Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-01-03
"NUMBER ONE"
BY ALICIA cHALLoNER.
fc0pyrirht. isi7. western Newspaper Union


A culprit. fair enough to be irresis-
uble to the most hardened anchorite,
pleaded with dewy eyes and soulful
face. They stood at the gate Of the
home OF Winifred Sumter. There had
been a tennis party and somehow Al
bion Ward had fingered and wlnifred
had encouraged him.
All through the afternoon she had
devoted herself TO his company. She
had done so purpcsely. To this man
she felt that she and her family owed
more than they could repay. Albion
Ward never dreamed that they were
| aware Of facts In the career OF Ned
Sumter, brother and son, which he
supposed TO be buried secret between
Ned and himself.
Those two had been college chums.
Ned Sumter had got into scrape that
meant not only expulsion at the most
critical Juncture Of his college career,
but public disgrace. Albion Ward had
\ stepped into the breach. He had
money and he spent 1t lavishly to clear
Ned. He took the blame Ned should
have suffered.
"You will stay quiescent," declared
Albion in his ifnpassiye but determined
| way, "or I'll wreck the future Of half
the class. by duplicating all who were
mixed up In the miserable horse play
business of blowing up the founders
monument on the campus. What are
graduating honors to me? I'm a bro
ken, worthless fellow, a wreck from
drink and will be worse as time goes
on. It's born in me and / can't resist
it. Take the lesson this ugly escapade
has taught you, Ned. and keep to the
road called Straight after this"
What Winifred Sumter limited at
was no fiction. Young, brilliant. the
favorlte and heir of an indulgent uncle,
a curse rested over him as 1t had over
but no restrictions could prevent him
from getting liquor when one of his
drinking spells was on him.
II had come about that Ned had in
sisted upon his going home with him
one vacation. Those were two weeks
to be remembered. For the first time
in his life Albion Ward felt the sway OF
spirit so pure. so gentle, so friendly,
nay, more, loving, that he seemed
transplanted into new sphere. Then
one night in neighboring town great
storm came up. The village tavern Of
fered its hospitality and its temptation.
Shutting himself up In a room all by
himself and well supplied with the
/ fiery liquid, he, Albion Ward, for a
whole week was lost to friends.
I'm not fit to even look at your sis
ter, much less impose my wretched so
ciety upon her." declared Albion sui
lenly, to Winifred's brother.
AT least say goodby to her." APP
pealed Ned. "She knows of your fall
from grace, as others do. but she Is
full of sorrow, more than that, pity
for you. Old friend, can't you brace
up for her sake?" SO Albion consented
to bid adieu to Winifred, and it was
as his brief call was ended that she
placed a trembling hand on his arm
with the words:
"You won't feel offended, orA-or
scold me, will you, Mr.. Wardf" and he
had bowed his head and clenched his
hands hard to endure the shame he
experienced.
Miss Sumter" he said huskily, Il
am unworthy Of your interest. II |
ever do anything worth while 1t will
be through the memory of this holy
hour. You must not think of me. IL
will try to -goodby"
He was gone, and the next day Wini-
fred sank like a stricken dove when
her brother entered her presence with
the exciting intelligence:
Ward is No. /. He was the first
to sign the honor roll of volunteers
and don't cry or worry, mother, Wini-
fred, for he showed me my duty and
joined, too"
And few months later, in a lonely
spot at the front in far away France,
No. / and No. crouched in cave
like indentation Of high hill as deaf
ening crash was followed by q shower
of shattered rock and earth around
them.
They had been chosen to undertake
secret important mission.
Just approaching a part OF the rug
ged ledge along which they had crept
foot by foot, suddenly from the plain
below where a great field piece was
operated by the enemy, shell came
hurtling towards them. 1t landed so
close that the rock splinters penetrated
their uniform in dozen places. Ned
was partially stunned. Albion dragged
him into the cave-like shelter There
came second shell. 1t landed direct
" at the entrance to their retreat.
'sDon't waste time" directed Albion In
feverish haste. "rhey have the rapge.
You can make the fifty yards in sefety
between the shells. Run for your life
when / give the word"
Bewildered, as he was dragged from
cover. protesting, as bis comrade gave
him vigorous push one way and him
self darted the other. Ned groaned
as kissing shell struck the face Of
the rock and great blast obliterated
No. / amid the heaping debris.
at is the end for poor Albioni' be
moaned. as he reached camp in safety.
But lol it was only the beginning.
for they found the fearless hero hours
later, battered. wounded inEensihie
The camp was ringing with his daring
exploit for weeks. They carried him tn
umphantly On their shoulders when he
was invalided and sent home. whore
winifred possessed herself of the