The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-04

"Kamaraden," appealed this great man.
and he spoke not as the commanding Off
Ger. but as a friend to a friend, with a
note of urgency in his voice and with a
driven look ove,mastering the ferceness
in his eyes. Kamaraden, you are men.
not towards. The soldier who takes his
own life wrongs not only himself. but
those he leaves behind. We require all
our strength. and already two have failed
US. Kamaraden. ! beseech you. for the
love of yourselves. for the sake of the
Fatherland, because you
lie stopped short. pulled up by the very
thing he had been pleading to prevent.
Another shot cracked into the stiffness,
another man fell forward. went down on
20 the ground with a dull thud.
Instinctlvely Won Zickermann's glance
few to Bridges. He was confronted with
that before which he was power.ess, he
had before him an emergency of which
there was no mention in the drill book.
Colt in Himmel," he whispc: !. con-
Tossing all his helplessness.
Then Frank Bridges stepped up, facing
the Major; between them was the dead
man, lying face downward. one arm out
stretched. the revolver that had slipped
away as the grasp OF the ringers relaxed
lying few inches further on.
My time has come" began tho Colo
NAL slowly. distinctly: and even the apa-
thetic men who were SO broken that they
could see comrade die with indifference
raised their heads. for the settler was
speaking German. and such German as
they were accustomed to hear in their
officers messroom.
1T Is my turn now" this bearded man
in the nondescript garments went on. Il
propose to leave the camp tonight. to
trek back to the base and TO bring help
to YOU.
The announcement eEectually aroused
those who heard II. The majority, who
accepted the words as they We're spoken,
Won Zickermann stood silent. and Voa
Ravelsburg. shaking with fever, let fly
an oath.
Are You mad?" he demanded. Are
you mad?"
The settler shook his head.
You know better than any OF US VIII at
Is before you,' the high, feverish tones
eXpostulated. you know what IT would
mean IL the niggers were to catch you:
and who has been SO sure as you that the
blacks were about: and who has insisted
on the need for sentries you have?
Men," and now their captain appealed
straight to the knot of listening soldiers.
'men. when the niggers have white
that poor wretch twelve hours to die"
The words and all the horror they i'm
piled struck home. a sergeant dropped
on the sand with a groan. great fellow
began TO curse stolidly, the lad from
Berlin twisted himself between the knees
OF those in front and reached out for the
revolver lying on the ground.
Bridges anticipaY I'D him picked up the
weapon, discharged the remaining barrels
one by one into the air. and then threw
IL back He turned and looked signii-
cantly to the major. Won Zickermann
saw the glance, started. bent forward
peeTed insistently with new wonder and
q new bewilderment into the beard ed
face.
The two stood thus measuring each
other with their eyes.
Next Bridges faced about and looked
from man TO man OF the weary group.
Leave US he said. as II IL were hi,
TO command. Major Won Zickerrnann and
must settle this matter together"
For sheer astonishuent there wa. a
moments pause. Next Won Ravelshurz
out just able 70 put one foot before the
other. raised his hand TO the salute. and
dragged himself out Of earshot The
others followed. until only me settler