The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-12-21

been for years its adjutant and deep in
the confidence Of Colonel Maynard. He
was a thorough soldier, a strong, self
reliant, courageous man, and one for
whom Chester had ever felt a warm
esteem. AFmitage was on leave Of abb
sence, however-had been away some
time on account Of family matters and
would not return, it was known, until
he had effected heremoyal of his moth
or and sister to the new home he had
purchased for than in the distant east.
It was to his company that Jerrold had
been promoted, and there was friction
from the very week that the handsome
subaltern Joined.
Armitage had long before taken his
measure and was IN no wise pleased
that SO lukewarm a soldier should have
come to him as senior subaltern. They
had a very plain talk, for Armitage
was straightforward as dart, and then,
as JerTold showed occasional lapses, the
captsI hut down on some OF his moss
cher privileges, and, TO the indig-
nation Of society, the failure of Mr.. Jer-
rold TO appear at one or two gatherings
where he was confidently expected was
speedily laid at his captains door The
recent death Of his father kept Armitago
from appearing in public, and, as neither
he nor the major who commanded the
regiment while Maynard was abroad)
vouohsafed the faintest explanation, So
ciety was allowed to form It's own con-
illusions and did to the effect that
Mr.. Jerrold YEAS a wronged and per-
secuted man. It was just as the May
nards arrived at Sibley that Armitage
departed on his leave, and, to his I'M
speakable bliss, Mr. Jerrold succeeded
to the command of his company. This
fact, coupled with the charming reIa-
tons which were straightway establish
ed with the colOnel's family, placed
him in a position of independence and
gave him opportunities he had never
known before. 1t was speedily evident
that he was neglecting his military du-
ties, that Company B was running down
much faster than Armitage had built it
up, and yet no man felt like speaking Of
it to the colonel, who saw it only coca
sionally on dress parade. Chester had
about determined to write to Armitage
himself and suggest his speedy return
when this eyentful night arrived. Now
he fully made up his mind it must BIS
done at once and had seated himself at
his desk when the roar of the sunrise
gun and the blare Of the bugles warned
him that reyeille had come and he must
again 90 to his guard. Before he return
ed to his quarters another complication,
even more embarrassing, had arisen,
and the letter to Armitage was post
poned.
He had received the present" Of his
guard and verified the presence of all his
prisoners when he saw Major Sloat
still standing out in the middle of the
parade, where the adjutant usually re-
ceived the reports Of the roll calls. Sew
eral company officers, having made their
reports, were scurrying back toQuarters
for another snooze before breakfast time
or to get their cup of coffee before going
out to the range Chester strolled over
toward him.
whats the matter, Sloat?"
Nothing much. The colonel told
me to receive the reveiIIe reports for
Hoyt this week. He's on general court
martial,
eyes, know all that l mean, what
are you waiting for?"
Mr.. Jerrold again. There's no re-
port from his company"
'Have you sent to wake him?"
'No; I'll 90 myself and do it thor
oughly too" " And the little majoI
turned sharply away and walked direct
to the low range Of bachelor quarters,
diYed under the piazza and into the
green doorway.
Hardly knowing how to explain his
action, Chester quickly followed and
in less than a minute was standing in
the selfsame parlor which, by the light
Of a Pickering match, he had searched
two hours before, Here he halted and
listened, while Sloat pushed on into the
bedroom and was heard vehemently
apostrophizing some sleeper:
docs the government pay you fer
this sort Of thing, I want to know? Get
up, JerroId. This is the second time
you've cut reveille in ten days Get
up, I sayP And the major was vigOr-
ously shaking at something, for the bed
creaked and gToaned.
wake up, I sayl I'm blowed if I'm
going to get up here day after day and
have you sleeping. Wake, NicOdemus!
Wake, you snoozing, snoring, open
mouthed masher Come now; mean
it..
a drowsy, disguised yawn and stretch
finally rewarded his efforts, Nh. JeF-
rold at last opened his eyes, rolled over,
yawned sulkily again and tried to evade
his prosecutor, but to no purpose. Like
a little terrier, Sloat hung onto him
and worried and shook
ooh, don't, d-n it, don'tI" growled
the victim. "What do you want any
way? Has that internal reveille gomez"
eyes, and you're absent again, and
no report from B company. By the holy
poker, if you don't turn out and get it
and report to me on the parade I'll spot
the whole gang absent, and then no
matinee for you today, my buck Come,
out with you'll 1 mean it. Hall says
you and he have an engagement in