The Raymer enterprise., 1914-03-26
DISGRACE is WIPED OUT
BY JAMES W. JACKSON.

SaH you Teau III Lne cmDeTb the
fortunes Of tho coming battle. bur.
GER" the newcomer queried, lightly.
Burger made no reply at once. Then
he broke the silence with \ speech
that for him waa long.
You and may never sit together
like this again. Cortwright. I'll tell
you 4 story. Once there was q young
military, cadet proud OF his calling.
But one day when a girl was very III
and he was denied permission to 60 10
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 hc
lied--like a common thief. They, broke
his sword. Cartwright, for that. and
expelled hlm-broks his sword-mind
YOU" r..
Burger bowed his face In. his hands
for an instant Cartwright nodded in
silent sympathy.
so I came into the army Is .
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. II go you will know went
cs q soldier. won't your. He turned
his head beseechingly and his com.
raGe nodded reinsurance.
They did not talk again until the
dawn brought q sudden alarm. The
army reused swiftly. The splitting fire
OF the plekets became almost at once
that cariously unintermittent roar OF
continued infantry fire. Before Bur
ger and Cartwright knew where they
were 10 take part, cannon had doomed
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 OH
double-quicked-swept on toward en-
obliteration as swift and utter. as IL
they had faced the shrivel!ng hlast
of furnace.
Fer 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 rs their men before the MUIR
derous scythe of war Those that re-
manned. however pushed on with Bur
ger and his fellows at their heels.
with the scream Of shells, the mad
roar of musketry, the up-flying 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 a wall OF lead
impeding the advance. Yet the CON-
mand pressed on-Burger: pushed for
ward on lone cfficer's heels,
Fer 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. 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 snatched
at the swcId and swung 1t high.
On" he rallied. with an exalted
countenanee turned toward the men.
With tall figure erect, his head
thrown back and a strong arm. steel
pointed showing the way, he held the
wavering line for the critical mo-
ment.
Then. with sublime faith in his fol-
lowers, he turned his back and leaped
for the stone wall entertainments. The
squad did not fail him Led by de-
monixed chief 1t swarmed the enemy
In a rush and staked the game on a
hand-tohand conflict.
And the spirit behind that charge
won. The enemy fell away. The
edges or the line thus broken weaken
cd ard bent backward. Then an at.
tack in force was hurled through the
break. sweeping the enemy into a
heap upon itself as whirlpool might
circle driitwood 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 chance to count the survivors.
Promo on the ground Burgers men
found him. an officer In a priyate's I'm.
form. They carried him back 10 the
field hospital where he lay for hours,
too far from The world Of understand
ing to know that the charge he took
up had been the most fortunate move
Of the whole battle.
But the commanding general vowed
that his commission should come as
fast as the mails might bring it. And
his nurse was empowered to tell lin
that MS soon es his eyes we're open.
They opened at last on her. And
they rested in n long. wondering stare
on her anxious, solici'ious and blush
irn f,1n CIn Atd not cnnaE Hnr ling