The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-02-12
"The Wicked Flee
By ROBERT ). PEARsALL
(Copyright.)

was standing on Kearney street
in San Francisco when / saw two
horse wagon pass with the letters
.aQ.M.D., U.S.M.C.," on its side.
The letters seemed to me to have some
personal Significance.
So / hailed the driver, who was
dressed In blue uniform, and asked
him what they meant.
"Quartermaster's Department, Uni
ted States Marine Corps" he said.
"Oh," said. lis that it? l thought
they might mean. Quick, Mcdonald,
Useless Suckers Made Comfortable.
He laughed a bit. "Your name NC
D0nald?"
Eyes"
swell, they might mean that. too.
Got a job?"
"NO."
"Want one?"
YES"
slump in and come with me.
He took me to the recruiting ONCE
at the foot of Market street. and the
wind-up of it was that before the day
was over was enlisted IN the Marine
Corps as private at thirty per. ana
on my way to the barracks at Mere
Island.
Which Is all merely by way OF ex'
planning how / came to be doing a
| mid-watch in an orderly box In front
of the comu.andant's house on that
auspicious night four months later.
Shortly afSer midnight the telephone
rang.
.Comman ,iant's orderly" answered.
~Thls Is wireless. Message from
Western Union"
/ grabb I'd pencil and memorandum
pad and prepared to copy 1t. Let
'er CO." said.
This was the astounding message
that received:
Commanding Onscer. Marine Barracks.
Mare Island. via Commandant. Navy
Yard:
| Place Private Fred E. Mcdonald under
immediate arrest. Further instructions
by mail.
1 tsisned,. Bliss.
l
Fred e. McDonaldi That was my
self!
| Rather than. stay and face the un
certain charge, with its still more un
certain attendants of trial and punish
4 ment, would run away.
What with the sentries and civilian
watchmen and guards it wasn't goini
to be any easy time getting OF tn
island, and that knew.
Then I started down Davis stree
toward the waterfront.
knew where there was shore-boa
lying alongside the sea-wall at tn
end Of the street. would steal that
or borrow it. rather, and get away.
It was mighty dark night; | ha
that In my favor. I got haif-wa
down the street without being dis
covered.
Then. Just as was passing the FL
eineer building. some one turned int
the street about fifty feet ahead.
stopped and skunk against the side
the building; but he had heard me.
SHalti" he cried. "Who's there
II was sentry.
inst above me was a barred window
/ took hold OF the ledge and pulie
myself up noiselessly.
There I chung. monkey-like.
The sentry Challenged three time
Then he proceeded to investigate.
Several times he passed me SO cio'
that could have kicked his hat q
But at last he gave 1t up and WEI
his way. and l went mine, gratefuil
l made It to the sea-wall witho
further mishap.
And then the door Of a nearby bull
ing opened and night watchm'
came out.
.Oh-h, We divil, OF have We. ha
ORR he cried, and made dive I
me.
.You have notr said.
/ sprang out Of the boat and dodg
him as he came. sprinted up {
waterfront at q ten-second gait, wi
him numbering behind.
/ .Stop or Ot'll shoot, AOi'll shoot"
yelled.
didn't think he would. and 80
kept on running.
But. all Of sudden, from IN frt
of me cauie the sharp:
! aHaltl Halt! Haiti" OF a sent
/ knew that meant business.
There was only one thing to DO.
! was long swim across the chanT
\ and the undertow was treachero
but / turned and dove headlong n
the sea-wall.
Bang!
Say, did you ever make rum
dive. expecting to hit water. and
stead land square on 2 solid oak p
= / form. MOI Well, that's what !
~ done.
- a float, for the use Of shore-bo'
= had been anchored there. lear
- more astronomy IN that Instant 9
e e / ever had al school.
: The sentry and the watchman pu
! me on the float. ] was pretty y
a~-oxa !. Rs,t orf mvaelf together 4