Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-03-15

granted his request
The faces Of the officers showed plainly
the anxiety they felt. Young Rogers
was the son of a brother captain in their
regiment, who at that time was stationed
in an eastern city en- recruiting service.
The young man had enlisted six
months previously with the object Of
obtaining an officers commission, which
may be won by a worthy and capable
man.
The young fellow had gained the es-
TEEN and respect of every one by his
manly qualities apd strict obedience to
orders Many the officers had kaown
him from his childhood He had been
tho playmate of their children and
great favorite with oil. Later on many
tried TO persuade him to withdraw his
request.
Take the post if it falls to your lot,
but don't volunteer" they pleaded.
1t was no use The young man had
a theory, and if he proved it aud dis
covered the assassin he knew that be
would get his coveted commission.
He was excused from all duties dur.
ing the day. and after nightfall assumed
charge of the dreaded post No 3 Three
nights passed without any event. The
moon, though on the wane, was still
bright enough to allow Rogers to see
any moving object on the plain
Seated on the ground, his bacRagainst
the corral, his rifle on his knees, be was
apparently asleep. Apparently only,
for his sharp eyes keenly watched every
point of the plain He knew that he
had tricky, shrewd, but at the same
time bold, enemy in that willy Apache
He felt sure that the Indian, especially
in the second case, had crept upon his
victim unobserved. He must have EN-
ployed some disguise which had com
pletely deceived the sentinel. What
was this disguise
That Apache would DO more apt TO
betray himself il he thought me asleep
than he would it he saw I was watching
him." was his sound argument.
Through the long hours Of the night
he sat motionless. II was 2 o'clock
when suddenly he caught sight of a
moving object on the plain some dis
lance away Noiselessly he cooked his
rifle. Hc was dead shot, and WOO be-
to that object when he fired. Nearer
and nearer it came while he sat AZ IL
asleep.
why, it is Corporal !" he suddenly
exclaimed.
Corporal was fne, large Newfound-
land dog, u pet Of the garrison. which
had mysteriously dispeared from the
post two weeks before and which every
one supposed to have been stolen.
Rogers first impulse was to call the
dog, when he remembered his resolu-
ton shoot any moving object that
comes within range" He therefore re.
strained his impulse, and no one would
have guessed that the apparently sleep
ing sentinel was closely watching every
movement as the dog approached
1t was a lucky idea of Rogers to feign
sleep, for as the dog came nearer he
thought he noticed something peculiar
in its appearance. and its actions did
not seem quite natural.
Possibly Corporal may DO exhausted
from hunger, or it may be the deceptive
light Of the moon" thought Rogers. The
dog was now within range, and he could
hesitate no longer.
ITS matter of life and DEATH" no
reflected, land it | make u mistake
everyone, even Corporal himself, will
forgive me.
Slowly and imperccptibly be brought
his rife to his shoulder. u short but true
ain, crack and yell--such az only
an Apache who has received his death
wound can give-startled the whole gar
rison.
As If by magic every one collected on
the spot, each as he approached evil
IDENTIFY expecting to see repetition Of
the tragedies.
The story was soon told. The skin Of
poor Corporal had been used as u dis
gus by the Apache, who. with bow
in hand, had been creeping up on his
third intended victim. Deceived by the
apparently sleeping sentinel he bad been
led to betray himself and had met
most merited death. Undoubtedly be
had by the same device deceived the
other sentinels aud had very nearly sue :
ceeded in adding another scalp:
Young Rogers was overwhelmed with
congratulations, a special report was at
onca made to the war department. and
before long he received as reward his
uch-coveted commission
Tell us, cried the group of maidens,
how to remain always young and at.
tractive."
THAT is just dead easy" replied the
sage, without even lifting his eyes from
bis book Get fortune and stay
single"
why is Il great strong man like you
round begging ?" "Ah, madam, it /.
the only profession 10 which gentle.
man can address beautiful lady with
out the formality Of an introduction :"
What did the editor get for hil
Christmas gift y
"a gold collar button"
well, isn't he satisfied p
mo. Now nc wants shirt p