River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-01-18

w are given with some sllgnt
change Of name, but with no
change Of circumstances.
First Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh
pacing up and down his narrow quarters
in Fort Grady Michigan, holding telegram
I'm his hand. He had read it twenty times,
but at every second turn in his nervous walk
he read it again. The telegram was dated
Chicago, and this Is what it said: Leave
Thursday for Florida Uncle Frank ILL., Stay
indefinite. Norah Desmond"
Lieutenant Bob Kavanaugh and Norah Des-
mond were engaged. They were to be mar
ried az soon as few accommodating superior
officers would consent to be killed off or die
in their beds and thereby give Bob a chance
to write captain instead Of lieutenant before
his name official papers. The young officer
had fixed the limit of his waiting at about
year.
''Norah's going to Florida" he muttered to
himself Il haven't seen her for three weeks
and won't see her for six months to come.
Uncle Frank is one Of the kind who never
dies and never gets well, and NorahIl stay
down there until the old man is willing to let
her go. She's of stickler for duty than
Old Mugs, the commanding officer, and that's
saying lot. He won't give me leave. I've
had too many. Great Winfield Scott, but I
would like to see Norah before she goes"
And Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh
sighed.
KaVanaugh couldn't keep anything to him
self, and in five minutes he was telling his
woes to Captain Percy Lanyard of the artil-
lery corps. Brace up, Kavanaugh," said Lam
yard; Mugs is going to send general pris-
oner through Chicago to Fort Sherman to
stand trial He going to send sergeant
in charge. 1t isn't very pleasant duty but
II you'll volunteer, I think Mugs will send
you, and you can stop off on your way back
from Sherman-t is only few miles from
Chicago-and see your blue-eyed Norah be-
fore she gets on the Florida limited"
Twelve hours from that time Bob Kava-
naugh was sitting in the smoking car of a Chi
cago bound train, with a big Colt revolver
strapped around him and an enlisted man.
with downcast look, sitting alongside of him
Bob Kavanaugh had soft nearr. The soldier
at his side had seen eight years of service and
had never been in trouble before He had
assaulted the top" sergeant a serious offense
in the army as may go without saying.
"Cheer up, Spencer" said the lieutenant.
you've been a good soldier as know, and
/ don't think it will go very hard with you
six months at the most-and then you'll be
restored to duty
81 hit him, all right, lieutenant" answered
Private James Spencer land he deserved it if
ever a man did, but you can't do such things
in the army, no matter what the top says to
you. and SO am good for two years and
+bobtair discharge. It's tough. l never saw
the inside of the mill before in my eight
years service, except when 1 on guard"
Part of a freight train went into ditch
ahead of the Fort Grady passenger train
Kayanaugh and his prisoner were delayed five
hours. The lieutenant fumed and said things
under his breath Finally the way cleared
land the train on to Chicago. 1t was Thurs
,day and in four hours Norah's train would
leave for Florida. 1t was utterly impossible
for the officer to get his prisoner to Fort Sher
man and to return in time to say good-by to
his 1ancee.
Kavanaugh and his charged stepped from
the train into the Chicago depot Bob's heart
was sore ct must see her." he said to him.
self. 'T can't stand it for six months" At
that instant he at the depot cigar stand.
making purchase Jack Bacon, Chicago club
man and an intimate friend. Kavanaugh bur-
ried his charge over toward the young fellow.
lack old man, glad to see you. You have an
hour or two to spare, know you have. Don't
saw no" and with that the lieutenant grabbed
his friend by the arm motioned his prisoner
to walk ahead, and the three went on half
trOt into the office of a hotel across the
street. Kavanaugh threw 50 bill before the
clerk and ordered a room. He hurried the
astounded Bacon and the prisoner into the
apartment on the second floor
Jack" said Kavanaugh, in low Tone as
van love me, watch this must see
Norab Desmond She's off to Florida. Take
this gun and don't fail me-" and with that
First Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh
showed revolver into Jack Bacon's hand,
bolted through the door, out of the hotel and
on to a trolley car. In twenty minutes he was
with Norah Desmond. who was in the midst
OF the last hours of preparation for her Flor
ida trip
In twenty minutes more the doorben of the
aat rang violently The maid opened 1T and
in rushed Jack Bacon. flushed and fairly be-
side himself Bob" he yelled. your prisoner
skinned He kicked open a door into the
next room and jumped onto low roof and
then into the alley. l took shot at him.
hut missed and when l got down he was clean
gone.
Bob Kavanaugh sank into chair his face
male. .'Norah" he said. this means court
martial and dismissal for me unless can
catch the fellow. It's a clean case of neglect
of duty. awful neglect of duty, and old Mugs
doesn't love me any too WELL anyway. It's
all up dear, If don't get him, and If | am
kicked out of the army l don't know what I'll
do | can't even dig ditch, though I'd try
willingly enough for you. But this won't
catch him. I'm off. but I'll be at the train to
say good-by," and Kavanaugh was out of the