The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-08-21
AN OLD STORY.

ColOncl III command whose lame MS an IN
dian fighter was undeniablc and even
passed muster in the states His courage
and sagacity had been proved hundred
times He was big and strong and gentle.
The red men called him 1.-The Great Chief"
and were mortally afraid of him. His own
men only called him "The Chief" and
they adorcd him. But he couldn't play
cards, which was a pity, as there is moth
ing else to do when the Indians are quiet
Al the other officers could very well, most
of them, and as it was their only amllse
mcnt, they naturally preferred that he
should not spoil the game Particularly
the captain objected, for he played exceed
ingly well and with an enthusiasm that
was almost too pronounced, unless one
took into consideration the total absence
of other forms of entertainment. A man
who couldn't play cards was a very poor
sort of man in his eyes and a man who
was sur erhly fearless and yet entirely
modest was one to he jealousy admired
and secretly, but none the less intensely,
hated
There was also nice young lieutenant
of two and twenty who played poker very
well--not so well as the captain perhaps,
but he had gay, boyish and rather pro-
volsing way of being willfully lucky that
made him very fair adversary.
He and the captain were deep in it one
night. and things were growing interest
ing. The lieutenant was laughing now
ard again excitedly. The captains face
was white and drawn, and his hands shook
little Winter quarters are made as com
Portable as possible in rough and ready
fashion, and when there is u woman in
the case they are generally attractive
makeshift, and marvellous effects can be
got with boxes and barrels, some straw
and a few yards of muslin and colorcd
stufTs. But the captains rooms were bare
enough, and when the colonel knocked
and was abruptly told to "come," the
dreariness of it all hit him hard, and he
built up the neglected fire without cerc-
mony before he strolled over to the table
and drew up u chair.
At the first pause in the game he invited
himself to join in. The captain rather
gruffiy invited him not to, for as l said
before cards were not his strong point, but
when the young lieutenant incautiously
suggested that the stakes were rather high
ne laughed his mellow laugh and said he
had u few dollars to lose. SO since even
wien off duty and playing poker II soldier
cannot shake off certain obedience to his
superior officer he got his way But the
captains brow grew black, and his hand
stopped shaking.
The game went on for half an hour or so
with no unusual incident. The colonel
bungled his cards and lost his money, but
he was accustomed to that. He never could
be made TO understand that poker was any
thing more than a pastime, and so he
laughed his low laugh and played on.
l.. Al.
under the table and took new pack 'for
luck" Half dozen officers had dropped
in and were looking on, but nobody object
edit was the custom. 1t came the colo
nel's turn to deal With his usual gentle,
smiling awlwardness he fumbled the cards,
dealt them, and when it came to his own
hand dropped one of them on the floor.
Without looking he stopped and gathered
card from under the table. His face
Frightened. The captain sent quick look
at him. and his face was whittier than ever.
The hand was played out, and the colonel
won. With an almost childlike laugh of
pleasure, he put out his hand to draw in his
winnings, when the captain sprang to his
feet and brought his own hand down on
the cards Gentlemen, denounce this
man as cheatr' He lifted his hand, and
there was one blue back among the red
ones scattered over the table.
In the turmoil that followed the colonel
was almost dragged out of the room by his
friends and got away OF course there was
nothing for it but to fight. His friends,
and they were many, waited for his or
dcrs. But after the first burst Of rage he
seemed stupened He sat perfectly silent,
staring straight in front of him. Finally
his fellow officers spoke. He must dc
nI,nl1 nit ant
and declined. There was an uproar of in,
dignation. Not only the colonel's honOr
but the honor of the army was ut stake
He must horsewhip the man, since he
would not fight There was nothing else
for it, So they talked and argued excited
ly sternly, and the colonel listened duly
and said yes, he must horsewhip him. He
staid in doors that night, and the posi-
talked of the morning.
At 10 o'clock the next day the troops
were drawn up in line ready for parade
The captain stood in front of his company
Every man and woman at the post wa!
there to see "The Chief" horsewhip tn,
scoundrel who had dared to insult him
The excitement was intense There was ;
deathlike stiffness, and every eye wa
strained as the colonel walked slowl!
across the parade ground. His face wa
white and stern and his step firm and de
liberate. In his hand was Il twisted leather
whip such as teamsters use driving mules
The captain saw him coming and stood
like u rock, with his arms folded and {
cold smile of unutterable contempt anG
malignant hatred on his face. When his
adversary stopped in front of him, he
G raised mis- head and without changing his
position looked him straight in the eyes
his black and evil face set in an expression
of dcvilish scorn. With gesture of noble
Indignation the colonel raised his whip IN
the air, held it poised a moment and ther
the brave soldier, the superb gentleman
=" shrank back weakly, dropped his whip t.
the ground and buried his face in hi
hands. Then he turned, went back to hi
quarters and shut the door behind him.
A few hours later in sheer spite, som'
of his friends went to him. but the dool
was locked. The next day he left the post
and few days later resigned from thu
army.-Jean Wright in Lippincott's Mag
nzipp