The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-04-22

found man in citizens ureoo VIZ
Tho officer of the day and sentinel
The man was rough, unkempt anu
ragged. He was hungry ana lootsoie
and exhausted. ..
"Who is it and what's the news;
oueried the colonel, il no agfeeaoie
frame of mind.
IT'S Hobson, sir" answered the ar
rival as he YEARLY saluted.
"Hobson? Hobson? Why, you are
the deserter and have come 70 give
yourself up. Adjutant, why WASH
this man sent to the guardhouse III
stead of disturbing me-
HE has news, sir replied the ao-
jutant.
Colonel" said the deserter, as Nc
leaned heavily against the veranua oA
the commanders quarters, I've peen
living among the Indians, greasers
and outlaws since | deserted. You
may know that the Sioux are ready
for the war-path, but ! don't belleVe
YOU know that old Concha and 6Oo war
riors are hiding along the river over
there and will move on you, tonight
It has been planned for days, colonel
and they'll be here to attack IN the
gray Of morning. I've known II LOT
three days past, but | couldn't get
away to give you warning. ! dodgeo
them tonight, and here am and my
news is straight. They'll sweep the
valley clear and then rush the fort.
Now, send me to the guardhouse as
a deserter and get ready for trouble.
There was moments silence as the
deserter finished. There had been
ring of truth in his every word ana
no one doubted his news.
'Hobson, you are no coward, and
you will not go to the guardhouse,"
frankly replied the colonel, as he ex'
tended his hand.
Then men went galloping down into
the valley to warn the settlers and
bring them in, and the fort prepared
for defense Orders were issued in
whispers and men moved about like
shadows. In three hours a breast.
work Of boxes, bales of hay, wagons
and turf covered the most exposed
point and the one most likely to be at
tackled. An hour later every man who
could fire a gun was cfouching behind
it and waiting for the expected attack.
Sergeant" whispered the deserter,
as the non-com. peered into his face
through the darkness, you said was
a coward"
Yes, did.
And you said that Corporal Shan.
ley and all the boys believed me q
coward"
'Well?"
We'll, I'll make you all take it back
tonight or 60 to HI trying"
Moving with the footsteps of ghosts,
and leaving the crickets still singing
behind them, Concha's 800 warriors
left their lurking place under cover Of
darkness and swept up the valley.
They found it deserted Of human life,
but, conscious Of their strength, they
pressed on to the fort. At the first
signs of daylight they raised a savage
cry and made their rush. But for the
extemporized breastwork the post
would have been carried off-hand. The
rifle fire surprised and checked them,
but they were not panic-stricken.
They rushed again and again, and at
length, at one point, half score Of
them broke through Six or seven Off.
GERS tried to drive them back with
sword and revolver, and the melee had
become bloody and furious when q
man with dubbed musket dashed in
and cheered as he laid about him. II
was the deserter. He cheered and he
struck, and he struck and he cheered,
and every time the musket stock
crashed down it shattered a skull. He
did not fight like a man, but like a
devil. Almost with his own hands he
killed or drove back such as had sur.
mounted the works.
All along the line the hostiles had
had enough. Two hundred of their
lay dead on the green grass as
Concha gave the word to draw off, and
this heavy loss was to break the pres.
tige of the Sioux chieftain and make
him beg for lasting peace.
"Hobson. Hobson! Where is Hob.
SON." called the colonel, as the fight
was over and his heart beat with graft.
tude for the man who had brought the
warning.
Here. sir" replied Sergeant Davis,
as he pointed to one of the 20 dead
men inside the breastwork-a dead
man with three dead warriors lying
within reach Of his hand.
And l called that man a coward"
And so did l. sir, and so did we
all, and may God forgive us for it,"
Copyright. 1914, by Daily Story Pub Col