Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-02-10

| " give Tue QTuuhcE Lidu u tSuoSc LIN
sent the weapon wide Of its mark.
Then the two guards clinched with
| Wilson. but the issue hung In the bal
ance
The guard. No. 3-double timer
called the corporal in the direction Of
post No. 2.
When the detail came the exhausted
sentries were hanging grimly to Their
man. Slug was forced to his feet. his
elbows drawn back so that rife bar.
rel could be thrust through the TRAN
giles, and told to march.
1t Is only Wilson on a tear" the
corporal reported to the officer of the
guard
Put him away. then" commanded
the lieutenant
Slug saluted the officer with much
ceremony and would fain have had
further speech with him, but the cor
poral hustled him inside. where the
men of the next relief were catching
little maps.
the corner and invited Wilson to get
busy and use it.
Ard the corporal went out
Next morning with the toe of his reg
ulation shoe the Corporal of the guard
prods Wilson roughly and bids the
brave dreamer awake. Slug rubs his
swollen eyelids and rolls his tongue
around in his dry mouth.
What am | In forr' he asked
Don't you remember?" asked the
corporal sternly.
Not thing this side Of the Es-
Gotta"
We'll. you're in bad. You came back
loaded. assaulted the sentry. tried to
throw bayonet through the corporal
of the third relief and raised hob gen
orally"
Slug settled back In deep thought
That meant court martial and dishon.
orable discharge. to say the least.
In the corner stood rifle with car,
fridge belt hung across it. Slug's eye
took ii all in.
With the muzzle under his chin and
his toe against the trigger the court
martial would be quite superhuous.
That seemed the most cheerful way
out of it.
He threw open the mechanism. In.
serted a load and sat down on the
floor. meaning business But--what
about the old lady?
How would she live when his pay
stopped? For there would be no pen.
sion. He was trying to figure this out
when the owner of the gun suddenly
returned for It, Slug mechanically
handed it over and then happened to
think again.
Hold on minuter' he called
Now what?" demanded the guard.
Wilson took the rife. gave the mech
anism a wrench and took out the load
Then he handed 1t back to the aston
ished soldier.
How in thunder did that load get In
ttere?"
Fell down the barrel. suppose"
said Wilson carelessly.
The guard gave him another look
and went ont to warn the corporal to
keep an eye on Wilson and not leave
any rides lying around. Just then Slug
appeared in the doorway and asked to
be sent under guard to his captains
quarters.
i The captain gave him a stern recep-
ton.
What do you want hereY' he de-
manded.
I'm not asking for myself, captain"
and Wilson met the forbidding frown
squarely. I'm in bad. and it's my
own fault. As far as / am concerned.
was Just about to blow my old head
on"
"why didn't yours asked the cap
tain sarcastically.
Il happened lo think about the old
lady. It's my pay that keeps her go
ing"
Il thought the whisky shops were
kept going with your pay" answered
the officer shortly
"The postoffice knows where most Of
my pay goes every month. The drinks
come free. and that's why ! get over
loaded"
You ought to know better"
Il do. but you know what place
Manila is, captain"
''It isn't very lively. but that doesn't
help matters. You'll have to face the
music. Wilson"
Facing the music is all right fol
me. but | want TO keep the old lady
from having to face It."
What do you want me to dog" ask
ed the officer shortly.
II want you to head of this court
martial aud have me transferred back
to the constabuiary.' said Wilson
boldly
why should do that?"
"Barause every man in this company
knows you've got heart in you." and
the defendants voice had the ring in
it. Listen. captain! You know that
before came back to this town my