The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-09-30

q half-gri Anyway, II can't be worse
than three weeks of hiding in holes
like this"
Bartlett caught the truth and drew
himself up with sudden stiffness. He
was big fellow and in his uniform
of second lieutenant looked rather
formidable.
"You are a deserter," he said.
'Of course. You've been after me
and know, so what's the use. guess
Pm it and you get the $50. My mis-
take was polSing my head out of this
hole. You saw me. If I'd kept hid I'M
der there you never would have found
me in the world"
But / didn't see you, really ]
was"
ooh, well, 1t doesn't matter now.
You've got me. which is the real
thing. And l don't know as l much
care. It's been horrible, the three
weeks. But-er, I'd rather you
wouldn't think me all Stacker and
coward. / believe l could stand up
straight and shoot. 1t was the sud
denness of it all, and my mother tax
ing on so. | hadn't given the thing
much thought till my name jumped
on the list, and-oh, well, what's the
use. Pm here and you've got me. But
you needn't tie me nor keep your gun
pointed. I'll go all right"
II don't think you quite under
stand" said Bartlett more quietly and
now believing this was. the man he
had seen on the slope with the girl.
81 haven't got you, and l found you
by accident and you don't look to me
like a gutter. Your eyes are too
straight. / think there's been wrong
deal somewhere. The way / look at
it, this going to the front to help pro-
tect our country and home and every
thing worth while is the greatest
privilege fellow could have. It's not
you must go, but we'll be glad to
have you help u.s. Let's sit down and
talk it over"
Half an hour later they rose. There
was moisture in the young fellows
eyes as he grasped Bartlett's hand.
"You are right" he said, though
I've known it inside all the time. And
thank you for not taking me in. +
lit will be pleasanter for me to go
by myself. enlist quietly and then ex-
plain and take whatever punishment
may be coming. All but my mother
will be glad, and even she, l think,
inside, will feel relieved. Good-by. l
hope 1 shall be in your command"
The second day following Bartlett
was at the station with some hun
dreds of others in uniform. Friends
had shaken hands with him, some
wishing him plenty of fighting and
others immunity from it and a safe
coming home. Young men had said
they would soon follow and old men
wished they were young enough to go.
Mothers and fathers were there in
plenty among the uniforms and his
own on either side of him. The hero
worshiping sister was near by, look
ing at him with adoring eyes. But,
unlike most of the boys in uniform,
there was no other fellows sister to
bid him a tender good-by.
Then some of the light went out of
his face, for a little way down the
platform were the man who had de-
serted and come back and the girl he
had helped down the slope. Their
arms were about each other and their
faces close together.
T,-ox> h;c olonna shot fhaf
and was turning, theirs crossed. They
had been looking at him, possibly
speaking of him. The young man
smiled and threw up his hand in sa-
lutte. He acknowledged it grimly, saw
their lips touch again and then the
girl came hurrying up the platform
to him, her face as adoring as his
sisters. And then the conductor
called warning "All aboard"
IL must have him just one Sec
ond," the girl implored his mother,
whose arms were reaching out. "He-
he saved my brother from worse than
death, and now Jim is starting for
the front, brave and strong, in your
sons command. We are all so proud"
Her arms closed about his neck, her
face pressed his.
"You will exchange letters with me,
won't you?" she whispered-"Helen
Westlake? You won't forget the name?
Tell me about my brother"
Indeed, I will write" he promised
fervently. "And 1 won't forget the
name"
Then her arms slipped from his
neck to give place to his mothers, but
the hands only dropped into the clasp
Of his hand The adoring sister
caught the other hand. His father
patted him on the shoulder.
But only for a moment; then he
was forced to spring on board.
AS the train glided away he threw
open a window and looked back.
They were all waving to him, his
father and mother and sister, and the
girl was with them.