Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-02-17
The Lieutenant's Prisoner
AN EXPERIENCE IN ARIZONA.

Cnarles Farker, being young man
from the East, and a newly-fedged
graduate of the military academy, was
not looked upon with sublime awe by
the frontiersmen around his Arizona post
and certainly not with fearful respect
by the military.
The frontiersmen from their proud
height of dyspepsia and dirt recognized
tidy Mr.. Parker only as "tendeTfoot. -
while the older officers and soldiers were
naturally slow to concede military merit
to youngster who had escaped death.
or court-marshal for shorter period than
themselves.
In reality Lieutenant Parker knew
very little of the energetic West as it
materialized around Fort Mcdowell. and
what little he knew did not swell him
with pride. It was his idea that If
knowledge is power, knowledge of Ari-
iona was only mule power and not to be
coveted. He was not in deadly fear of
that truculent 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 car
mine camisa would not have obtained
the situation. His life was not totally
without charm, for ne was in love with
the colonel's daughter, one of those
charming young ladies found only in
army circles, who have all the polish of
their more fortunate city sisters with a
seductive frankness and abandon de-
veloped 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 colonel's assistance or knowledge.
Lovers must have their secrets. A lover
without weighty secret would cut as
poor figure as q 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. tone officer"
said the law, Unjust be with the troop"
and when the law uttered these words,
it ignored the astute captain and the
powerful first lieutenant, and pointed
with its crooked finger directly at our
friend Mr.. Parker.
The morning when history finds him,
the lone lieutenant, acting as post adju-
tant. was sitting at his desk in the colo
nePs Office, gravoly referring official
papers to himself in some of his many
capacities, such as quartermaster, COM
missary, ordnance officer, post treasurer,
chief of scouts. overseer of schools, or
perpetual officer of the day. BY his
formal words one would have thought
him on very frigid terms with himself.
Instead, for instance, of saying, parker,
will you take squint at this p he wrote:
Respectfully referred to Lieutenant
Parker, who will take the action re-
quircd"
Meanwhile the colonel was knitting
his brows over an order from headquar-
tiers.
"What do you think of that9'' he
said at last, handing the paper to Parker.
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 expe-
rience.
.'What do you thinkG' repeated the
colonel, mildly.
Il suppose it'll have to be done, /" said
the lieutenant vaguely, not knowing on
what point reply was wished.
Eyes. " unused the colonel, s'but HOWE
This says he is supposed to be at San
ford, but the description is vague to
make search on"
''Oh, that, /" said Parker, sswhy Think
/ know the man already. / saw him last
summer when I was surveying the line
from ella Bend to Tucson. He keeps q
saloon in Sanford"
The colonel shook his head. Ct was
going to send for an old officer, but IL
you can identify the man you'll have to
90. Humphl not very pleasant or
easy dutyo-and he looked hard at the
young mans smooth face; tits worse
than Indian fighting. Maybe better
have an older officer 90 with YOU
IF you think it necessary.
II don't, " said the colonel, instantly
determined by Parker's look; and he
wrote IN pencil the draft for an order:
Lieut.. Parker win proceed imme-
diately to Sanford, Ari-, with detail Of
six men. and arrest escaped military con-
Wet John Devine "
ssJnst have that published.n
Parker hesitated; but Is the RESPONSE
bility Of the arrest was TO be upon him
he determined to speak. IF that order
Is published. word Of Il win 20 to this
convict BY the underground. and he
will give me the slip.
ssSuppose you were 70 20 away with
cut an order, said the colonel. THAT
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