Omaha daily bee., 1917-08-14
Harry Keaton, Taken From Fort Crook
To LeavenWorth, Probably to Face
Firing Squad; Army Tragedy
Little Drummer Boy From
Omaha District, Charged
With Desertion, Must
Undergo Trial.
By BEATRICE FURMAN.

he is Just a kid, as the fellows
say-the little drummer boy. He has
thin, brown face and eager eyes all
alight. And how he did beat the drum
when they drilled or when the bat
talon sailed forth to the ball games
and parties in Omahal
You'd think the kaiser was a goner
sure, when he set the men quick-step-
ping to his music. And he was count
ing so on beating the drum for his
regiment over there in Europe, right
up to the big victory-or to the gates
of death-as the case might be. The
little drummer boy would lead the
way, as the fellows we'll knew.
But now all that is changed. In a
moment the boyish hopes and almost
reason itself were stamped out. He
was taken from Fort Crook yesterday
and today he's on the way to Leaven-
worth. The penalty for his mistake/is
death, in these war times, but the fell
lows are hoping the higher officers
will temper justice with mercy and
give the little drummer boy a light
sentence.
Harry Keaton-let that be his name,
for it's the one he gave when he en-
listed-is single personihcation of
the tragedy that comes once in a
while in every life. He came from
small town near Omaha and-but |
draw the veil there. His record is
good, except in the one step that
made this story possible, and even
army officers would like to shield him.
This, also for the good he has done
and the future--if he escapes the
firing squad.
Rather Be Dead.
"But I'd rather be dead" moaned
the little drummer boy yesterday; "I'll
be disgraeed for life-I can never vote
never even get good positionl And
l was trying hard to make good
didn't mean any harm when | left over
there, but I was just crazy because Of
the way that officer was always picA-
ing on me-" HerF
And so on, i'll frenzy of torment
he babbled all afternoon under the
stern eyes of a guard. Never still, he
fairly raced up and down over the
of ground allotted to him,
while the guard paced back and forth,
gun ready, eyes following every move
of the boy.
1t happened back in the Philippines
a short time ago the ofense of the lit
tie drummer boy for which he is pay
ing so dearly today. He had always
been crazy about soldiers and fight
ng," he says, from the time when he
first saw picture of soldier in his
second reader up to high school days,
when he devoured everything he could
ind about the great wars of history.
AS soon as his age would allow him
o barely Squeeze in" he joined the
lrmy. But over in the islands he didn't
ind the glory he sought. It was dull
md monotonous and he got so home
lick for motherl Not that he didn't
owe his country-he was willing to
lie for it. But it's sometimes harder
O live than die for a principle.
Not Always Fair.
1t was the maddening routine of
rmy life that got on his nerves. He
vas full of vitality and boyish eager
ess. He wanted to be doing some
hing!
But he could Have stood it all if it
admit been for that officer picking
n him." for, not always-sad to say
ARE the officers just and worthy of
aspect, even in the United States
rmy. Not often, but once in a white,
ONES one too "small"to stand sudden {
ise to authority. He confuses bullying I
nth discipline and it's hard on the
oys under him. Z
Somehow, he took a dislike to the
tile drummer boy. Time after time J
he boy was sent to the guardhouse, |
nfairly, he thought. And finally it I
He ran away--ran back v
, freedom and home. It happened S
fter he had received letter from
ONE, telling of the pleasant happen
lgs back in the United States. At
lie same time came another unfair
so he felt guardhouse sentence.
Well, that was all for a year. He .
anne back home and every one was !:
lad to see him and 50 happy he had II
OF "furlough." Nobody at home a
nderstood much of military affairs L
nd his hazy explanation was ac- +
opted.
He Enlists Again. c
Then came the call to arms last v
BRING! And the old longing for the :, .
my surged over the boyish soul of "
le little drummer boy. It covered .
most-the terrible never-ceasing +
,rment that ate down at the bottom
his heart, night and day. "Deserterl