Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-03-06
Private O'Neil
3, +. A. MICHEL
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. ISL

ayyell corporal" said the colonel.
not ceaSing 10 wag a large palm leaf.
"what's be been d9ingY
.Gnterfering with the guard In the
line Of duty. sir. !"
-HDwT
private Thompson on being repri-
manded by Lieutenant Blister kn'ck-
Cd the lieutenant down. We put
Thompson In the guard tent. and this
man lifted up the rear part OF the tent
wall while the sentinel wasn't looking
and helped the prisoner out"
what did you do that fort" asked
the colonel Of the prisoner.
swhy. they told me-" said the boy 10
trembling voice, that Thompson
would be shot for rnutiny."
what good would Ii do you to try
TO save him that wayr'
There was no reply TO this the pris-
oner standing with eyes bent on the
floor.
sDo YOU think" said the colonel.
.that II | let you of this time you can
let the prisoners in charge OF the guard
aloney'
IL don't know. sir"
Don't known
Il think can. sir"
The colonel told the corporal to
march the boy back TO his company en-
campmemt aud release him
The next day the recruit was
marched TO the colonel's tent again.
having committed the same oyense.
See here. young man. said the
colonel. do you know that you are iia-
BILE TO be shot for thisY'
mo. sir"
.Tbompsou's striking an officer was
outright mutiny: your helping the mu-
tineer 10 escape from the guard Ii the
next thing to Il. Do you want to get
yourself shot teoT'
Could take Private Thompson's
place. SIR
Take his place in whatyr
Being shot"
what In thunder do you want to do
that for r. asked the asionished colonel
I'D like TO. II be has to be shot"
How old are your asked the
colonel. hoping the boy was under age
and be could discharge him from the
army.
I'm twenty. sir"
TWENTY Were you enlisted a.
twenty? You're nothing but child"
There was no reply 70 this Tears
were standing In the boys eyes
Take him away" said the colonel to
the corporal, "and tell bis captain to
try and find some reason to get nd Of
him"
The commander heard no more OF
the recruit Private o'Neil until after
the first fight In Cuba. Then. on look
Ing over some papers that had come up
to him from ID company, he noticed
that charges had been preferred
against one OF the men for cowardiee.
The colonel. suspecting that some boy
had fiinched under his baptism Of Gre
and needed to be carefully handled. d..
rected that the accused man be brought
to his headquarters. When this was
done. who should appear but Private
0'Neil.
You're the man who was continu.
ally trying to get another man away
from the guard when we were In
Tampa. aren't your
Yes. sir"
And IL remember rightly you
wanted to be shot in his placer
Yes. SIR"
What's become Of himT"
He's Private Thompson. SIR" the
corporal put In. Lieutenant Blister
withdrew the charge Of mutiny on the
ground that Thompson. being a recruit,
didn't know. any better than 10 strike
an officer. Thompson has distinguished
himself In the battle and has been
made q sergeant"
Il don't understand why this boy
was continually trying to save Thomp-
SON"
They seemed to be great friends"
well. take him back where he came
from and order Thompson to report to
me in person"
He won't tell You anything" said
O'Neil.
You impudent, cowardly youngster.
what do you meanf Away with him.
Thompson reported with an arm in a
sling and bandage around his head.
Il understand. my brave fellow.
said his commander. that you have
been promoted for gallantry In the bat
tie Now, I wish you to tell me why
this little chap who is to be tried for
cowardice was constantly interfering
In your behalf with the guard when we
were at Tampa"
Il can't do that. colonel. unless you
order me to tell you"
VERY well: order you to tell.
"ONeil isn't man: he's woman"
"Pheww
Shes my wife. When enlisted
she followed me and enlisted, too,
dressed as man. tried to make her
90 back to our kid. but she wouldn't I
wish you'd send her home"
Orderly" cried the colonel, "go to
the captain commandine d company