The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-07-04
CHAPTER XVI.

NhhT LEN Avn
Col Sanford's head dropped on his
breast and he sat for several minutes
in deep reflection. Occasionally deep,
painful sigh would escape from lin,
a saddening evidence to those around
him of the terrible grief which had
come upon him. AS he sat there buried
in his own distracting thoughts, Lieut..
Vandever entered and silently stood,
cap in hand, with the group. After q
time the colonel raised his head and
said to Capt. Colby:
"Yes, heard the story, but did not
give it second thought. The men
nearly all have moonshine stories to
tell of the causes that led them into
the ranks. If he is such a paragon of
virtue and responsibility, why does he
not notify his friends of his mistake
and secure his discharge? 1t would be
an easy matter"
Perhaps, colonel said Vandever,
''he does not desire to return to
his friends. An unromantic sheriff
might"
''Stop, sin. Stop!" the old officer
roared. How dare you cast such
reflection on the character of that man,
and in my presence, too, when you
know that at It's moment he is rislxing
his life to save my child! lie is brave
man, sir, and gentleman, and perhaps
your equal if not superior in every
thing that goes to make the man. Go
from my house, sir. and never dare to
enter it again until you learn to speak
of gentleman as gentleman. Go,
sir,'
All! Private Brown, if you could
have heard this defense of your char,
acter from the man who but few
hours before would have struck you to
earth with his sword, the flicker
ing spark Of hope which yet glowed fit
fully ir your troubled breast would
have burst into flame, and your strong
arms would have been doubly nerved
for the perilous task before you.
Captain, do you know anything
more of this fellow" the commander
asked, after vandever had skunk away
in confusion.
"Nothing, colonel. He joined my
troops at Fort Laramie in Wyoming
territory few weeks before we were
transferred to this post. He came out
with det7cbment Of recruits, and this
man Brown and young Irishman
named Lennan were assigned to my
| troop"
us this mcn Lannan yet with your
''lIe is, sir, ard is a most excellent
soldier. His droll Irish wit is, am
told, the life Of the troop"
After some more conversation the
CID commander expressed q desire to be
left alone. and the Cheers retired, At
once calling al ordo-ly, he directed him
to go 20 the first sergeant of b troop
and have Private Lannan report to him
at headquarters.
There soon cene knock at the door,
and on being hidden Lannan entered
the room. He was a brawny young
Trishman with jovipl. good-natured
east of countenance. and an eye that
denoted love for fun.
You are Private Lannan, of ID troop,
are you?" the commander asked.
''Yis, sor-r-r," the soldier replied
with the military salute.
"Sit down in that chair, my man
and want you to give truthful an
swers to such questions as may put
to you. Where did you enlist?"
I'm New York, sor, an may the divil
roast the lynn spalpeen of a sargini
THAI got me fut in the thrap. You see
sor. l."
Never mind that" the colonel in
terrupted. WAS Private Brown OF
your troop enlisted at the same timer
THAT he was, sor. barrin' the fact
that wor rooined an hour fornins'
him You see, sor. landed but Z
wake before from the ould country
az wor lookin' for Job. when who
should ! mate but sargint Of tho
army, sor. Can't you put me on the
thrack of job? says l. L can, said
he. Fax I'm yer mon,' says |, an vic
that he towld me he wor hirin' men Il
list as sogers. 'Divil the wunst do
want to be a soger an git kilt an