The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-07-20


the minds Of both men. The general
must order court martial, which must
pass death sentence tthis boy, who,
after all, was doing the hardest and
most undesired duty a soldier Is called
upon to do.
General Alton broke the silence. al
have decided, Colonel Curtis, to offer
this prisoner his life on condition that
he reveals all that he knows about
these papers" -
Colonel Curtis rose. feeling the inter-
view was over.
"We will make the hearing at 7:3O
tomorrow morning, II you please, colo
mel, and l will have Captain Lawton
also present In the meantime detail a
special guard for the prisoner and see
that he has comfortable care. Good
night"
The footsteps died away down the
long, empty hall. and General Alton
was again alone. 1t had been a hard
day, and he was glad 1t was over. The
gravity of this last complication made
his face unusually old and worn. For
some weeks strange things of this kind
had come to light. Now this must
prove solution of what had never
been understood.
"Can 1t be-" he thought wonderingly
"that In all the world there Is a man. so
base as to sell for money the informa-
ton a soldier would die to preserve?"
Then he fell to thinking of the boy
whose life lay In his hands and Of all
the stern justice of war. Involuntarily
his hand rested on a letter with
northern postmark. 1t had come to
him from Princeton that morning. Be
fore him passed the eager, pleading
words Of his son, urging, imploring his
father to let him give up college and go
to the front 1.-THE soldier blood" the
letter ran, "the blood Of all the Atoms,
Is calling to me day and night, making
study impossible. / do not desire to
grieve you by giving up my work with
out your consent, but / am no longer
sure of myself. Let me do what my
conscience urges me to do. When peace
is declared / will take up my profess
sion If you desire It,"
He must consent, of course. Richard
was a man now and must make
mans fight for the old flag. Perhaps
some day In the fortunes Of war his
only son, his fine, brilliant Richard,
would stand as this boy stood today
under the shadow Of death.
The prisoner in his well guarded tent
had spent one of those never to be for
gotten nights that most of us can re-
member somewhere in life. There was
little doubt OF his fate, and, with a
strange, awed look on his young face,
telling Of the nights conflict, he waited
for the hour of the interview. He
knew nothing of the offer to be made
him and felt that it was only prelimi-
nary of his death warrant. He longed
with boyish longing for his uniform
to wear this morning. In that gray
and all 1t stood for he felt he could bet
ter face the worst.
General Alton, Colonel Curtis and
Captain Lawton were talking earnestly
when the orderly announced the pris-
oner and his guard.
How young, pitifully young" was
the thought that was In their minds as
the prisoner courteously saluted and
stood at attention. The excitement of
the moment had brought back faint
color In the cheeks and taken the wea-
riness from the face.
General Alton faced the boy with
keen scrutiny. "You understand, do
you, that you are under the gravest
charge in military lawT the general
began, his voice full of the stern COM
mand Of the soldier.
81 do, General Alton" the boy replied
quietly.
The young officer, acting as the gen.
erals secretary, prepared to take his
notes. The examination had COM
menced.
what is your name"
"Seton Dabney, suh.'
where do you live?'
"My home is in Pulaski subj"
The general paused in the examina-
ton. There was something trihe dis
concerning in the frank, boyish face
strangely suggesting that other boy in
northern town restless for the life
which had brought this one to grief.
When the general spoke next his
voice had lost much or the sternness
and impersonality. When General AL
ton chose to take that tone it was diff
cult to resist him always.
"Mr. Dabney, may I ask, is your IA
theirs name Edwin Dabney, and was
he first lieutenant in the old Sixteenth
Virginia in the Mexican war"
The prisoner looked Surprised; then a
smile of pleasure warmed his face.
Eyes, sub; his name is Edwin Dabney,
and he belonged to the old Sixteenth
Virginia. 1t was the delight of my
childhood to hear him tell those stories
of army life. When the trouble came
between the states l begged with all
my heart to go with my father In the
Ninth Tennessee. 1 was only eighteen
and the only son, and my father wished
me to continue my studies at the Vir-
ginia Military institute and so be with
mother while he was away. At the end
Of year he found 1t was no use. I