The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-12-18

rifle to the order, and. rising on his toes.
fairly screamed:
81 allows no one to monkey around
here! l told you so before. I've for
gotten the rest of it. but
THAT will dol That will do" ex-
claimed the officer of the day. sharply.
'Call the corporal of the guard"
81 don't know his name" replied the
sentinel.
Gall the corporal of the guard" per-
sisted the officer of the day. and after
some further emphatic instructions
from the captain a cry went up for the
corporal of the guard! Post number
fouri''
The corporal came promptly and the
sentinel soon thereafter found himself
disarmed, stripped of his equipments
and a prisoner in the guard tent. On
investigation it was found. principally
| through the statement of the prisoner
| himself. that the instructions he had
attempted to give to the officer of the
day had been communicated to him as
correct by some roguish comrade. He
was therefore released from confine-
ment at length and again trusted with
sentinels post. 1t was nearly mid
night when the officer of the day
.again approached him. He very prompt
| ly challenged, and on receiving the re-
ply. "Officer of the day." again aston
ished the captain by cordial THANK
you! Please advance. sir. and be recon-
ciled."
This was too much of a draft upon
both the dignity of the captain and the
discipline of the service, and the sentinel
found himself speedily a prisoner once
more in the guard tent. Again on in
vestigation it was discovered. princ-
rally as before. on the prisoners own
evidence. that the comrades of the
new man" had been playing tricks on
him. ard. approaching his post after
dark. had announced themselves as the
"officer of the day." or the command
ing officer" as suited their fancy. He
was therefore again released. and once
more placed on most. Just before dar-
light the officer of the day made the
rounds" of the sentinels. and on APP
preaching number four" found the
new man" on the post. AS he adj
vanced to give the countersign the SEN
tinel brought his rife down upon him
and in a very quiet, decided tone of
voice, directed him to hold up his hands
or he would kill him where he stood.
| The captain turned about instantly and
started to run. He had scarcely taken
dozen steps. however. before the SEN
tinel overlook him. and. Selling him by
the collaV. threw him violently to the
ground.
IL don't want TO shoot you" he said.
ut would make too much noise. But
| / want to tell you before bid you good
/ by. what miserable. contemplate
| piece of humanity you are. | can
scarcely resist the temptation TO stick
my bayonet into you. You are heart
less. petty tyrant, and deserve hang
ing I can't kill yOu now he went
| on. because il wouldn't be fair. Some
time. maybe, we can have it ont on more
| equal conditions. My home is in
Georgia" he said; lust two miles from
Milledgeville. My name is Dawson. and
anyone in town can tell you where
live. l have paid you visit in the
/ interest of the confederate cause. and
you will have to get another soldier in
my place. GOOd-by, old man. good
/ by"
He turned about and quickly disap-
| peared in the darkness. The captain
sprang at once to his feet and called
Justify for the guard. lieutenant
and squad of men came running TO the
| spot. and by direction of the officer of
the day moved forward rapidly. in
search of the sentinel. The command
ing officer of the camp was hurriedlv in
formed of the occurrence. and strong
detachment of cavalry was dispatched
to join in the pursuit. The whole day
was spent in the search, but no trace
whatever of the man could be found
The colonel's black riding mare was
missing from the picket line in the
morning. and near where she had stood
a plain. white card was found fastened
to fence post by pin. on the back of
which had been written in plain. bold
hand: "Good-by. Yanks. We shall
meet again. Chicago Military Gazette.
Multum In Parvo.
A young lady of very extraordinary
capacity lately addressed the following
letter to her cousin: I'VE is all well;
and mothers got the his Terrix;
brother Tom is got the Hupin Kaugh;
and sister Ann has got babee; and I
hope these few lines will find you the
same. Rite sumo. Your aphectionate
kuZZen. "-Tit-Bits.