Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-04-05
NUMBER ONE"
BY ALICIA ~cHALLoNLR.

" hhNf VIZ tVtf 'hs WNaNA
A culprlt, fair enough to be irrcsis-
tlble to the most hardened anchorlte,
pleaded with dewy eyes and soulful
face. They stood at the gate Of the
home VI Wlnlfred Sumter. There had
been n tennis party and somehow Al
blon Ward had fingered and Wlnlfred
had encouraged him.
All through the afternoon she had
devoted herself TO his company. She
had done SO purposely. To this man
she felt that she and her fnmlly 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 a buried secret between
Ned and himself.
Those two had been college chums.
Ned Sumter had got into a scrnpe 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 II lavlshly to clear
Ned. He took the blame Ned should
have suffered.
"You will stay quiescent," declared
Albion IN his impressive but determined
way, "or III 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 me2' I'm n bro
ken. worthless fellow, u wreck from
drink and will be worse as time goes
ON. It's born In me and | can't resist
II. Take the lesson this ugly escapade
has taught you, Ned, and keep to the
road called Straight after this"
What Wlnlfred Sumter limited at
was no fiction. Young, brilliant, the
fuvorlte and heir Of an indulgent uncle,
n curse rested over him as Il had over
his father before him. He was no sot,
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
OHe vacation. Those were two weeks
10 be remembered. For the first time
In his life Albion Ward felt the sway OF
II spirit 90 pure, so gentle, so friendly,
may, more, loving, that he seemed
trnnsplanted into n new sphere. Then
one night In a %nelghborlng town a great
storm game 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 q
whole week was lost to friends.
arm not Ht to ever look at your sis.
ter, much less impose my wretched So
clety upon her" declared Albion sui
lenly, to winlfred's brother.
AT least say goodby to her" ap-
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 sake1" SO Albion consented
to bid adleu L Winlfred, and It was
as his brief call was ended that she
placed II trembling hand on his arm
with the words:
"You won't feel offended, or-or
scold me, will you, Mr.. wardi" and he
had bowed his head and clenched his
hands hard 10 endure the shame he
experienced.
Miss Sumter" he said husklly, II
anu unworthy of your interest. II /
ever do anything worth while II will
be through the memory Of this holy
hour. You must not think OF me. III
will try to overcome-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. 1. lie was the first
to sign the honor roll OF volunteers
and don't cry or worry, mother, wlni.
fred, for he showed mo my duty and l
Joined, too"
Ant q few months later, IN a lonely
spot az the front In far away France,
No. 1 and No. 2 crouched In a cave
like lndentatlon OF a high hill as n deaf
ening crash was followed by n shower
Of shattered rock and earth around
them.
They had been chosen TO undertake
a 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, n shell came
hurtllng towards them. II landed 80
close that the rock ~splinters penetrated
their uniform In a dozen plnces. Ned
was partially stunned, Albion dragged
him into the cave.llke shelter. There