he gain the baton of a marechal of France
yet would he long for the glores of that other
fighting for his country-and for the clasp of
woman's hand.
TT was fully three months after peace had been de-
! clared and my regiment quartered in Paris,
that the curtain dropped on the tragedy OF the
life of Captain Frederic Brownele, whose first acts
had taken place in the tropical isles the far side of
the world
had taken up my quarters IN my old apartments
in the Latin Quarter-yes here in the Boule Niche,
dividing my time between here and Fortress Num-
Der Three where was stationed, when man came
to my door night and was admitted He was of
my age and spoke most fluent French.
II Colonel Richardson" he said, of the
United States army, a special mission. l have
the honor of speaking to Colonel Dunois of the
Chasseurs d'Afrique. of France?"
l affirmed his Identification and proffered him
You have in your command, he went on, with
American abruptness, Captain Frederic Brownele.
/ want him and have come for him."
Leopard had been in my back apartment, making
himself at home did all of us Captains Three, or
for that matter the Captains Four, and now he
out, fierce and harsh in appearance. | introduced
him, and then turned to Colonel Richardson. sup
pose both Leopard and exhibited marked hostility;
for l am sure we both believed that American
comrade to be hauled back to his native land for
trial. knowing the story as did from the inside
indignant.
Colonel" said 1.-The man is my friend He
wears the Cross of the Legion, and has honored me
by his friendship well as his confidence He is
gentleman and soldier, and to take him from us
would be serious mistake. You have the authority,
perhaps to arrest him; but you shall not get him if
It is within my power to prevent! You shall not
saw and I mean all that the statement implies!
would fight for him!
And Il" came the booming voice of Leopard, who
was brstling with determination.
The Colonel's eyes twinkled. 81 He has evidently