Page:War; or, What happens when one loves one's enemy, John Luther Long, 1913.djvu/133

DAVE'S BUSINESS "Goshens! Does the government punish it?" asks Dave.

"It does, sir. The punishment is death, sir. But, sir, so kind and merciful is our president that any one who confesses and satisfies the president that he will do so no more—ahem!—I think I can promise, at least, that he will not die for it."

"Death?" says Dave. "That's a hard punishment for—"

"Not at all. No, sir, death is the only fit punishment for it."

"What's the matter with marriage?" asks Dave, solemn as an owl.

"Marriage?" says the officer. "No one has mentioned marriage."

"I know better," says Dave. "I have, a lot of times."

"Well, sir? Come, make a clean breast of it and I'll do what I can—"

"What's the use—" says Dave, in a pout—"what's the use—my breast may as well stay dirty—if it's wrong—to be in—" 117