Evening journal., 1892-07-28

average run Of the rank and file, he
would be apt to attend strictly to his
duties as custodian Of the fire house, and
no one had ever heard of his abusing
his trust. His own little room was
model of neatness when the command
ing officer made his monthly inspection
of the garrison, and the hose carriage,
the hook and ladder truck, the fire
buckets and other apparatus were al
ways in perfect order and readiness for
service. No one ever inspected Ellis
quarters at any other time. The guard
often noticed his light after midnight,
and he had the reputation of being a
good deal of a reader and student, TAX
ing books from the post library very
often, besides owning quite number Of
his own.
Observant officers who had glanced
about when making the inspection with
Colonel Farquhar noted that many Of
these were texts on mining, mining en-.
cheering, mineralogy and geology, and
some had gone so far as to question the
sergeant as to whether he had ever prac-
tically essayed mining. With perfectly
respectful manner Ellis replied to these
occasional queries, merely saying, "Yes,
sir; but without success" Asked where
he had made his essay his reply was
rather vague, "In several western states
and territories, sir-mainly Arizona and
Colorado" Only once had he displayed
anything like annoyance or impatience
under such fire. He had served his
three years enlistment, was entitled to
his discharge, yet quietly notified his
troop commander that he proposed to re-
enlist. In a somewhat sharp manner
that official had whirled about.
Sergeant Ellis" said he, III had
had your experience in mining it seems
to me I'd find something different from
staying in the regular army"
Captain Gorham," was the unex-
pected reply, "if you had had anything
like my experience you would be very
glad Of berth in the army or out of it
preferably in"
1t was conceded after this episode that
Ellis had history and the faculty Of
keeping it to himself. The colonel was
glad to have him re-enlist, even while
wondering that he should do so. Many
remembered how he had come to them
haggard and travel worn three years be-
fore and offered himself as recruit
This was far out inthe mountains. His
language and manners were such that
every one knew it to be a case of man
whom fortune had betrayed, and who
"took the shilling" as many another
has done, somewhat as last resort.
But before he had won his first chew
rons the men knew well that from some
source or other Ellis was beginning to
receive n good deal of money. When
Sergeant Cur1ie was killed by that
tough in the public streets of Sheridan
City-a.cold blooded and unprovoked
murder-and Currie's wife and children
had not where to lay their heads now
that their support was gone, officers and
men ''chipped in" and bought them a
little cottage on the banks of Rapid
run, just at the edge of town.
Ellis had planked down a five dollar
bill as his share on the subscription list,
but did not Kate Currie, the eldest child,
tell how he had come all by himself af-
terward and given her an envelope
which he bade her hand to mother from
friend-an envelope which was found
to hold a fifty dollar treasury note!
Sporting characters in the regiment who
sought to borrow from Ellis met with
cold, even curt, refusal. Neither would
he ever gamble or bet with them. Neither
did he seem to care to go to town at all
when first the regiment moved into this
its most delightful station after years of
service on the distant frOntier-nOt until
the order was issued permitting merito-
rious soldiers to wear civilian dress
when on pass. Then he was almost the
first to appear on the streets Of the
bustling county seat in a neat, unobtru-
sive, but remarkably well cut and well
fitting suit, and, far better dressed than
most of the townspeople, Sergeant Ellis
became an occasional visitor, but no one
ever heard of his patronizing any other
establishments than the bank, the post
and express offices and the bookstores.
Captain Hazlett, calling at the post.
Office one day, was surprised to find
Ellis at lock box, the key Of which he
calmly placed in his waistcoat pocket
and then as calmly raised his hat in sal
utation to his superior officer Both
were in civilian dress, both on temper
airy leave of a few hours only, both
from the point of view Of the correspon
dent of very enterprising paper, occu
pied at the moment the same socia
plane, and his illusions TO "the slavisl
Difference demanded by fhe aristocratiC
commissioned force of their enlisted but
far worthier men" gave rise to some dis
cussion at the fort. One or two officer.
held that Ellis should have given the
military salute and no other, but tn,
mass Of opinion wasin favor of Elliss
action; being entirely in civilian dress
himself, the civilian custom should pre-
vail.
"Well, damn it." said Mr.. Randolph
''that consists ont here in showing ones
hands deeper into pockets, tilting tn,
cigar higher in the mouth and giving
just half a nod" It was finally con
ceded, however, that in courteously rails
ing his hat Sergeant Ellis had done about
the right thing, and that in as punctili
Ously raising his own in recognition thi
captain had fttingly and scrupulously