The herald., 1911-11-02
THE PENALTY
OF PILLAGING
By THOMAS R. DEAN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

gwen orders 10 HldlHldlh the S'iiN'S''
discipline. Any man caught plumber
ing must be shot without mercy. In
the midst of this tension n private or
the Seventeenth regiment was march
ed under guard to the colonel's head
quarters. He was a black eyed young
fellow. scarcely above the limit or
height at which recruits are accepted
and not n sign of beard on his rosy
cheeks.
What is it, sergeant?" asked the
colonel Of the noncommissioned Off
Ger who had the young recruit in
charge.
The captain ordered me-" replied
the sergeant. saluting. ito bring him
here to you. sir. and say that he's been
pillaging."
whats your nameT' asked the colo
mel of the prisoner.
Perkins, sir"
did you break into house"
mo. sir After the firing yesterday
and our advance we came upon a
dwelling that had been deserted dur
ing the scrimmage. | went in and
saw n bracelet took il"
TOOK a bracelet. What did you, a
soldier, want with a bracelet?"
There was no response TO this. Pri-
vate Perkins looked everywhere ex-
cept at his commanding officer.
We'll, Perkins. do you think If l let
you off this time you can leave pillag-
ing aloneP
I'll try, sir"
"Well, you can go back to duty; but,
mind, if you're caught another time
I'll have to shoot you. That's the or
ders, and | must obey orders as well
as you. Nothing demoralizes an army
so much as pillaging. We need all our
discipline to stand against the enemy.
Now go. and don't let me hear Of your
disobeying the order again"
The next day there was more fight
ing, more shifting Of position, more
houses deserted. The scrimmage had
barely ceased when the colonel, stand
ing under a tree talking with an Of
ficer, saw a man marched toward him
between two Of his comrades. The
coloners brow darkened. for when the
three came near enough for him to see
their faces he recognized the center
man as Private Perkins. What trou-
bled the officer was that if Perkins
had again been caught pillaging he
didn't see how he was to avoid shoot
ing the boy.
I'm ordered by the captain to bring
this man to you, sir. and say that he's
been pillaging again"
You're the man." said the colonel
to the prisoner. Il told yesterday that
if you were caught pillaging again I
would have to shoot you"
Eyes, sir"
"Well. what did you pillage forT
Couldn't help it. sir; things came
too handy"
What do you mean"
After the fight several Of US went
into a deserted house. and things were
lying all about"
what did you take"
"a necklace"
"a necklace, What in thunder could
you do with a necklace?"
No answer.
You know what told you"
Eyes. sir"
And despite that and your prom
Use not TO offend again you entered
houses and took gewgaws. There's
no use letting you off again. You'd
be cabbaging pair of jeweled carriers
next time. Sergeant, go to your cap.
tain and tell him to send me a firing
squad"
The sergeant saluted and was about
to leave when the colonel called him
and whispered to him:
"Tell the captain to have the guns
loaded with blank cartridges. I don't
wish to shoot this little fool. I'm only
going to scare him"
"Aye, aye. sir"
When the firing squad arrived the
colonel said to Private Perkins:
"By order of the general command.
ing I'm going to shoot you for pillag.
ing. let you Off once This time ]
deem 1t my duty to carry out the gen.
erals order. Where are the articles
you have taken"
The recruit put his hand in his peck.
ct and pulled out, in addition to what
he had confessed to appropriating. a
turquoise finger ring. a lady's lace
handkerchief. pair of silver slipper
buckles. a hatpin and three bangles
and "a
"For heavens sake" exclaimed the
colonel. "have ! a soldier In my com.
mand so utterly lost to all sense of
manliness as to get himself shot for
these feminine baubles"
Private Perkins looked on the
ground. His lip quivered.
"Stand up there" said the colonel,
placing the culprit with his back
against tree. The firing squad were
aligned to face him. He was a pitia.
BILE object, evidently without enough
sense to make a plea or a protest for
his life. The words Ready" and
"Aim" were given. but before the or.
der to fire came Perkins dropped.
Sergeant" said the colonel, "sprin-
kle him and set him up again."
The sergeant went to the collapsed
boy and loosened his uniform jacket
at the throat Then he roturuad IN