The Prescott daily news., 1913-05-27
DISGRACE IS WIPED OUT
By JAMES w. JACKSON.

Q welcome a visitor.
 Can you read in the embers the ortunes of tho coming battle, Bur er?" the newcomer queried, lightly.
 Burger made no reply at once. Then ne broke the silence with a speech hat for him was long.
 You and I may never sit together ike this again, Cartwright I'll tell you a story. Once there was young military cadet proud of his calling But one day when a girl was very Ill nd he was denied permission to go to see her he broke bounds and went anyway. Coming back to quarters late 1t night he was seen and hauled up "a explain. In foolish desperation he tied-like a common thief. They broke his sword, Cartwright, for that, and Cxpelled him-broke his sword-mind you."
 Burger bowed his face in his hands for an instant Cartwright nodded in silent sympathy.
 "So I came into the army as 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 I go you will know I went as a 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 sudden 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 Cartwright knew where they were to take part, cannon had boomed out challenge and had been crash ingly 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 ble-quicked-swept on toward an obliteration as swift and utter as if they had faced the shriveling blast of 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 piano. The front staggered and reeled
 And the officers went down as thickly as their men before the mur- derous scythe of war. Those that re mained, 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 hand clapped quickly to his breast he bent Toppling, his sword fled 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 yell he snatched at the sword and swung 1t high.
 On he rallied, wtah an exalted couutenance 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 wavoring line for the critical mo men,.
 Then. with sublime faith in his fol- lowers, he turned his back and leaped for the stone wall entrenchments. The squad did not fall him. Led by a de- monised chief it swarmed the enemy in a rush and staked the game on a hand-to-hand conflict.
 Ano the spirit behind that charge won. The enemy fell away. The edges of the line thus broken weaken ed ana 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 central spot.
 The opposing army retfeated 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 priyate's un- form. They carried him back to the field hospital, where he lay for hours.