Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06

was his way Of striving to hide the joy
those messages brought him, and the
men were quick to see through it all,
pnd little Reddy Mulligan, reprimand-
ed for the third time within a fort
night, started laugh all through the
bivouac by his whimsical protest:
"It's more good news ye've been
getting from Fred, sergeant, dear, isn't
it, now? Faith, wish he'd play ye a
thrick wanst in awhile, like other byes.
Maybe thin I'd be mintioned to the cap
tain for corporalship. And for once
the veteran turned his back on the
laughing troop conscious of defeat.
In 1874 old Waller changed the yell
low stripes and diamond Of the first ser
geantcy for the crimson and the star Of
the ordnance, and the troopers, one and
all, said goodby to him with infinite re-.
gret. Perhaps Dawson, who was next
in rank, may be excepted. He confident
ly expected to be promoted to Walters
place; but, though dashing soldier and
a smart noncommissioned officer, he
was not tie stanch, reliable man the
captain needed and proved it by cele-
brating Waller's promotion in very
boisterous and unseemly manner. 1t
was plain that he had been drinking
heavily, and though Captain Charlton
saved him from arrest and court martial
he would not promote him and plainly,
though privately, told him why. The
troop knew it was for this reason, but
Dawson swore it was all on account OF
Waller's influence against him when
Sergeant Graham was named in regi-
mental orders as the old veterans suo-
cessor.
That same summer, with firm hand
and glistening eyes, Waller signed his
consent to the enlistment Of his son as
trumpeter in the old troop. How he
watched the boys glowing face as the
oath Of enlistment, so often lightly spo-
ken, was solemnly repeated, and Fred
was bound to the service Of his country!
How he trembled from head to foot
when, but few weeks afterward and
in the dead of night, Charlton and his
men hurried forth to intercept band
of Indians who had swooped down upon
the herders south of Laramie peak!
Waller could hardly buckle the cantle
straps of Fred's saddle as the little fel-
low, all eagerness, was bustling about
his horse in the dim light Of the stable
lanterns. Yet when the captain and
Lieutenant Ray burn came trotting brisk
ly down the roadway. and the men were
silently leading into line" it was the
old sergeant's hand that grasped the
boys left foot and swung him lightly
into his seat.
"Whatever happens, sir, mind you
keep close to the captain, was his part
ing injunction 10 his boy. Then his
heels came together with the old oaval-
ry click, and his twitching fingers were
stiffened as they went suddenly up in
salute to Mr.. Rayburn, who bent down
from his saddle to say that they would
try to take good care Of Fred. But
Waller answered.:
II thank the lieutenant. The boy is
soldier now, sir. He must take his
chances with the rest" Then with one
lingering clasp of the trumpeter's hand,
"Join your captain" he ordered and
turned away into the darkness.
But the sentry on No. q bore witness
to the fact that the ordnance sergeant
never went to bed again all that night,
and the men sent to unload and store
the ammunition that came next day
from Rock Island arsenal declared that
old Waller was gruffer than ever. All
the next night, too, he was awake,
waiting, watching for tidings from the
north. Nothing came until sunset Of
the second day, just as the whole COM
mand was turning out for retreat parade,
and then Corporal Rock rode in with
dispatches and trotted straight to where
the commanding officer was standing
in front Of the adjutant's office. All
eyes were upon him as he threw him
self from the saddle and handed the
packet to the colonel. Half dozen
officers hastened to join their command
er as he tore it open. The piazzas OF the
officers quarters were quickly alive
with ladies and children, breathlessly
eager to hear the news. The colonel's 3
orderly was seen Fastening to the sur.
geon's house-that looked ominous-
then Rock remounted, trotted to Cap.
tain Charlton's gate, where Mrs. Charl-
ton was tremblingly awaiting him.
"It's all right. ma'am," he fastened to
say. "Leastwise the captains safe, but
Mulligan is shot-and Ryan and Ser
Reant Frazer" She hurried in the house
with the precious letter he placed in
her hands, and while several ladies
fastened to join her the messenger re-
turned to the Office.
All this while Sergeant Waller had
stood like statue under the tall white
flagstaff where the noncommissioned
staff assembled at retreat, watching
every move with dry, aching eyes and
face gray as his mustache
CHAPTER III.
A ROBBER IN CAMP.
nho +.,o,pak olavod tho rotrnat the