The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-02-10
"The Wicked Flee"
By ROBERT J. PEARsALL

S BY ROBERT J. PEARsALL S
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tCopyright)
was standing on Kcarncy street
IN San Francisco when | saw two
horse wagon pass with the letters
"Q.MD., u.S.M.C.," on It's side.
The letters seemed TO me to have some
personal significance.
So | hailed the driver, who was
dressed I'm a blue uniform, and asked
him what they meant.
"Quartermaster's Department, uni
ted States Marine Corps" he said.
"Oh," said. "Is that It.? thought
they might mean, Quick, Mcdonald,
Useless Suckers Made Comfortable
lie laughed a bit. "Your name Nc
Donald?"
"Yes."
swell, they might mean that, too.
Got job?"
"No."
"Want oueT'
ayes "
Jump ia aaa conc with me-"
lie took me to the recruiting Office
nt the foot OF Market street, and the
wind-up of 1t was that before the day
was over | was enlisted In the Marine
Corps MS private at thirty per, and
on my way to the barracks at Mare
Island.
Which Is all merely by way OF eN-
planning how | came to be doing
md-wntch In an orderly box in front
Of the commandments house on that
nusplcious night four months later.
Shortly after midnight the telephone
rang.
"Commandant's orderly" answered.
"Thls Is wireless. Message from
Western Union"
| grabbed a pencil and memorandum
pad and prepared to copy It. LET
'cr co." ! said.
This was the astounding message
that ] received:
Commanding Officer. Marine Barracks,
Mare Island. via Commandant. Navy
Yard:
Place Private Fred r. Mcdonald under
immediate arrest. Further instructions
by mall.
(Signed). Bliss.
Commandant Marine Corps
Fred Il. McDonaldl That was my
self
Rather than stay and face the un-
certain charge, with its still more un-
certain attendants Of trial and punish.
ment, would run away
What with the sentries and civilian
wntchmen and guards 1t wasn't going
to 5e any easy time getting Off the
island, and that ! knew.
TLcn | started down Davis street
toward the waterfront.
knew where there was a shore-boat
lying alongside the sea-wall at the
end of the street. would steal that.
or borrow II, rather, and get away.
1t was n mighty dark night; had
that in my favor. got halfway
down the street without being dis
covered.
Then, just rs was passing the En-
gincer building, some one turned into
the street about fifty feet ahead. I
stopped and skunk against the side OF
the building; but he had heard me.
''IIaltw he cried. who's there"
II was n sentry.
Just above me was a barred window.
| took hold of the ledge aud pulled
myself up nolselessly.
There | chung, monkey-lke.
The sentry challenged three times.
Then he proceeded TO investigate.
Several times he passed me so close
That could have kicked his hat Off.
But nj last he gave It up and went
his way. and went mine. gratefully.
! made It to the sea-wall without
further mlshap.
And then the door OF nearby build
Ing opened and a night watchman'
came out.
"0h-h, yc divIl, OF have ye, have
OH" he cried, and made a dive. for
me.
"You have notr' / said
sprang out of the boat and lodged
hiHl uS i've Nuults Splihltu up AHt
waterfront at ten-second gait, with
him numbering behind.
stop or orll shoot, Ol'll shoot" he
yelled.
didn't think he would, and so /
kept on running.
But, all OF sudden, from In front
Of me came the sharp; =
Halt Halt Haltw of sentry
I knew that meant business.
There was only one thing TO do. II
was long swim across the channel,
and the undertow was treacherOus,
but | turned and dove headlong from
the sea-wall.
Bangl
Say, did you ever make running
dive, expecting TO hit water, and In
stead land square on n solid oak plat,
form. No? Well, that's what | had
done.
float, for the use of shore-boats