War has been declared. The North and South are going to fight. Tom Weldon joins the army of the North and John Sterrett casts his lot with the Confederacy. Both are suitors for the hand of Bess Howard. Time passes and the war is at its ...See moreWar has been declared. The North and South are going to fight. Tom Weldon joins the army of the North and John Sterrett casts his lot with the Confederacy. Both are suitors for the hand of Bess Howard. Time passes and the war is at its height. Tom Weldon's regiment is stationed in Bess's home town. Tom has been doing sentry duty for forty-eight hours without leave. From sheer exhaustion he falls asleep. He is discovered, tried and sentenced to death for neglect of duty. His only hope lies in a pardon from the President. Mounting a steed, Bess speeds on to Lincoln's headquarters. The President grants the pardon and telegraphs a stay of execution to Tom's camp. The Union wires have been cut and the confederate soldiers are listening in on Union orders. John Sterrett receives the stay of execution as it flashes across the wires. With the wires cut, the message will never reach Tom's camp. Leaping on a horse, John dashes through the Union lines. He reaches Tom's camp, and delivers the message. The execution is stayed until Bess rides in with the pardon, signed by Lincoln. Tom gives John a trinket in token of his gratitude, and in return, John gives him the chevron from his sleeve. Many years have run their course. Magistrate Weldon is holding court, and an old man is brought before him for stealing a loaf of bread. The prisoner is searched, and among his things, the Magistrate sees a familiar trinket. It awakens memories within him, and he begins to speak slowly. Slowly the years begin to unwind themselves again, and the story is unfolded. "He saved my life once," says the Magistrate, "shall I send him to jail for this?" Court is adjourned. Magistrate Tom Weldon is leading his old chum, John Sterrett, home with him. Hereafter, he shall live with him and the old friend, Mrs. Weldon, whom he knew as Bess. Together, they will provide for him, and he shall know need no more. Written by
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