Smyrna times., 1885-09-23
The Lieutenant's Prisoner.

Charles Parker, being a young man
from the East, and a newly-fedged
graduate of the military academy, he
was not looked upon with sublime awe
by the frontiersmen around his Ariz-
oman post, and certainly not with a fear
full respect by the military.
The frontiersmen, from their proud
height of dyspepsia and dirt, recognized
tidy Mr.. Parker only as a " tenderfoot, &"
while the older officers and soldiers were
naturally slow to concede military merit
to a youngster who had escaped death
or cOurt-martial for a shorter period
than themselves.
In reality, Lieut.. Parker knew very
little of the energetic West as it is
materialized around Fort Mcdowell,
and what little he knew did not swell
him with pride. 1t was his idea that if
knowledge is power, knowledge of Ariz-
ona was only mule power and not to be
coveted He was not in deadly fear of
that trucdlent creature, the Arizonian.
in red shirt, but if he had chosen an
individual to stand betwixt the wind
and his nobility, the gentleman in the
carmine camisa would not have obtained
the situation. His life was not totally
without charm, for he was in love with
the colonels daughter, one of those
charming young ladies found only in
army circles, who have all the polish of
their more fortunate city sisters with
seductive frankness and abandon devel-
Oped in their Bohemian existence.
1t was arranged between Miss Helen
and Parker that when he could get
leave, it should be for wedding jour
ney. 1t was the peculiar charm of this
arrangement that it was made without
the colonels assistance or knowledge
Lovers must have their secrets. A lover
without a weighty secret would cut as
poor figure as a secretless statesman.
However, the chances of Parker's get.
ting furlough were slim. His captain
was on an indefinite sick leave, having a
splendid time and entering heartily into
business, while his first lieutenant was
engaged in Washington ON some onerous
duty which required peculiar talents
and considerable Influence"
Cone officer, said the law, "must be
with the troops, and when the law
uttered these words, it ignored the as
tute captain and powerful first lieuten-
ant, and pointed with its crooked finger
at our friend, Mr.. Parker.
The morning when history finds him,
the lone lieutenant, acting as post adiu-
tant was sitting at his desk in the
colonels office, gravely referring official
papers to himself in some of his many
capacities, such as quartermaster, COM
missary, ordinance officer, post treasurer,
chief of scouts, Overseer of schools, or
perpetual officer of the day. BY his
formal words one would lave Thought
him on very frigid terms with himself
Instead, for instance. of saying, 8" Par.
ker, will you take a squint at this !" he
wrote: " Respectfully referred to Lieut..
Parker, who will take the action re-
quired"
Meantime the colonel was knitting his
brows over the order from headquarters.
what do you think of that ?" he
said at last, handing the paper to Par
ker.
The young man read the order, but
made no answer. He liked to have his
opinion asked, but he did not suppose
that his crude ideas would be of value
to an officer of so much greater expert
ence
What do you think?" repeated the
colonel mildly.
" l suppose it'll have to be DONE"
said the lieutenant vaguely, not know
ing ON what point a reply was wished.
" Yes, " mused the colonel, "but how
This says he is supposed to be at San
ford, but the description is vague to
make a search on.
"Oh, that" said Parker, "why, I
think l know the man already. saw
him last summer when 1 was surveying
the line from Gila Bend to Tuscon. He
keeps a saloon in Sanford"
The colonel shook his head.
" l was going to send for an old OIL
Ger, but if you can identify the man
you'll have to go. Humph Not a very
pleasant or easy duty and he looked
hard at the young mans smooth face
i" it's worse than Indian fighting. Maybe
1 had better have On older oflper 90
with you"
"nyOu think il necessary"
Il don't, said the colonel, instantly
determined by Parker's look and he
wrote in pencil the draft for an order:-
Lieut.. Parker viii proceed directly
70 Sanford, Arizona, with a detail of six
men, and arrest escaped military con.
vict John 'Oevine"
"Just have that published. !