Wichita eagle., 1888-02-08
CORPORAL CRUPP.

the pines and swept the sandy stretch
where the little settlement Of Savannah
was just beginning to pull itself together
The scene was not very attractive. A
rude but strong stockade containing a
number Of shops and houses, the head
quarters and barracks of the military, and
few outlying cabins of the more advent
urous pioneers--this was ali.
In comfortable room in the most pre-
tentious building in the stockade, the
headquarters OF the commanding general
/ three gentlemen sat by Il blazing wood
fire They were drinking Madeira, and
their rubicund visages showed that they
were not unaccustomed to this and even
stronger beverages.
One Of the three wore scarlet uni
form, glittering with profuse emblazonry
of gold lace, but his large, spare figure in
dicated great strength, and his face. with
its prominent Roman nose and brilliant
eyes, would have stamped the man in any
+ circle as q remarkable person, born
leader Of men.
This man, the central figure of the
! group, was Gen. Ogiethrope.
The other two, dressed also in scarlet
/ uniforms, were brother officers. One was
/ Maj. Dalhousie, the otner was Capt.
/ Cardigan. They were young men, but
/ their appearance showed them to be
gallant soldiers, well suited to the busi-
ness in which their general kept them en-
gagged night and day.
d, The three officers had something more
/ serious on hand than the discussion of
their Madeira
/ ''The fellow VIII have to be shot, then"
remarked Maj Dalhousie airily, as he
swallowed another bumper.
/ Il am afraid Sc" replied Capt. Cardi
] gan, adjusting his ruf1les, ''but it is a
/ pity. Corp. Crupp is a good soldier at
| tines. Lord! But he can fght!"
''Zoundsr' exclaimed the general,
''much do deplore such necessity, gen
/ tlenen, but discipline is more important
in these savage wild. than it is in Europe.
Here warfare is nothing but butchery.
and we need every man in our small
force. Now, when I was campaigning on
the continent" continued the general, rs
/ he paused to drain another glass. "a lit
tie drunkenness, more or less, did not
matter. rnyself once refused to take
French officer prisoner because he was so
befuddled that he ran into our lines. A
splendid fellow he was, too. Once our
commands were fronting each other just
as the fight opened, and the Frenchman,
taking OFF his hat, said: Gentlemen,
have the goodness to fire tirstn -
THAT was grandr' cried Maj. Dal-
housie.
1T was" answered the general, SEN
tentiously, 'tbut it was not war. 1t was
an attempt to apply the tactics Of the
ball room to the battle field Well my
bull dogs accepted the invitation, and i'll
less than five minutes we had driven the
monsieurs out CT sight,
But said Maj oalhousie, ':we aro
leaving the subject. Must the corporal
! be shotsn
ITO certainty nurmured Capt. Car
digan, who had spilled his wine. and was
peering into his right boot under the i'm
preston that something was wrong some
where
LET us see," said the general, "you
have had the varlet in the guard houses'
"A hundred times replied the cap
tain.
'Damme If think he has ever left it,"
replied the major.
"And yet he fights"
'Like devil exclaimed both officers
''He saved US from surprise month
ago." put in the major.
ut is serious case said the general
'The trustees of our infant colony are de-
ternined to prohibit the drinking of rum,
and all that is brought here has to be
stayed.n
Blood and DEATH" interrupted the
major, chow does the fellow get mis-
tipple?"
''Tremenshus mishtery to me, ;" said tia
captain, who had just lost another giass
of Madeira, and was glaring at the water
pitcher very suspiciously.
II think" suggested the general,
''that l will have the corporal brought
here. / desire to question him"
AS the officers made no objection,
messenger was sent to the guard house,
and in a few moments the offender came
in, escorted by guard.
Corp. Crupp looked little the worse
for wear, and his face wore a surly ex-
preston, but he did not appear 10 be
vicious. He faced the three officers quietly
and waited for them to speak.
Corporal, we have lost all patience
with YOU said Gen. Oglethorpe s;ernly.
Il am not surprised" was the sad re-
ply, land am ready to stand the conse-
quences."
You fell asleep while drunk on you:
post"
~ Is true, alElltteC the SOlClcI.
.'Yesh. corpl, aud you'll have TO bs
shot, " inte-posed Capt. Cardigan.
Il have 10 objection" answered the
corporal stolidly
'See here. corporal" said the general
severely; .'you are man of intelligence.
You know all about the prohibitory order
Of the trustees. Now, why is it that you
will srnuggle rum and drink it's
L h. ell
Then he Strengthened himself TO his full
half filled glasses.
There, y he said, in a steady ringing
voice, there is the explanation. You
place Yourself above the law. Do you not
see that others viii be tempted TO do the
ssme' When Corp. Crupp breasts the
cold and wet. and sees his superior officers
enjoying their vine, don't YOU think that
he feels driven by some demon to go and
follow their example, Like master, Ike
nan. You know
"ImpuGens knave" yelled the major.
"Gadi II be was q gentleman I'd can
him out. F" said the captain
The commander rose from his chair and
walked the room.
Then he faced the culprit, and said:
In your coarse. blunt way. corporal,
you nave taught me lesson | don't
know that it is possible 10 save you, but
YOU shall have another chance
He Summoned . servant
go and empty every drop Of wine and
spirits in the hou.er' he ordered
The officers jumped from their seats in
surprise.
Il mean it." said the general There
-iu 30 .na soce nnrlink k.Ano1.,i,sEusi-