Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-06-01

copyright, 1890, by j. B. Iippincott Company
Philadelphia, and published 10y special arrange
ment with them.
Where do you suppose the recruiting
officers picked up fellow like that: He
has the language of an educated man
He was enlisted in New York" was
the reply, land | have frequently noted
him on guard. They tell me he has more
influence over the men in his battalion
than any other non-commissioned officer,
and am glad he has promised that there
will be no more of this night business
And yet, two days afterward, the
colonel sent for Corp. Brent to say that
the agreement was being violated. Three
soldiers had been seen running from the
southwest gate across the parade the
night before. The sentry had been
taken off on the strength of the arrange
ment the Rifle nine had won the game
amidst great enthusiasm, and there was
a liberal transfer of treasury notes in
consequence. The infantry and many
of the cavalrymen were rejoicing in I'M
accustomed wealth between pay days,
and applications for passes to visit town
had been of unusual number The four
culprits had pleaded guilty to their of
Tense and been awarded some light fine.
The dough boys fully approaching
the colOnel's consideration in the matter,
as fully meant to stand by their promise
to Brent. 1t was with not little feeling,
therefore, that they received the news
that the compact was violated.
That Saturday evening, in some mys-
terious way, Corp. Mullen of the guard
sprained his wrist just after tattoo. and
though Brent was not the next man on
the roster, with the adjutant's full con.
sent he appeared armed and equipped at
the guard house and reported for duty as
Mullen's successor in charge of the sec
ond relief Examining the list of men
absent on pass, he made mental note of
two in his own battalion and looked visi-
bly, disappointed when he scanned the
cavalry names. 1t had been ordered
that ali men returning from pass should
report at the guard house, leave their pa
pers with the officer of the guard and
then return to their quarters, those of
the infantry battalion passing around
outside the officers houses. those of the
cavalry entering their barracks by the
rear steps at once.
Three days of sunshine and breeze had
dried the ground 50 that the paths around
the post were in perfect order, and, ex-
cept that it Made their walk longer by
some two hundred PAGES, there was nc
discomfort in obeying the order. The
first batch of returning soldiers appeared
about half-past II, surrendered then
passes and went quietly away to thei1
barracks. Another squad appeared
about ten minutes later, but there was
still no sign of the two whose names
Brent had noted and whose pass expired
at midnight. 1t was then that the young
soldier. with the permission Of the officer
of the guard, strobe quickly over to the
southwest gate, a hundred yards away.
From here he noted the dispersal of
the little party that had been spending
the evening at the cOlOntls: here he had
Strengthened up, and standing under the
lamp post rendered his soldierly salute
to Capt and Mrs. Lane as they passed III
front of him, repeating it an instant
after when a young lady, with dark,
sparkling eyes. looked him quickly over
as she tripped by on the arm of her es-
cort, and while the latter held open the
gate of the brick quarters at the corner,
almost within earshot, she inquired:
WHO is that infantry corporal, Mr..
Hearn?'
That? Oh, you didn: get here ir
time for the ball game, Nj. Marshall,
or you wouldn't have aske,.. That's
Corp. Brent, captain of the Rifle nine"
Cant we persuade you to come in
few minutes, Mr.. Hearn:' called Mrs.
Lane. in her sweet cordial voice.
Yes, do come, Hearn," chimed in the
captain, ever ready to second his wife's
motion
The lieutenant hesitated an instant
and glanced a the girl who had just
stepped within the gate but as she said
nothing that seemed in any way press
ing he raised his forage cap, and pleas
antly declining babe them good night
and went briskly away. Opening her
window five minutes later to close the
outer blinds Miss Marshall glanced down
from above the piazza roof and saw the
corporal of the guard still standing there
under the lamp, apparently waiting.
He looked quickly up at sound of the
cr3aking shutter, then turned aside.
The next moment, before she could
fasten the blind. the sentry at the guard
house sung ont. Number |. - o'clock"
The Corporal leaned his rifle against the
fence, quickly extinguished the lamp,
and ali in front of the quarters was dark
ness