Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-01-08

ly in the military service was an old
head needed on young shoulders, and
n strong head between new shoulder
straps, for army life so soon after the
greatwarwas bcsetby snares and temp
tations it rarely hears of now, and many
a fellow, brave and brainy both, in
the days that tried mems souls 'twiXt
Big Bethel and AppomattoN, 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 fam
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
veteran gunner, advised the young
fellow to seek his fortune elsewhere.
''If you are commissioned n lieutenant
of artillery" said he, ct may be 20 years
before you see your cnptaincy." And,
though this was within three years
after the reorganization of the army
in '66, not one of Lambert's contem-
! poraries who trusted to luck and APP
piled for the artillery had yet come
within hopeful range of the double bars.
Lambert amazed them all when he
asked for the infantry arm and took
his commission thankfully.
IJa bo1 bean fatoile1 for uu,,,yoor
duty atthe Point, as was then a 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, and which
was still serving in the south. "You
won't have to hoof it out to Idaho or
Montana, anyhow" said sympathetic
friend, land you'll have no end of fun
ut New Orleans"
But Lambert's company was not at
New Orleans. Under recent orders it
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. Lambert's captain lost no time
in getting on staff duty, and G Com
pany went into camp at Tugaloo under
command of its first lieutenant. Ar
irving at New Orleans, Lambert report
ed himself at the headquarters of the
| general commanding, who knew the
boys father, welcomed the son for old
friendships sake, and told his chief of
staff to keep him there week or so,
that he might see something of the
| southern metropolis and of his friends
down at the barracks before going to
his exile "up the road" Dining the
very next evening at Capt. Grants, with
Warning and Pierce, of the light battery,
and perhaps rather ruefully agreeing
with them that he had made beastly
fluke of it, going into the doughboys,"
Lambert was asked: "Who's in COM
maud of your company now?"
"Our first lieutenant" said he. ri
don't know much about him-Brevet
Capt. Close"
Whereupon Warning laid down his
knife and fork. angels and ministers
| of grace!" he exclaimed. "Well, If
that isn't the oldest contre-temps I
ever heard Oft" And then they all be-
gan to laugh.
"You evidently know him." said Lam
| bert, somewhat nettled and trife i'll
at ease. "Why did you ask me about
him? Somebody told me he had been
commissioned for heroism - special
bravery in action, or something of that
kind-during the war"
Gospel TRUTH" said Pierce. "Close
is the most absolutely fearless man I
ever met. Nothing even Warning could
ever do or say would rufIle him." And
then, though Mrs. Cram declared it
shame, she, too, joined in the general
laughter Close was evidently a celeb
rity.
And now, as Lambert found himself
within few miles-though it might be
several hours-of his destination, lie
was thinking not little of the officer
| to whose presence he was SO soon to re-,
port his own, and whose companionship
and influence, for good or for i'll, he was
bound to accept for the simple reason
that, so far as he could learn. there was
absolutely no one else with whom he
could associatc-eXcept, possibly, the
Contract doctor"
Quitting New Orleans after long
days sightseeing with his friends. he
rad sought berth in the Pullman and
slept soundly until aroused by the porter
after two o'clock to change cars at the
junction. Now he was wide awake,
and, after the first few miles of jolting
and grinding through the darkness, was
becoming chilled and lonesome-per-
haps tritle homesick. Twice had the
conductor hustled through the train,
rousing sleeping passengers and see
ing them safely off at dark and mys-
FERROUS stations where hardly glimmer
Of lamp or candle could be seen away
from the mere shanty which served
as q waiting-room and Office. A heap
of wood was stacked up near the stove,
and Lambert poked the waning en-
bers and piled on fresh fuel, whereat
a young man who had got on at Coates
vile with shotgun and a big bottle
for luggage, and who had for nearly an
hour been singing sentimental snatches
to his own deep satisfaction, now smiled
maudlin approval and companionably
held forth the bottle. as good" said
he, in loyal defense of the stimulant
| I