Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-03-11

'0iSO wien httu StOpDcu SnOrI on
overtaking the trooper, and with scant
ceremony addressed him in tones that all
could hear:
welsh. you're for guard tomorrow,
and you've got mighty little time in
which to get ready. Did the lieutenant
excuse you from parade?"
Il didn't ask him. Col. Lawler was
good enough for me-"
Col. Lawler left the post at 5 o'clock
and couldn't have wanted you"
"All the same | was acting under his
orders and nobody else's. If you want
any other authority you can go to Col.
Morris; I'm busy now" And with his
hands in his pockets and jerk of the
head to his companion, Welsh whirled
about and led the way down the road
toward the store, Abrams slowly follow
ing In his wake, but looking back as
though curious to see the sequel. The
first sergeant stood an instant flushing
and with wrathful eyes, but raised his
hand IL respectful salute as the young
troop commander came quietly along,
Miss Marshall leaning on his arm.
'Iou warned him for guard, sergeant
said Hearn, answering Wren's salute.
Yes, sir. and he says Col. LAWYER ex-
cused him from parade"
Il reported the absence to Col. Nor
ris, and he tells me there may have been
some such understanding, sergeant. At
all events. as Col. Lawler has gone, he
would give Welsh the benefit of the
doubt; so we have nothing further to do
with that matter"
Wren ground his teeth as he briskly
strobe back to his quarters.
What does the loot'nant saw de-
D,anded Duffy, as he with half n dozen
of his comrades clustered about the of
fee, eagerly watching the sergeant's
face and his clinching hands as he re-
turned.
Nothing. Don't ask questions now,
You men. The lieutenant can't do any
thing to him: the colonel won't let
him"
The colonel won't. is it," said Duffy,
with v'rathful grin. BE jabers, if
were colonel I'd command my regiment,
and no damned newspaper man would
scare me out of it. It's The Palladium
that commands Fort Ryan tonight, and
that biackguard Welsh is post adjutant
more shame to US alln'
Silence. there, Duffy! No more of
that talk ordered Wren, as he banged
to the door of his own little den, and the
knot of troopers scattered away. '.An
the same, mutterel he to his faithful
second, Sergt. Ross, Duffy only tells the
truth, and damn me if 1 ever thought
the day would come when my old chief
would knuckle down like that
And if in garrison circles that night it
was predicted that something would be
the outcome of the detail of Welsh for
guard duty, no one was destined to dis
appointment. He appeared at the ap-
pointed lime, and was curiously scanned
by the orher members of the troop, as
carbine IN hand. he came slowly and in
differently down the stairway Just as
the trum pets began to sound the assem-
bly, of the details. Unluckily for every
body who hoped to see Welsh brought
up with a round turn by the snappy
young adjutant, drizzling rain had set
in, and undress guard mounting in over
coats was the result. Welsh's forage
cap and accouterments might past mus
ter in shower, but his full dress rig
every man knew to be wofully out of
shape. and such was the fellows unpop-
ularlty among his comrades by this time
that audible regrets We're expressed by
the men that the weather had "gone
back ON them"
''Step out, there" shouted Wren sharp
ly to the dawdling soldier, as he gave
the command to fall in.
''Get move on you, Misther Welsh, 7"
laughed Duffy from the upper gallery.
''Or don't they ever shtep out in the ex-
cellent family down east? Sure, isn't he
fine looking, intelligent young man
of 25?"
twenty-five? Faith, it's thirty-six
in months he'd get if was command
ing" muttered Kerrigan. How are
your patriotic motives this morning, Mis-
ter American Blood with the Assumed
Name?"
Sure his name is Dennis" laughed
Duffy again. ''Quit your sneering, Ker-
rigan. The yourg soldiers eyes are
blazing With pent up feelings again,
don't you see?" And indeed most ma
ligEant scowl was that which Welsh
launched aloft at his prosecutors, whose
fun was cut short by the stern voice of
SerSt. Ross ordering silence. And in an
other moment the detail of G troop was
dancing away in double time, with a
parting adjuration from Duffy not to go
too fast; Its to aisy to set the blood
boiling il Welsh's veins. anyhow"
1t was in the ugiiest possible mood
that Welsh tossed up his carbine for the
inspection of tie officer of the guard.
He had expected to pose as a hero and
martyr. But whatever might be the
mistaken sentiments aroused in the ea~S
by the efforts of a paper that had ex-
hausted local well springs of scandal and
sensation, here among those who knew
the facts, and, above all, knew him, he
had gained only ridicule and contempt.
In all the garrison, now that Goss was
gone, there was not soldier who had
ever stood his friend. In his own troop
especially, where the rank and file were
devoted to their young lieutenant, there