Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-05-22

not proceed against me without his
daughters permission. and l knew he
would never get it.
That evening Perkins took a train
for Atlantic City, and | shaved off my
mustache, also making my hair a dull
black. The next morning | was out on
the parapet experimenting the instruc-
ton of squads in handling the guns.
when the colonel came along. He was
showing the fort to some relatives who
were staying at one of the hotels out
side the walls. He came up to where
l was standing rear a gun and began
to explain its workings to his friends
Presently he asked of me:
Have these men been long under in
struction. Mr.
Perkins. Yes, sir; they are becom-
ing quite proficient"
The colonel stood not a dozen feet
away from me. The look he gave me
was, to say the least, searching. But
I kept a stiff upper lip. and without
noticing 1t walked away to another
gun and began giving the sergeant in
charge orders. The colonel passed on
with his visitors. but | knew that he
had noticed something about me that
did not look like Perkins.
Before the time for gun instruction
had passed l went to Perkins quarters,
thinking it possible that the colonel
would send for him in order to get a
closer inspection of him. l had scarce
~ arrived when there was a rap at
the door. and there stood the coloners
orderly.
.sIhe commander desires Lieutenant
Perkins to report at the headquarters
Office" said the orderly. saluting.
Every WE'LL" | replied. and the order
ly withdrew.
I should have notified May Of the
game | had to play. so that If occasion
required l might secure her assistance.
| had called upon her, but she was
dining out, and | did not see her. On
my way to the ~colonel's Office | passed
his quarters and found her sitting OF
the porch. | joined her and told her
of the critical position both of myself
and of Perkins.
eDo you think your conscience would
permit you to vouch for meT" asked
her.
"My conscience will permit a white
lie If | can thereby benefit a friend.
was the reply.
Every well; l would suggest that you
90 to your fathers Office and be ready
when | enter to make him believe |
am Mr.. Perkins"
She left me to put on a hat anc
when she came back took the wall
leading to the Office. ! waited I'LL }
saw her enter, then followed her
When | reported to the colonel be hac
his pocketbook In his hand getting out
some bills, which he gave to her. On
seeing me she exclaimed:
.How do you do. Mr.. Perkinsf Where
have you kept yourself for 80 longs
You have not been TO see me IN an
age"
1t was plainly evident from the way
the colonel blinked at me that he had
sent for me to find out If ! were the
officer he had seer IN the parapet-
Evidently | did not look to him like
Perkins. and l must have looked very
like myself. But he could not trus'
his own eyesight and dared not t
issue with his daughter as to
identity. Finally he looked an ord,
to her to proceed on her way. but she
declined to leave me unprotected and,
resuming her seat. indicated that she
would remain until her father had
transacted his buiness with me. He
had nothing of Importance to COM
municate, and after giving me some
improvised instructions as to points he
desired the men instructed in concern
ing the guns he dismissed me.
/ walked In the direction May would
take on leaving the Office and when
she came out Joined her. curious to
know what If anything concerning me
had passed between her and her father
after my departure. She told me that
he had seemed to be thinking of my
resemblance to myself instead Of to
Perkins. but that to question her would
be to confess that his eyesight was
failing and he could not bring himself
to do so.
Fearing that / might be required to
pass a second examination l invited
May to an excursion up the river that
would keep me away for the rest Of
the day. ] had no right thus to absent
myself. but If the matter were raised.
having been ministering to the pleas
ure Of the commanders daughter, ]
felt assured that no notice would be
taken of the breach of discipline.
May was good enough to remain
away with me till the brightness Of
day had passed. and her father could
not see in the dark. | thought that.
since l was aiding my friend Perkins
to propose for a wife. l might do ONE
thing for myself in a like direction.
and during the day told May my
| story" Since the matter had beer