St. Landry democrat., 1888-03-03

"Tremenshus mystery to me-" said
the Captain, who had just lost another
glass Of Madeira, and WAS glazing at
the water pitcher very suspiciously.
Il thins." suggested the General.
''that ] viii: have the corporal brought
here. I deslre to question him.
As the officers made no objection a
messenger was sent to the guard-house,
and in a few moments the offender
came in, escorted by guard.
Corporal Crupp looked a little the
worse for wear, and his face wore a
surly expression, but he did not appear
to be vicious He faced the three Of
ficers quietly and waited for them to
speak. ~. ....
Corporal. we have lost all patience
with you,' said General Oglethorpe,
sternly.
II am not surprised" was the sad
reply, "and ! am ready to stand the
consequences.
ssYou fell asleep while drunk on your
post
sit is true," admitted the soldier.
''Yesh, corp'l, and you'll have to be
shot," interposed Captain Cardigan.
81 have no objection" answered the
corporal, stolidly.
"See here, corporal" said the Gen
eral, severely. You are man of i'm
telligence. You know all about the
prohibitory order of the trustees. Now,
why is it that you will smuggle rum,
and drink itp'' SIN. zar..-
For moment the corporal was ST.
lent. Then he Strengthened himself to
his full height and pointed to the table
and the half filled glasses.
There" he said, in q steady ring
ing voice, ''there is the explanation.
You place yourselves above the law.
Do you not see that others will be
tempted to do the samep When Cor
poral Crupp breasts the cold and
wet, and sees his superior officers en-
joying their wine, don't you think that
he feels driven by some demon to 60
and follow their example? Like master,
ike man, you know
'.Impudent knave!' yelled the Ma
jor. #
''Gad! If he was a gentleman, I'd
call him out, j" 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 have taught me a lesson. don't
know that it is possible to save you,
but you shall have another chance"
He summoned servant.
go and empty every drop of wine
and spirits in the house." he ordered.
The officers jumped from their seats
in surprise.
= az mean it, said the General There
will be no more tipping among Her
Maiesty's officers in this colony, and
the first man who disobeys this rule
will find himself in the guard house."
But stammered the Captain.
Il have said it, was the firm reply.
'.Now, Crupp, I want you to go to the
Indian village twenty miles north of
here, and return with report of the
war-like. preparations there
General, will you trust. me?" cried
the soldier. 81
aa"I Ibid not say I trusted you. It is
an experiment I have placed myself
and my officers under the same disci-
pline required by you. You are, in
honor, bound to accept the common
lot of your fellow soldiers.
The corporal stepped forward and
kissed the General S hand, and dropped
a tear on it. Then with salute he re-
tired.
Corporal Crupp accomplished his
mission with signal fidelity.
He did more. He became the best
soldier in the colony, and in the course
Of the war with the Spaniards rose to
The rank of captain.
When General Oglethorpe returned
to Europe Captain Crupp accompanied
him.
Long years afterwards Colonel Crupp
was in the habit Of entertaining young
officers with "reminiscences of General |
'.Ah. he was MANI he would say.
'sAnd he knew men, too. That, gen
tlemen, is the great secret Of leader
ship and commando - Wallace 2. Reed,
IN atlanta Constitution.
How Wooden Spools Are Made.