The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-02-15


change of name, but with no
change Of circumstances
First Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh
was pacing up and down his narrow quarters
IN Fort Grady Michigan, holding a telegram
IN 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 as soon as a 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 on official papers. The young officer
had fixed the limit of his waiting at about
year.
"Norah's going to Florida" he muttered to
himself. 81 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 NorahU stay
down there until the old man is willing to let
her go Shes more Of a stickler for duty than
Old Mugs, the commanding officer, and that's
saying lot He won't give me a leave. I've
had too many. Great Winne,d Scott. but I
would like to see Norah before she goes"
And Lieutenant Robert Emmett Kavanaugh
sighed
kayanaugh 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 Ian
yard; "NIuggs is going to send a general pris-
oner through Chicago to Fort Sherman to
stand trial. He was going to send a sergeant
IN charge. 1t isn't a very pleasant duty, but
If you'll volunteer, I think Mugs will send
you, and you can stop off on your way back
from Sherman-it is only a 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 Chi.
cago bound train with big Colt revolver
strapped around him and an enlisted man.
with a downcast look, sitting alongside Of him.
FOB Kayauaugh had soft ueart. The soldier
It his side had seen eight years of service and
Iad never been IN trouble before He had
assaulted the top" sergeant, a serious ofYerse
IN the army as may go without saying
"CIeo~ uD, Spencer" said the lieutenant.
you've been a good soldier, as I know, and
I don't flrk 1t will 90 very hard with YOU
six months at the m0st-and then you'll be
restored To duty"
81 hit him. all right, Heutenant." answered
Private James Spencer "aud he deserved IT if
ever man did, but you can't do such things
in the army. no matter what the top saws to
you. and so ! am good for two years and
bOb'air discharge. It's tough. l never saw
the inside Of the mill before in my eight
years service. except when was on guard"
Part of a freight train went into a 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 was cleared
and the train ran on to Chicago It was Thurs
day and in four hours NCrah'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 eood-by to
his farco"
Kayar@ ah and his charged stepped from
the train luto the Chicago depot Bob's heart
was sore Il must see her" he said to him
self Fl can't stand it for six months" At
that instant be saw at the depot cigar stand.
making a purchase Jack Bacon. a Chicago club
man ana an intimate friend Eayanaugh hur
rie5 his charge over toward the young fellow
Jack Old man glad to see you You have an
hour or two to spare know You have. Don't
say no" and with that the lieutenant grabbed
his friend by the arm, motioned his prisoner
to walk ahead and the three went on a half
trot into the Office of a hotel across the
street Kayanaugh threw So bill before the
clerk and ordered room. He hurried the
astounded Bacon and the prisoner into the
apartment on the second floor.
Jack" said Kavanaugh, in a low tone as
Won love me. watch this man. I must see
Norah 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,
,,o,tad through the door out Of the hotel and
nm to a troUey car. In twenty minutes he was
with Norah Desmond who was in the midst
NJ the last hours Of preparation for her Flor
ida triD.