The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-07-16
The Case of
Bert Carter.
Stacker
III
By BARBARA KERR

I
had staggered bit; how did he know
what sort of fellows ran the Mine
Prop camp on the Narrow Guage? He
had got off at Mineral Hot Springs and
come overland with a guide and two
donkeys-maybe twas three.
Bert, quickened his pace, came for
ward frankly and held out his hand.
''From Hays, did you say, jim? Well,
I'm sure glad to see some one from
Hays. How's everybody? What did
you say your name ISL"
SHERIFF Beardsley," grinning rather
sheepishly into the boys honest blue
eyes. I'm up here after Stacker.
Know anything about him?"
search mel" replied Bert innocent
ly, at which the men laughed.
Beardsley explained to Bert, who
made no comment except that they'd
counted on getting out some extra
props; the trip would interfere.
But his camp comrades were out
spoken in their disgust: "Why, anyone
can see with half an eye that the kids
not more than twenty" declared the
Boss, who was too fond of Bert to take
1t calmly. Its simply a. cooked up
mess by some Of those foreigners
they're combing the country for men
to make up their quota"
The sheriff found himself nodding-
then hastily; swell, 1 was sent up
here to get him, boys; SO I'll have to
take him along"
After two years in the mountains.
with only a day off occasionally at
Salida, or Moffet, for supplies, Bert
was interested in everything except his
forthcoming trial.
"Of course, if it's up to me, I'll go.
I've had some experience; killed more
snakes than any other man in camp.
If I'm busy and one gets away, I just
take walk till find one In his place.
Why? Because they brighten women"
The sheriff, on arriving at Hays, rec
commended bail for Bert till trial day +;
In the meantime he loitered about the
village. His father and mother had
gone to South America year ago on
business; he had not been to Hays for
five years, as he went from school to
the mountains for his health. You'd
agree that he found it; six feet in his
stockings; bronzed as an Indian, with
an innocent, direct gaze that was bit
disconcerting till you knew him. So
when the board called "Case of Bert
Carter, Stacker" he arose to his feet.
marched up front and looked them
squarely in the eyes.
The three men looked at him with
honest admiration, but Mary Marvin,
the secretary, waited Bert to feel that
she disapproved of him. She was the
prettiest girl in the village, the stanch-
est patriot, and always ready to pun
ish slackers that came her way.
Bert could not help feeling her atti-
tude. At first he was mildly curious
as to what peeved the pretty lady, but
the more he looked at her the sting of
: 1t got under his skin. He wanted to
ask her outright what was wrong with
him.
He told the board that he believed
he would be twenty-one the third of
June, 1918, but in the absence of fam
lily records, would swear to nothing.
He was interested to know ON what
they based their accusation that he
was a Stacker.
To the board this seemed fair
enough, but the way he said Stacker
made Mary want to jump to her feet
and scream: "Just as you might say
bread-and-sugar, Elotherl"
Since the board had brought him to
Hays at behest of gossips, they must
bring in his accusers.
Mrs. Ted Livingwood swore that he
was the same age as her Rachael I;
Rachael was twenty-three last June.
'Ra1l be obliged to her mother" snick-
cred sorSe one; twenty-three was get
ting on toward old-maidhood, here.
Mrs. Ben Hopper swore that he was
the same age as Tommy; twenty-one
in May; she knew. for the boys had
many a time celebrated their birth
days by swimming in Big Greek. Bert
smiled, then chuckled behind his hand
boys birthdays were like Easter.
movable feasts, when swimming was
the celebration.
Things were hopelessly tangled
birthdays of towns contemporary chill
dren were told, as was time of estab-
fishing line fences, buying of live
stock, tearing down of old landmarks
but no corroborating testimony.
Mary was In a white heat: How
can he sit there like lump on a log
and the whole town wrangling about
his ageT she whispered.
The board was crazy with the futility
of 1t, when the old editor of the Free
Press walked in with a newspaper file
and asked to be sworn; opening it he
read: Born, yesterday to John and
Mary Carter, fine boy. Congratula-
tons, John" To the board: 1.-THE date
is June fourth, 1897; the boy will be
twenty-one June third, 1918" With
out comment, he walked out.
Without further ado the board ad.
journed, congratulated Bert, and clos.
ed the incident, but the secretary's an
cry eyes held Bert. Without apparent
volition he walked up to her and ask
ed If she wished to speak to him.
"Yes, dot" exclaimed Mary, vehe-
mently. How could you sit there
that way? Why didn't you get up and
say you'd go, anyway"
"Why, Miss Marvin, l thought trial
was a trial. II would be queer for a
man to say: oh, stop it, I'll confess
I'm guilty. just to stop the fuss.
wouldn't it'll"
"Well, yes" Mary admitted, "but
you needn't let it come to that. Why
do you suppose the Lord gave you all
that strength If not to defend your
country?"
"Oh, why" stammered Bert, "Ill go
If you want me to-" But Mary had
walked away, her head in the air.
Bert was puzzled. He had heard
little discussion of the war. To him it
was matter of age. He'd go when
called. What was the matter with the
girl? He'd go ask her.
Mary hesitated, then held out her
hand. 'T-mother says was rude to
you today. Forgive me and I'll tell
you how I feel about It."
So Bert received his first lesson in
patriotism from the lips of q pretty
girl, too much in earnest to remember
that she was pretty; that Bert was
handsome-or anything else except
that she wanted him to be soldier.
Presently Mrs. Marvin came in and
Bert spent the happiest evening of his
life. When he arose to go he asked