Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-10-16
BY JOHN TURNLEE

Ny father spent his money al fast
as he made it and when be died left
my mother, my sister Edith and myself
penniless. Mother did not bear up
long under the misfortune. and when
she died my sister and |. not having
any near relatives to take an interest
in us. were relegated to an orphan
asylum. Edith was eleven years old
and ! was five.
A lady came to the asylum n day
looking for a child TO adopt and, tax
ing a great fancy to Edith. took her
away to her home. l remember that
young as l was ! cried bitterly at
parting from my sister, but the day
came when she passed completely out
Of my mind. l passed through many
misunderstanding would be a bet
ter w~ord-during which l received a
few years of schooling. and at the age
Of seventeen enlisted in the regular
army of the United States. | was not
of the required age. but I was consid-
cruiting officer winked at my being a
year too young to comply with the
army regulations
Having enlisted In the cavalry ! was
sent to a post beyond the Missouri river
The cor1mandant was Major Thorne.
a man about ~thirty-hve years old, a fine
soldier and a gentleman. His wife was
an attractive young Woman some
twelve years his Junior. saw her Of
ten, of course. for we were OF the same
garrison. but being a private and she
the wife of an officer-the commandant
at that did not come very neal her
till her husband chose me for his or
derby.
l was a smooth faced boy, and / sup
pose / showed my birth in my person.
Mrs. Thorne took a fancy to me and
did me favors, which ] was anxious to
return. So | used to do odd jobs and
errands and carry messages for her.
The Indians had not all at that time
become pacifed, and we had some
trouble with them. The worst Of these
was on an occasion when they broke
away from their reservation and be
gan to murder and plumber the settlers.
The command marched against them,
and. being but two companies, the ma
jor contented himself with n orderly
as his only personal attendant During
the fight that occurred his horse was
shot under him. and an Indian raised
his tomahawk to dispatch the major
| had a revolver In my hand with one
charge In it. which put out of existence
the would be slayer just in time to
prevent his tomahawk being buried in
the majors skull.
When we had accomplished our work
and returned to the fort Major Thorne
made a good deal Of this act of my
saving his life. l shall never forget
the look on the face of his wife when
she first saw me after hearing his ac-
count of the matter. 1t seemed as If
she could scarcely keep from throwing
her arms about me.
1t was Mrs. Thorne who suggested
a means of rewarding me for the serv-
ice l had done her husband. She pro-
posed that they make an effort to Sc
cure me an appointment to the United
States Military academy. In those
days the congressman, who held the
appointments. used them for political
purposes. But the president has al
ways held a number Of appointments.
which are intended for the sons of
army officers. Mrs. Thorne decided to
go herself to Washington and ask for
one O.. Those appointments for me.
The day before she was to start for
the east she sent for me to come to
the commandments quarters and receiv-
ed me In her living room.
Jack" she said-she always called
me Jack and did not know any other
name for me-"Tm going to Washing
tor to see if l can't secur you an ap-
pointment to West Point don't do
this alone to make some return for
your saving the majors life. but be-
cause / have liked you from the first
moment l saw you. ] have a brother
somewhere in the world. If he still
lives, who is about your age | have
not seen him since he was a little boy
Of five. but there is something about
your expression at times that recalls
MN TO me-.
It did not occur to me that / had
found my sister. Indeed, / said moth
ing and asked no questions 10 estab-
lish such a relationship. ! simply
thanked her from the bottom Of my
heart for her kind intentions.
What's your name. JackT she
asked.
Walker"
"Walkeri Why, that was my name
before ! was married.
Still it did not occur to me that she
might be my sister. But it occurred to
her that there was a possibility Of my
being her brother. She asked me a
few questions as to my p~arentage and
childhood and suddenly surprised me
by throwing her arms about me and.
with eyes wet with tears. covering
my face with kisses.
Tbfrfnon years hafnro as