Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13

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SsN{SS and that morning On
e>~SNM1 the range he had
done some very neat
shooting at the acknowledgment point.
He handled his rifle like an old soldier,
and when he stretched out on his back
his gun in the Texas grip-and plunked ten
successive shots into the bulrs-eye, his
captain smiled in anticipation OF making
l. i'm a sharpshooter. When I picked up the
envelope found it addressed to Thomas E.
Clancey, esq. 4- s.
I am not curious by nature, neither am
inquisitive, but I could not avoid noticing
that the envelope was postmarked New
York city, and first addressed to some shire
in England, readdressed to Montreal. Can
ada, and double readdressed to two places
in the United States. in the last of which it
had finally found Clancy, arrayed in blue
blouse and trousers, a rifle in his hand
and, therefore, a soldier of the United
States army. Nor could but notice that
tie handwriting was that of a business
man; also that the envelope had been
opened hastily, and was. therefore, Of some
Importance. Still further. on the envelope
was stamped due. eight cents" 1t was
almost a month since the troops at Fort
Barrenall had been paid, and the average
recruit spends his pay ofnine dollars a
month the very day he gets 1t. Therefore
Clancy. having possessed this sum neces-
sary to get his letter so long after pay day,
was not an average recruit. But at this
point, not being a detective, my deductions
ceased. and l threw away the envelope.
Curiosity sometimes benefits the service,
as our regiment had found a few years be-
fore. We were then serving in another
prohibition state. and. as Is usually the
case in such states. the guard house was
full of drunken soldiers every time the pay
aster came around. Where or how they
got 1t was something no one-that Is, no
one in authority-could find out, but 1t was
plain to see that all soldier had to have
In order to get whisky in this prohibition
state was the necessary money. There was
at the post company musician. a mere
child. whom every one pitied, because he
had no better father and mother than the
company squad room. His cheeks were The
richest red, his hair curling and golden,
and his mouth always expressed itself IN q
hcyish smile. The ladies of the garrison
made great deal of him; he was SO
young and free from soldierly guile, and
his voice-they got him to sing in the
chapel services-was as clear and ball-like
as an angels. One pay day it was noticed
that the cherub walked up to the pay
master and modestly presented his deposit
book and two hundred dollars, which he
wished the government to take care of for
him. As his pay was only thirteen dollars
struck one of the officers present as
strange that the lad should have so much
money. An old soldier who could read the
cards from their backs might have all the
money in the post, but 1t was not possible
for mere child to outwit men in a strug-
gle of this nature. So the lad with the
laughing mouth and the angels voice was
watched. and at the end of a week he was
discovered dealing in whisky SO vile that
not even a prohibition state would coun-
tenance its sale. For the next few pay
days there was no drunkenness at tine post.
All classes of men enlist in our army
and in ranks the titled but penniless for
eigrer may touch elbows with the Bowery
pickpocket who has done his term. Mo-
tives for enlisting are as various as the
previous occupations of those who enlist.
After picking up the envelope that Clan
cey had dropped. I always thought of it
whenever l saw him. He made a model
soldier, always carried himself well and
never got into trouble. until one day saw
six men carrying, or rather dragging a
drunken man to the guard house. 1t was
Clancy.
Let me go. you FOOLS" he shouted. I'm
all right. I've seen a sight that would make
any man drunk-let me go!'
He was apparently drunk. In the guard
house. the other prisoners said he was
crazy; but the old sergeant Of the guard,
who had grown gray teaching recruits
how to handle the gun. said that Clancy
was neither as crazy nor as drunk as he
vas trying to make himself appear. Crazy
or drunk, Clancy swore that he was q
gentleman, and that as a gentleman he
would live once more. He raved that
money had been his curse, and danced
about shouting that money would again
licked him in padded cell, and he fell
asleep muttering incoherent phrases in
which money" "rich," bank notes." were
the main ideas.
The next morning Clancy was sent be-
fore the summary court, charged with be-
ing drunk and creating disturbance in
quarters. He pleaded guilty.
sentenced, II ask the colonel not to give
me any confinement In the guard house.
I've found some hidden treasures and I
want to make myself a rich man"
So the court was thus lenient" and let
him off with a flve-dollar fine but his cap
tain instructed the sergeants and corporals
to look after him and regard him as a
crazy man. Released from the guard
house, Clancy continued his mad antics.
He would not speak to any of the men,
but strutted up and down the porch of the
barracks with a most consequential air.
| Sometimes he would start out along the
road leading. from the post, but seeing
other men, he would turn In his tracks
| and go back. to barracks. The more he
was watched. the more suspicious he be-
| his bunk in the night, but luck seemed
| against him, as he invariably attracted
| the attention of one of the sergeants, who
as invariably sent him back to his iron
and wondered what he would do next.
Mr. Wagner was one of the Indian agents
| on the reservation that adjoins Fort Bar
renall Wagner had been appointed by the
last administration, and was consequently
rather new to the business. His bump of
| finance was largely developed, and he was
not in the west for his health. People who
knew Wagner intimately said he was an
INSCRIPTIONS sharper; people who had
merely an acquaintance with him said he
| was a clever business fellow. Indians who
| bought shawls and red calico at his store
| agreed with the first opinion.
| One day Clancy was in the traders store
| Apparently he had been drinking. and he
| was Boosting that he would soon be able
| to buy out the whole store. This was be-
cause one of the clerks had refused him
dollars credit. A soldier tried to per-
suade him to go back to barracks, but
I this only made him worse. Finally Mr..
| Wagner appeared in the doorway of his
private office.
Come here, Clancey," said he. Il want
| to see you.
| Clancy obeyed Immediately.
sTH keep him here" explained the trader,
until he quiets down, and then I'll send
| him back to barracks"
"A room IN rear of the store served as
| Wagner's private office, also his bed room.
| After Clancy entered the trader closed the