Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-06-15

SIR. Take your hand out of that pocket!
An ugly scowl had settled on Welshs
downcast face. He had stuffed the
channels skin in his blouse pocket, and
still stood there in n slouching attitude,
with his cap ON the back of his head.
Slowly. in obedience to the order, he low
cred his hand to the side.
Now take your cap off,
One could have heard "a pin drop all
over the big room.
Forty men stood there i'll silence, listen
ing breathlessly to this strange and I'M
usual colloquy. Reluctantly, yet over
awed by the steady gaze in the blue
eyes of the young officer, Welsh's hand
went up to the cap, then tossed it angri-
ly some distance away. If he expected
rebuke on that score it was not forth
coming.
Now get your heels together and
stand attention.
you've got no right to order IN"
around like this, Lieut.. Hearn. I'm on
duty for the captain, am-not for any
second lieutenant"
For an instant every nerve and muscle
in the officers athletic frame seemed to
culver. His blue eyes blazed with wrath
and his lips set firmly under the blonde
Tnustache.
There was a moment of deathlike 81
1ence, u gasp or two among the men.
Sergt. Wrens bronzed, weatherbeaten
face was picture of amaze and indigna-
ton. Welsh himsef. as though realizing
tho insOlence of his language ana dread
ing the consequences, had finally as
suInod the position of soldier-so far
at least rs his heels and legs We're con
cerned. but his head hung forward and
his eyes glanced furtively about the room
As if III search of sympathy; but there
was not II soldier to side with him.
Take that man under guard, were
at last the words that fell from the lieu
tenants lips.
A corporal stepped quickly forward.
Come on, Wela1," he muttered i'll no
gentle tone, and led the scowling trooper
from the room.
The lieutenant calmly finished his in
spection of the quarters, Il red spot burn
ing in each check as he walked around
from bunk to bunk. Then, as he turned
away and lightly descended the stairs
Sergt Ross voice was heard to say
Rest" The men looked quickly about
at one another. Some Of them stretched
their arms to full length and gave long
sigh. as though to find relief from the
strain And then little Duffy announced
his opinion;
BY CAD, fellers, if I'd been the lieu
tenant I'd have knocked the top of his
id head off
The garrison court which tried Trooper
Welsh for insubordinate conduct had
found him guilty, despite his statement
that according to the tactics he WASH I
required to get up and salute, he being
at work The evidence of the sergeants
established the fact that he was playing
cards when the lieutenant approached.
and that the spur cleaning was a trans
parent sham. introduced for the occasion
and for evident purpose. But in view
IF the fact that he claimed IT, believe
that. az the captains orderly, he was not
under the lieutenant's orders. in view of
the fact that he had apparently been
only ten months i'll service and of the
further fact that his captain gave him
an excellent character and pleaded for
clemencv for the recruit, the court saw
fit to let him off easily with IL fine. Mr..
Mason, the adjutant and Mr.. Hearn
were strongly of the opinion that he
ought to be returned to the troop at
once and taught his duties rs IA soldier.
But the colonel was away just then;
Maj Kenyon. of the infantry, was tenn
h.,
disturb old Blauvelt's striker.
Indeed, it seemed as though the troop
commander was disposed to resent
Hearns having ordered the man to be con-
fined, though the young officer was actual
ly in command that day, the captain be-
ing on sick report 1T is certain, too, that
Mrs. Blauvelt made some very acrimoni-
Dus criticisms of the lieutenant's action.
and that the first story in circulation in
the garrison was by no means creditable
to either his tact or temper. Welsh
spent only two days in the guard house
this time, but his language during that
brief incarceration was such as to in
tensify the feeling among the men that
he was no novice in garrison affairs.
He was loud III his threats against the
lieutenant, and full of argument as to
the propriety of his conduct.
II was at work, by God! and had par
ticular occupation, to use the language
of the Tactics and you'll find it i'll para
graph 1917, and | wasn't required to rise
and uncover. Look at it and You will
see for yourselves" he complained.
And it was Sergt. McKenna, of the in
fantry. who retorted:
And where did you, cavalryman,