Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-19
insisted on introducing. Martin saws he

about him, but the mere fact of his being
here with Schonberg is enough to make
me look upon him with suspicion. They
were having confidential talk with
your man Welsh, I'm told. Now what
do they know of him? Where have they
met him before?"
II can't say, major; he was in the
captains household brigade and it is
only recently that | have had ANYTHING
to do with him. OF course he has been
IN and out of town a dozen times the
past month. so he never lacked oppor-
tunty."
The doctor tells me you had to haul
him out of the barroom by the coat col
lar, and that he threatened and abused
you Take my advice, Hearn; don't
ever touch soldier, no matter how
wrong he may be- You should have
called for file of the guard if he would
not obey"
~ had no authority over the guard,
major, and had over Welsh. l simply
stepped inside, collared him and marched
him out into the sunshine. Then Capt.
Brodie came All! here's the colonel"
They had turned into the quadrangle
at the moment, and came face to face
with the post commander, who, followed
by his orderly, was crossing the green
parade, swinging his cane in the nervous
and energetic way peculiar to him.
Mr.. Hearn," he said in his quick, al
most gruff manner, 1.-The officer of the
day tells me he has confined Welsh, of
your troop, for insubordination and for
threatening you, and that he had been
at the store with some men from town
who were forbidden the reservation.
You know the men, I'm told"
only one of them, sir. l knew that
Jew, Schonberg, the first winter / was
stationed here"
well, Capt. Brodie says he also used
threatening language toward you. What
does it mean? What could he have to
threaten you With"
Nothing, SIR answered Hearn
promptly. AT least" and now the hot
blood seemed bounding to his temples,
at least nothing that 1 have any fear
of. He is a BLACKBOARD, and l was ut
terly inexperienced when l came here.
so that he got me into some embarrass-
ment in money matters at the time. 1t
was settled long ago, and l have no idea
what he thinks he can trump up now
He u3ed to be clerk and attendant at
the store here when old Braine"-
Yes, yes, know" said the colonel
impaiently. 1T is odd that you young
gentlemen viii put yourselves in the
aands of such people. Now that fellow
has been kept off the reservation all
these years, yet here he comes again be-
cause he seems to think he has hold on
you, and dares to disobey orders as a
81 protest, colonel" said Hearn, flush
ing hotly, Il am in no wise responsible
for his actions. You can have the de-
tails of the trouble ne gave me at any
lime, and l can show you the papers
that long since ended the matter. He
has nc hold on me, sir, whatever" And
the young officer stood before his COM
mander looking both grieved and indig-
nant at the imputation conveyed in the
latter's words.
''Well, well, Mr.. Hearn, do not mean
to say that he has any ground, only you
young gentlemen cannot be too careful
about your associates. Contact with
such canaille as this must defile you Just
as much as pitch. Now, Maj. Kenyon,
how is Corp. Brent?'
Thus having the last word, and hav-
ing conveyed to the young subaltern a
distinct sense of rebuke, Col. Morris
abruptly intimated his desire that moth
ing further SHOULD be said on the sub
lect. So long as he chose to transfer his
attention to Maj. Kenyon the COM
mander could of course prevent further
remembrance; but as Mr. Hearn stood
there IN evident readiness to resume his
OWN defense, and as the colonel knew very
well that he had hardly been fair to him,
since Hearn's character had been most
exemplary ever since his Joining the
his better nature told him
that he ought in further words TO let the
young fellow down easily. as the army
expression goes. For reasons of his own
Col. Morris did not wish To unbend,
however, in presence of the infantry
major, his second in command. No
sooner had he finished his inquiries than
he turned to Mr.. Hearn again:
81 do not mean to say, sir, that any
reason exists for that mans threats, only
that l consider it most unfortunate that
you or any young officer should ever
have put himself in the power of that
class of people"
Hearn would have retorted, but for
moment he could not find words at once
respectful and convincing. The colonel
having delivered this final volley from
his entire line now promptly retired be-
fore the other side could rally, and, as
though covered by the smoke of his own
tire, tramped away across the parade,
leaving the two officers gazing silently
after him. The orderly, with hand to
cap visor, sprang briskly past the pair
and stalked away in the wake of his
cane twirling commander.
At last Kenyon spoke: Come, Hearn,
when you're as old as am you'll not
fret yourself over glittering generalities
like that Every colonel, | suppose. is
full of wise saws and modern instances,
and must shoot 'em off occasionally. I'll