Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-14
The Man Who
Wouldn't Stay Put
BY HAROLD TITUS

Jimmy Crogan was such a natural
Born warrior that it was great ef-
tort for him to endure that season
If the year when peace on earth and
good-will toward men are supposed
20 abound. He read -constantly-the
history of wars. He studied constant
ly-the theory of war.
- And so it was that when the regi-
nTaent was ordered South with de-
cisive action a certainty and Lieu
Scnant Jimmy Crogan was left be-
mind in charge of the post. all his
military training went for nothing.
de damned the department, damned
ache colonel, damned fate, and was
damned sorry he had ever been born.
Anyhow. that's what he said.
Tt was humiliating@ 1t was degrad-
ng-torturing.
Long trains numbered up through
she tropical jungles, crammed with
nen who talked a strange language
ind who were backed by a history
eplete with gigantic successes. 1t
aeeded no appeal from Mexico to
send the army across the border.
The officers of the National Guard
were ordered to fill their ranks.
Three days later the militia was or
Tered under arms, to move at an
iour's notice, and Lieutenant Jimmy
walked alone. with a white face and
= Stiff tread.
In the morning Lieutenant Crogan
Nas missing from the post. The
eolonel's lady and the post washer
woman talked about it alike, and in
whispers. When two days passed and
no sign of the man in command had
appeared. the information was wired
10 Headquarters. The colonel-Jim-
ny's colonel-read a copy OF fhe mes
sage just as the recruiting officer of
"A National Guard regiment was talk
ing the measurements of decidedly
.s~Well put up chap, who answered all
$ the requirements and seemed to be a
whole lot better than most of the
men who made UP the militia.
81 This new man listened with a bored
expression to the sergeant who was
3, detailed to school the rockies. He
-grasped all the movements on the in
slant, it seemed: once he shook his
head and uttered what might have
been the first syllable of a protest
when the sergeant launched into a
new explanation. Evidently he
Thought better of 1t, though, for he
Stared straight ahead in silence, while
deep flush stole from his collar to
mis- hair.
Private Crogan. under another
name, moved south with his regi-
ment4 Jimmy enjoyed it immensely.
in spite of the fact that the van of
the army was fifty miles to the south.
They were to be moved. went the
+ rumor. after a week of drilling under
The hot sun, among the cactus plants.
Great was the resultant excitement.
H'rhe next day they moved southwark.
nd enc private was so hilarious. so
Z boyishly jubiant, that he almost
laughed aloud in the faces of the
officers at inspection.
= IT took all day to go those fifty
miles. At shutdown they left their
train. marched UP a rise. gained the
top, and drew one great breath in
unison as they looked at the army
spread out before them.
Wari An army, Before, over the
tsdtsn country. the enemy Unknown
powerful, aggressive! Wari
God" breathed a private whose
first name was Jimmy. and the word
carried a thankful reverence.
Tn the light of early morning Jimmy
Crogan, stepping lightly, a smile in
his eyes. delighted anticipation in his
heart. followed a string of army
mules to the railroad water tank
Toward them. walking stiffly, came a
man who Wore the decorations of a
coionel. His gaze fell on the squad
-of national guardsmen and. recogniz-
ling their rank, he looked them over
zcliriously His gaze fell on James
ssTrogan and lie staggered backward a
step or two.
Jimmy stopped. He met the as
founded look of his old colonel. click
cd his heels together. and raised his
hand in a stiff salute.
Lieutenant Crogani' the other
cried when he made words out OF
his spluttering. whats the mean
ling Of this damned business
Yes. sir" muttered Jimmy, know
ing nothing else to say.
you deserted the post" snorted
the other
ssis "Yes. sir. colonel" replied Jimmy
Is saliiting again.
= You're here with the guard"
Eyes, sir"
nWhy you" but the colonel
Could think of no fitting word. so he
amply ordered Jimmy's arrest.
Lieutenant Chickens Rawley
searched him Jimmy and Chick
ems were classmates at the Point.
~-irs.Tough luck, old top" he NUT
tered. as he went through the for
nlality of searching the prisoner.
whats the answer"
ss,,a.. Nothing" muttered Jimmy, NOV
ing his lips as slightly as possible
b SO the men would not see. You'd
have done the same thing. You
wouldn't have stayed put"
49, The news that ran through the
camp became more and more grave
s. The invading army was advancing
Stea Oily. ominously.
They'll advance us before long
the man that fed the prisoner told
his old lieutenant.
Lots of good it'll do me-" COM
= mented Jimmy.
Real action was Inevitable. Jimmy
GO Crogan was out of it; that was as
certain as is death
- lieutenant Crogan found himself
awake in the middle of his prison
the sunlight streaming through the
cracks in the wall and his2 hear
srthumping stoutly, right up in hi
4 throat. Then he laughed. 1t WASH
as battery, after all. Just the roar o
p planes exhaust as it eircled allow
ssatlle camp. Through his window h,
could see the thing as il winged it,
way to the south. looking like biz
~ bug. Hours passed and the aero
plane did not return. Another wen
: up and did not come back. The mex
Gay a third and a fourth made tn
attempt. And none came back.
That afternoon Lieutenant Rawle
.entered the guardhouse on sofiicia
= business, of course. His face wa
pinched and drawn. He looked at tn
prisoner In silence.