Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-26

crime. Johnny didn't know this. He
was too young to know anything about
such matters. He was seized with a
desire to get away as far and as
quickly from the scene of his crime
as possible.
Leaving the body where it lay, he
struck out into the woods, walking all
night. He has been through many
horrors since. but he says that that
/ first night after the murder was the
most friGhtful OF all. In the morn
ing, needing something to eat. he
stopped at farmhouse and heard per
sons talking about the sea battle in
Manila bay that had just occurred.
Here was chance for him to bury his
identity. He would volunteer in the
army and be sent to fight the Span
iardS.
After eating a scant breakfast he
went on till he struck city i'll which
he found the people excited over the
news from Manila. Seeking a re-
Cruiting station, he offered himself for
enlistment. The recruiting officer look
ed at him obviously, wondering if he
was of a proper age to join the army,
Dul ne us tdStl W III UP HIS tOLI-
pany, and, since Johnny made one OF
five men he lacked for the purpose,
the boy was accepted going on the
roster under an assumed name. He
was sent to Tampa, Fla, and from
there to Cuba.
The morning Of debarkation was the
first event to make Johnny forget that
terrible scene in the wood when he
had come to himself and seen what he
had done. As boatIoad after boatload
Of men left the transports and were
pulled to the shore the air~was alive
with their cheers rising above the
strains Of "Thereu Be q Hot Time In
the Old Town" from the military
bands
And there was a hot time, sure
enough. The army marching inland
toward Santiago was met by the Span
iards. and a sharp fight was the result.
Johnny, who had enlisted with a
vague boyish idea of getting Killed in
battle, forgot his original intention and
felt only the emotions OF a soldier.
The ardor Of battle triumphed over all
else. Where other recruits finched
Johnny pushed forward When the
fight was over he had been marked by
the captain for one Of the reliable men
of his company. and, a sergeant having
been killed. Johnny was promoted to
the position.
Before the fighting around Santiago
ceased Johnny was made Il lieutenant.
But the war was short. and at the end
OF 1t he was still boy, having barely
turned seventeen. Nevertheless he
was so badly wounded that # was ex-
pected he would die. Ee lay IN hos
pital for long while and when finally
discharged was permanently disabled
Retaining his army name. the young
veteran went to work in en- eastern
city and by close application 10 his
work gained the confidence Of his en-
ployers. But while at his duties and,
above all, when he went to bed his Sc
cret never left him. often he would
awake in the night with start, and
as ~ nv Aash If lightning the scene
IN the wood from which he had fed
would be wildly revealed 20 him.
Though Johnny was lost 10 the
world, there was one with whom he
communicated-his mother. To her he
wrote. explaining his absence. and she
realized tie importance OF keeping his
secret. Six years passed and johnny.
partly by good luck, partly because IN
work alone he was able to temporarily
Danish the crime that haunted hin.
prospered. The only person who knew
his secret and stin loved and respected
him was his mother, and he asked her
TO come 20 him She did 50. and from
the moment Of her arrival 10 found
one to render his lead less hard 20 bear.
Bot a time came when it again
doomed up before him ike the figure