The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-27
CRANDALL'S MARCH.

iOht Va diiNdAAt Wiz C@N SA4y iva 3oe-A@e -
Company /, was fine soldier and fine
fellow as well, but he was something OF
o martinet-hardly popular among the
members of his own company
When orders were issued to have the
men thoroughly drilled, Orderly Tom
obeyed most literally From reveille to
tattoo it was drill, drill, drill for tho
boys of Company I till they would have
welcomed marching orders for the north
pole as release from the manual OF
arms and evolutions.
Nothing less than a surgeons order
would serve with Orderly Tom as an ex-
ouse from drill.
One afternoon, when the company had
fallen in, the roll call revealed the alb
sence of Thomas Higgins and William
Stapleton. A rigid examination of the
company quarters failod to discover the
delinquents, and with "absent without
leave against them in the orderly book
and q big black mark I'm Toms memory
the company marched to the drill ground
without them.
The quarters of the men were the
stables of Sneidiker's hotel. With 10
full companies to drill, the stable yard,
which was the only parade ground with
In the regimental lines, was totally in
adequate; hence all drills in company
movements were conducted in a field
outside the guard lines
Sentinels were duly instructed to per-
init all squads or companies in charge
of noncommissioned officers to pass out,
but under no other circumstances to al
low an enlisted man to leave the camp
without a pass, though all soldiers
might enter unquestioned.
Tom marched his company about
hundred feet from the lines and had
just changed direction by the right flank
when his quick eye detected the two
skulkers stealthily emerging from the
quarters of Company H
Company, haltl'' instantly shouted
Tom. "You, Higgins and Stapleton, get
your equipments and fall in for drill
Do you hear?''
Evidently they did hear, but instead
of obeying both started on the double
quick toward tho cookhouse.
'In place, restp shouted Tom to his
company. HALT, therep' to the skulk-
ers. But they quicl1ened their pace.
Dropping his rifle into the hands Of q
corporal, Tom started in pursuit Across
the guard lines he sped to the cook
house, into which the two fugitives had
disappeared, and into which he also
quickly vanished.
Now, large portion of the members
of Company Iwere young fellows, rang
ing from IL to 23 years of age, little
used to military restraints, while the
deprivations and dullness which they
were experiencing made them peculiar
ly eager for some sort Of fun.
1t can be easily conceived that Order
" Tom S unexpected deviation from irk-
some drill was hailed by the boys of the
waiting company with delight. They
hoped the race would last long, and that
the fugitives would escape
So they did. After an absence of some
10 minutes Tom reissued from the cook
house alone, and with an ominous frown
upon his brow approached his COM
mand. At the same time the two fugi-
tiyes were seen far down the road, max
ing their way rapidly toward the town,
having left the cookhouse by some way
of which Tom knew not.
The almost simultaneous appearance
If the defeated orderly and the victori
Gus skulkers was greeted by the boys OF
the company with first a shout Of jeer-
ing laughter and then ringing cheer.
a. A tto,, ~ chnnfn6 tho
orderly sergeant But the only attention
paid him was another shout Of laughter
that deepened his frown.
''Stop that laughing in the ranks!'
Igain commanded the orderly.
"Haltp' cried the sentinel, bringing
his piece to charge and confronting
Orderly Tom, who had now reached the
guard line. you can't pass here. :"
81 cannot passP gasped the aston.
ishod orderly why not?"
"Orders," CURLY replied the sentry.
"Ordersl Well, what are your or
ders?'
ooh, you know the orders well
enough, +" answered the sentry-"to let
no enlisted man pass out Of the camp
without pass except noncommissioned
officers in charge Of squads for drills.
"Well," exclaimed Tom triumphant
ly, 81 am noncommissioned officer in
command of company out for drill,
and there is my company, as you well
LDov.''
Don't know nothin about that COM
pany It's outside the lines, and you're
inside. Don t look much like company
anyhow"
Indeed the sentinel's sarcastic allu-
sion to the company was justified, as
the men danced and roared and fairly
Rugged one another to see the difficulty
into which their stern sergeant had fall
On. lie made no further attempt to Cross
the lines, but turned and strobe swiftly
toward headquarters, followed by fresh
burst OF dcrisive laughter from his in
subordinate command.
In short time he reappeared, and
exhibiting pass to the sentinel ad-
vanced toward his demoralized COM
Pity, and resuming his rife uttered the
single word, Attention.
Every face instantly sobered, for CIV.
cry man felt that not only was Tom
eeealy offended, but that retzihusion