The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-03
The Courier
BY F. A. MICHEL

Damien was courier In the Balkan
states while the people In Macedoma
were preparing for the revolution
against the Turks in 1908 His WORK
was to carry messages between the
towns. in each of which was revolu'
tionary committee. Macedonia was
full of Turkish soldiers and Turkish
robbers, both of whom oppressed tne
Christians. The soldiers patrolied the
country. while the robbers swooped
down on tile farmers. appropriated
their provisions and animals and. what
called for their undying vengeance
carried OF their women.
Damien at times carried his mes
sages on foot fighting his way through
upderbrush, over the mountains ana
crossing the streams either by fording
or on an improvised raft But he was
usually expected to cover considerable
distances and ut such times traveied
on horseback His hOrse-his name
was Peter-had been obtained for him
from racing stock. since he needed
fleetness to escape from the askars.
or Turkish soldiers, who. should they
capture him. would torture, then put
him to death, But Damien always
carried. tiny bottle of poison to en-
able him to escape the torture.
Often would Damien ride into VII
LACE. and warn the, inhabitants that
their oppressors were on the way to-
ward them. which, meant that they
must expect to be looted This would
give time for the Christians to hide ar
tieles Of value and for the women to
climb into. the mountains and hide.
But the great work done by the courier
was carrying the messages of the or
ganizers of the revolution and those Of
the revolutionary, committees between
the towns. 9.
One evening Just before dark Da-
mien. loaded with messages that II
captured would draw down on numer-
Gus towns the wrath of the Turks--be-
ing evidence that they we're plotting
rebellion-was riding along road.
Suddenly his horse pricked up his ears.
turning them to the right. Presently
Damien heard the soft tread Of horses
hoofs on soft turf. They were in ad-
vance of him. and he turned to 60
back. but as he did SO he saw Turkish
horsemen leaving the timber for the
road behind him. He determined to
keep on. trusting to Peters speed. that
had saved him on so many occasions.
"Peter." he said, you must make
the effort of your life. Never would
a capture Of dispatches with which ]
have been intrusted result SO disas-
trously to 80 many Of our friends as
now"
Peter may not have understood what
each word meant. but he knew BY his
masters tone that a supreme effort
must be made. He heard the tread Of
horsemen making for the road In nd.
vance Of him as well as that Of those
behind. Gathering his legs under him,
he made q spring that was followed
BY another and another in quick sue
cession. He succeeded In passing the
point where the advance Turks enter.
ed the road several hundred yards
ahead Of him. The pursuers sent
shots after him. but did not hit either
him or his horse. O.
Peter, as usual. carried his master
away from his enemies, but there were
other parties out looking for Damien.
who had been informed upon by Pc.
maks. Mahometan citizens Of the coun.
try. who were ever ready to give the
Turkish soldiers information Of Chris.
tian rebels. Fearing to meet others,
Damien turned or the road and enter.
ed field It was now quite dark. and
he could not be seen beyond a very
short distance. and his horses tread
was not likely to be heard on the soft
ground.
There are many irrigating bitches in
that country, and Peter stumbled into
one of them that was covered with
long grass. He went down. He tried
to rise. but could not Damien got Oh
his back and examined him. One Of
his fore legs was broken.
That meant the death Of the horse
and probably the death Of his master
for now the courier could hear Turkish
cavalry all about him. What should
he do-leave Peter and get away on
footf It seemed the only thing to DO
But he would not leave him to die in
pain. He would kill him. but not BY q
bullet, for that would be heard By the
Turks. While be was planning be
heard the TURKS about him searching
for him. Heswas surrounded.
Damien knew that he had carsiSd his
last message His 0rst thought wa
for the dispatches he carried. BE
could not burn them for the light they
would make. Tearing them into bits
he lifted a stone under water In the
bottom Of the ditch, thrust them un
, der and let the stone fall on them
Then hs returned to his horse and put
his arms about him, holding Pstsr's
head against his breast.
"Petsr. dear Petsr." he said. I'VE
win die together"
Taking the poison b always carried
-prussic acid-Ae emptied most Of 1,
on Peters tongue. In q moment the
horse was still. Then, pouring thu
rest Of It on his own tongue. he fsll
forward
The Turks found courier and hors<
dead together. one Of Damien's ARM
about Peters neck. They knew whom
they had taken and searched him and
about him for his dispatches. Blu,