The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-05-15

she does not desire to return to
his friends. An unromantic sheriff
might"
'TStop, sirl Stopw 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 this moment he is risking
his life to save my child! He is a brave
man, sir, and a gentleman, and perhaps
your equal if not superior in every
thing that goes to make the man. TO
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 in 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 detachment of recruits, and this
man Brown and young Irishman
named Lannan were assigned to my
troop"
SIS this man Lannan yet with you?'
''He is, sir, and is most excellent
soldier. His droll Irish wit is, I am
told, the life of the troop"
After some more conversation the
old commander expressed a desire to be
left alone, and the officers retired. AT
once calling an orderly, he directed him
to 60 to the first sergeant of B troop
and have Private Lannan report to him
at headquarters.
There soon came knock at the door
and on being hidden Lannan entered
the room. He was a brawny young
Irishman with a joYial, good-naturef
cast of countenance, and an eye that
denoted love for fun.
"You are Private Lannan of B 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 pu
to you. Where did you enlist?"
I'm New York, sor, an may the divi
roast the lynn spalpeen of a sargin
that got me fut in the thrap. You see
sor, /"
Never mind that" the colonel in
terrupted. "Was Private Brown o
your troop enlisted at the same time?
"That he was, sor, barrin' the fac
that l wor rooined an hour fornins
him. You see, sor, landed but
wake before from the ould counthr
} an wor lookin' for job, when VIII
) should l mate but a snrgint OF tn
, army, sor. Can't you put me on tn
thrack of jobT says l. I can,' sal
he. 'Faix I'm yer mon,' says I, an wi
that he towld me he wor hirin' men t
: list as sogers. 'Divil the wupst do
want to be soger an git kilt al
sculped to me grave by the haythe
Injuns, says I, an wild that he laughe
till cud see the insides av him. Sure
Amirican sogers don't he afther foigh'
+ in at all, says he, 'jist live in gran
Y stoyle an wear foine uniforms an loo
swate on parade before the ladies
I Musha God but his blarney captivate
9 me intoirely, sor, an l wint wild him
the headquarters an TUX me oatf
s That did, sor, bad luck to me-"
"Well, but about Brown. Was h
9 with you at the time?"
o "Dick Brown, is it? FaiX he We
u not, sor, but as ! was sittin' on a binc
# in the headquarters with some othc
e dom fools loike mesclf heard q ca
IS riage shtop forninst the dure belov
e an thin there wor racket on I'll