The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-07-01

sto'c, dhu fVuShiN suahihS ehS tip'N VI
a snoring passenger, sung out; Coates
ville," and let himself out with an en-
phatic bang of the door.
Two days later, when asked at Quit
man what sort of fellow the new lieu
tenant seemed to be, Mr.. Scroggs, the
conductor, himself a soldier of large ex-
perience and no little ability-a man
who had fought his way from the ranks
10 the command of the remnant Of a reg
iment that laid down its battered arms
cmong the very last, man not five years
Lsmbert's senior in age, but lustrums
ahead of him in the practical details of
his professionals. Scroggs, the con-
ductor, promptly said: Hes dam Mt
tie fool" and never dreamed how much
ne should one day deplore ii.
'Newt" Lambert, as he was known
among his intimates, was far from be-
ing fool. He had seen very little OF
the world, it is true, and, until this De-
cember night, next TO nothing of the
sunny south, where at this particular
period in our national history it was no.
every man who could SO conduct himself
as not to fail into error. More especial
ly In the military service was an old
head needed on young shoulders, and
strong head between new shoulder
straps, for nImy life so soon after the
greatwarwas besetby snares and temp
tations it rarely hears of now, and many
fellow, brave and brainy both, in
the DAYS that tried mems souls 'twixt
Big Bethel and Appomattox, or Bel
mont and Bentonville, went down in the
unequal tussle with foe far more in
sidious than faced him in the field, but
which met him day and night now that
peace had come 1t was at time when
the classes graduating from the mill
tary academy were being assigned main
| ly to the staff corps and to the artillery
and cavalry regiments. Lambert fan
cied that he should prefer the associa-
tions and much prefer the stations of
the artillery to those of any other corps,
but an old friend of his fathers, himself
a veteran gunner. advised the young
fellow to seek his fortune elsewhere.
"If you are commissioned lieetenant
of artillery" said he, 'it may be 20 years
before you see your captaincy." And.
though this was within three years
after the reorganization of the army
in &c, not one of Lambert's contem-
poraries who trusted to luck and ap.
piled for the artillery had yet come
within hopeful range of the double bars.
Rambert amazed them all when he
asked for the infantry arm and took
his commission thankfully.
He had been detailed for summer
duty at the Point, as was then custom,
so that his leave of absence of three
months did not begin until the 2sth of
August. He had been assigned to a
regiment whose ranks were sadly de-
pleted by the yellow fever, aud which
was still serving in the south. "You
won't have to hoof it out to Idaho or
Montana, anyhow" said sympathetic
friend, ''and you'll have no end of fun
at New Orleans"
But Lambert's company was not at
New Orleans. Under recent orders ii
had been sent up into the heart of the
country, where some turbulent spirits
so it was alleged, had been defying the
civil officers of the general government
and by the time the short southern win
ter set in more than half his regiment
together with three or four others, had
been distributed by companies or de-
tachments all over the gulf states, and
experienced officers were scarce as hens
teeth. The duty was unwelcome and
calling. Lamberts captain lost no time
in getting on staff duty, and G Com
pany went into camp at Tugaloo under
command of it's first lieutenant. Ar
r;v;no Naxu Orlaopc Tap,harf rapnrt,
ed himself at the headquarters of the
general commanding, who knew the
boys father, welcomed the son for ole
friendships sake, and told his chief o.
staff to keep him there a week or so
that he might see something of the
southern metropolis and OF his friends
down at the barracks before going tc
his exile "up the road" Dining the
very next evening at Capt. Grams, with
Waring and Pierce, of the light battery
and perhaps rather ruefully agreeing
with them that he had "made beastl,
flul1e of it, going into the doughboys,
Lambert was asked: who's in com
mand of your company now?"
sour first lieutenant" said he. 20
don't know much about him-Breve
Capt. Close"
Whereupon Waring laid down hi
knife and fork. "Angels ard minister
Of grace!" he exclaimed. "Well, i
that isn't the oldest contre-temps
ever heard Oft" And then they all be
gan to laugh.
"You evidently know him." said Lam
bert, somewhat nettled and trife II
at ease. "Why did you ask me abou
him? Somebody told me he had beef
commissioned for heroism specia
bravery in action, or something of tina
kind-during the war"
Gospel truth" said Pierce. "Clos'
is the most absolutely fearless man
ever met. Nothing even Waring coul'
ever do or say would ruffle him." Ant
then. though Mrs. Cram declared IL
shame. she, too, joined in the geners
laughter. Close was evidently celeb
rity.
And now, as Lambert found himsel
, within few miles-though il might b
. several hours-of his destination, h
. was thinking not a little of the Office
: to whose presence he was so soon to re
port his own, and whose companionshiI
| apd ;pduarea for <xona or for fII he N n