Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-28

SentrioS, but he gave the officer of the
day directions 20 have patrol. in readi-
ness az the flagstaff between II and l
that night. and then some fine foot rae
inc resulted, i'm which the patrol came
out second best,
The colonel ordered the Eve infantry
men who happened to be on pass arrested
and brought 10 trial before 4 garrison
court. and the court promptly acquitted
every man. IL was established that they
had all obediently went around the gar
riSon; they had even taken the trouble
to call the attention of the sentry on No.
10 the fact: and then it dawned upon
the commanding officer that some OF
those infantry Scamps were, rs they
would have expressed il, putting up Il
lob" at his expense. and that half a
dozen of the AeeteSt footed among them
were Just for asark slipping out OF quar-
ters after II o'clock and around to the
northwest gate, vaultiug the fence with
the agility of monkeys, and then play
ing the old game Of Tom, Tom, pull
away" with the patrol. They had not
had so much fun in year.
Col. Morris had sense enough to know
that il he lost his temper and got TO
clustering the men would regard it rs 4
victory lie issued no new orders. SuS-
piciOn had fallen on squad OF rOllock-
ing young IrShmen in Company +, all
of whom were members Of the battalion
baseball nine. \ match game was 10
come of two DAYS later with the club
from Fort Lawrence. and local interest
and bets-were running hight. Alas.
when the MORNING of the eventful day
came around. four OF the ileeteSt base
runners of the Rifle nine !augUlShed IN
the guard house, arrested At reveille by
order of their own captain for absence
from quarters At midnight. The colo
mel had simply let them get out. then
ordered check roll call. with doors
barred. and they stood self eXiled.
Fancy the CONSERVATION among the low
ors of the national game Even the cav
al,v had backed the local nine against
mat from Lawrence, and well knew that
II substitutes had 70 be put in there was
no earthly chance of their winning.
Nanifestly, said the battalion, there's
no man but Corp. Brent TO get Us ont OF
the Scrape. He was captain and short
SION of the nine. and on him they rallied
forthwith. Give me your word, men,
that there's 10 be no more Of this monkey
business. and I'll go 10 the colonel my
self Refuse. and the game goes to Fort
/ Lawrence. nine to nothing, for we cant
play without Lynch and Coony on the
I bases" 1t was case of unconditional
surrender.
The colonel had kindly received the
young corporal, had listened to the tale
Of woe, and sat silently pOwderinS mo-
ment. Then he looked up. "YOu say
the game must go against you without
these four men >" he asked.
YES. sir. Indeed | would not play
without them. We would far better let
the game 20 by default than have the
record published. as il aSSuredly would
be-. in the army as well As the local pa
pers. with all the errors scored against
Us. This nine of ours has not been
beaten By any team in the department As
Vet. and il would be an upearned vic
tory for Fort Lawrence.
Colonel Morris sat keenly studying
the Young soldiers face. He made no an
Swer for a moment, and when he spoke
IL was of an utterly irrelevant matter.
Have Won not served somewhere un'
der my command before this. corporate
Tho color Sprang to Brent'S face
There was an instant of hesitation. then
q firm but respectful answer:
Nowhere. sir. | have been in the
army only two years, and this Is my hrSl
station since leaving the depot at David
island" Then. Is though eager TO get
back to a more pressing matter, III the
colonel will not consider me rs prOpoS
inc a compromise, and will take it aS il
IS meant, can promise. | think. thai
there will be no more Of this night
prowling across the parade. on the part
OF our men at least
Morris looked sharply up from under
his shaggy brOwS:
What do you mean? What men
would nave any occasion to cross the
parade but the infantry"
Il mean. i'm all respect, sir, that there
may be men, or At least 4 man, who
having no occasion to cross the parade
will do 50 simply for the sake Of making
trouble. In plain words, cayalryman
sir.
The adiutant. sitting at his desk
dropped his pea and looked quickly mp
and the sergeant major, going out with
Il bundle of papers, found means TO halt
at the Office door, a. though to heal
what might follow. Mr. Mason, the ad
iutant. turned quietly, caught the ser
geant majors eye and gave quick but
expressive jerk of the head in the direc-
ton Of the outer room. The sergeant
major took the hint and vanished.
But the clerks had heard the corpo-
rails intimation that some trooper was
connected with the tranSgression for
which the ball playing Quartette were
confined. The door was Immediately
closed, leaving them to draw their own
differences and make their own com
mcnts. They did not hear the cOlOneTS
next remark:
If any man in the cavalry Is guilty in
this matter there is only one whom can
suspect. Can you name him."
Corp. Brent flushed again, but finally
replied, Il beg the colonel not to ask NE
10 answer, when, as said before, have
no proof whatever.
Col. Morris turned and pondered Il
moment. Finally, he whirled about in
his revolving chair:
Corp Brent, if these four men were
of my owA reSiment | would certainly
refuse your request. As matters stand
will not spoil the chances of the Rifle
nine. They will therefore be turned
over to you TO take their part in the
game, and tomorrow must stand their
trial before the garrison court"
And when Corp. Brent left the Office,
infinitely rcioiced, the Colonel turned to
his staff officer:
Where do you suppose the recruiting
officers picked up fellow like that? He
has the language of an educated man. "
He was enlisted in New York, - was
the reply, land have frequently noted
L .-.,,rl Thou foil mo NO hos moro