Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-02-08

"prairie chicken" as soldiers then
were who "took on" anywhere west
of the Mississippi. We all had a good
many reasons for believing, however,
that Wilson was not quite SO much of q
recruit as his Seattle enlistment record
showed on its face. None of us could
remember having soldiered with him
anywhere, and his face was unfamiliar
to all. Nevertheless, from the day he
arrived at Candy in charge OF the Sc,
attle batch OF recruits, of which, ac-
cording to the list he handed to the
officer of the day, he was one, he car
ried himself too much like a soldier to
fool those of us who had been in the
outfit long time.
Old Sergeant Fisher took the re-
cruits out to the parade ground, the
morning after their arrival, TO begin
to lick them into shape in the awkward
squad. Wilson was among them. He
tried to assume the recruits clumsi-
ness, but We could see that the job was
little too much for him. He was too
naturally graceful man in his carriage
for that, and his shoulders were too
square. AT the command Of execution
he forgot himself every time, and
stepped out with the left foot. A re-
cruit never does that. 1t takes at least
six months to teach recruit that he
is possessed of left foot. Old Fisher
gave ''To the rear, march !" suddenly,
and it caught Wilson mapping. Alone
OF the squad, he whirled on the ball OF
his left foot and took step rear ward,
while the rest of the squad ignorantly
ploughed on. 1t was a bad giyeaway,
and Wilson's dark, handsome face
flushed. Old Fishers eye was sharp,
If he had been canteen sergeant for
six years.
"Haltr' he commanded the squad
of recruits, and in their own time,
one by one, they halted. "Wilson,
fall out" Wilson fell out, and for a
time stood by watching old Fisher
drill the rockies in the facings. After
awhile the sergeant, having brought
the squad to a rest, walked over to
Wilson, looked him over for minute
with a sort of half smile, and said {:
"What's the useP"
"None," said Wilson, probably see.
ing that the game was up 30 far as old
Fisher was concerned.
All the same, not to make the Off.
GERS suspicious, the drill sergeant took
Wilson out with the awkward squad
every day for time. 1t was fine
thing to see Wilson handle his rife
when the guns were dished out to the
rockies for the first time. A young
lieutenant, fresh from West Point, hap
pened to drop into the day room, and
he stopped for while to watch the
new men trying to get through the
manual. His eye naturally drifted to
Wilson, who would have attracted at.
tention In the middle rank of regi
ment, for he certainly was fine
looking chap. Wilson was trying tc
handle his gun as if he had never seer
ono before. We couldn't help but
grin jackassically as we stood around
although we were careful not to lei
the little West Point shavetail see III
do it, for we all liked Wilson ant
didn't want to see him get into any
trouble. Wilson tried SO hard to make
it appear that he didn't even know
what rifle was made for that h,
dropped it while the squad was stand
ing at rife parade rest. 1t made {
terrific clatter, and the little lieuten
ants eyes snapped.
"Gawk |" he muttered, while Will
son, red and nervous, reached out ant
picked up the gun.
Attention !" shouted the drill ser
geant. Wilson alone of the batch wa
like ramrod before the echoes of tn,
command died away in the day room
Fright houlder-hums Wilson
gun came to his shoulder with a snap
the three movements perfect, whil
the other fellows of the squad wer
sluggishly coming to a port, present
a carry, everything but right shoul
der.
"Fix-bayo -netsl" Wilson's wa
fixed with the rapidity and precision
of an expert.
"Well," said the little lieutenan