The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-07-30
DISGRACE is WIPED OUT
BY JAMES W. JACKSON.


of the fire on his grave face looked up
to welcome a visitor.
"Can you read in the embers the
| fortunes OF the coming battle Bur
gcr?" the newcomer quered, lightly.
Burger made no reply at once. Then
he broke the silence with a speech
/ that for him was long
you and | may never sit together
like this again. Cortwrtght. I'll tell
you a story. Once there was young
military cadet proud OF his calling.
But one day when a girl was very i'll
and he was denied permission to so to
see her he broke bounds and went
anyway. Coming back to quarters late
at night he was seen and hauled up
to explain In foolish desperation he
lied like a common thief They broke
his sword, Cortwright, for that, and
expelled hm-b broke his sword-mind
YOU
Burger bowed his face in his hands
for an instant. Cortwright nodded in
silent sympathy
private to offer myself and my life
In atonement Something tells me the
sacrifice will be required tomorrow
wouldn't have you wonder about my
secret If | go you will know | went
as soldier, won't YOU" He turned
his head beseechingly and his com
rade nodded reinsurance.
They did not talk again until the
dawn brought a sndden alarm. The
army reused swiftly. The splitting fire
of the pickets became almost at once
that curiously unintermittent roar OF
continued infantry fire. Before Bur
ger and Cortwright knew where they
were to take part, cannon had doomed
out challenge and had been crash
lngly answered. The battle was on.
Then came the order to advance.
Burger was satisfied. His was the
most eager foot to respond when the
forward command was given. Then
the small detachment swept on
uble-Quicked-swept on toward an
obliteration as swift and utter as IL
they had faced the shriyeling blast
OF n furnace.
For the enemy was ready and wait
ing. in force. An unerring fire seemed
to strike the attacking line and rip
along it like fingers over the keys OF
a piano. The front staggered and
reeled
And the officers went down as
thickly as their men before the muir
derous scythe OF war Those that re-
main<i, however. pushed on with Bur
ger and his fellows at their heels.
with the scream of shells the mad
roar OF musketry. the up-fying clods
OF earth. men staggering on in a
drunken line or reeling as into the
gutter, the air trembling with the
fierce passion OF war, the sky lurid
with wild flashes and wall OF lead
impeding the advance. Yet the com
mand pressed on-Burger pushed for
ward on a lone officers heels.
For there was but one now. So long
as there was one to lead, just so long
Burger, with blackened face and
parched lips, was content
Then that one suddenly became
palsied With a hand clapped quickly
to his breast he bent. Topping, his
sword fed from his hand. He dropped
TO his knees, sank slowly to the
ground; and the command was com
manderless!
The fates were eager TO give Burger
his chance. with a yell he snatcRed
at the sword and swung it high.
on" he rallied, with an exalted
countenance turned toward the men.
With a tall figure erect, his head
thrown back and a strong arm, steel
pointed showing the way, he held the
wayering line for the critical mo-
ment.
Then, with sublime faith in his fol
lowers, he turned his back and leaped
for the stone wall entrenchments. The
squad did not fail him Led by de-
monized chief 1t swarmed the enemy
in a rush and staked the game on
hand-to.hand conflict.
And the spirit behind that charge
won. The enemy fell away. The
edges OF the line thus broken weaken
ed and bent backward. Then an at
tack in force was hurled through the
break. sweeping the enemy into a
heap upon itself as a whirlpool might
circle driftwood into a central spot.
The opposing army retreated. The
battle was over and the day was won.
There was respite then for the ranks
and a chance to count the survivors.
Prone on the ground Burgers men
found him. an officer in a priyate's un-
form. They carried him back TO the
field hospital where he lay for hours
too far from the world OF understands
ing to know that the charge he took
up had been the most fortunate move
OF the whOls battle
Rut the commanding general vowed
that his commission should come as
fast As the mails might bring 1t. And
his nurse was empowered to tell him
that as soon as his ewes were open.
They opened at last on her And