Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-12-08
CHAPTER III.

every wisp OF vapor. The sun OF early
August shone hot and strong upon the
sandy wastes between the western linn
its of the division camps and the foamy
strand beneath the low bluffs, and beat
upon the canvas homes of the rejoicing
soldiery, stacking cloth and cordage so
that the trim tent lines had become
broken and jagged, thereby setting the
teeth of "Old Squeers" on edge as he
gazed grimly from under the brim his
unsightly felt hat and called for his one
faithful henchman, the orderly. Even
his adjutant could not condone the regi-
mental commanders Objectionable
| traits, for crustier old villain of a vet
eran lived not in the line of the army.
"Ould Canker" the troopers had dubbed
him during the few years he had served
in the cavalry, transplanted from foot
regiment at the time of the reorganiza-
ton, so-called, of the army in II; but
o few years of mounted duty in Arizona
and later in the Sioux country had sick
ened him of cavalry life and he gladly
accepted q chance to transfer back to
the infantry. Now, 20 years after.
risen by degrees to the grade of lieuten-
ant-colonel, he found himself in COM
mand of famous old regiment of regu-
lars, whose colonel had donned the stars
| Of general officer Of volunteers, and
the pet name-save the mark-of cav
airy days had given place to the unflat-
tering sobriquet derived from that hor-
TOR of boyish readers-the ill-favored
schoolmaster of Dotheboys hall. He
had come to the --teenth with halo
Of condemnation from the regiment in
which he had served as major and won
his baleful name, and "the boys" of his
command soon learned to like him even
less than those who had dubbed him
"Squeers," because, as they explained,
there wasn't any privilege or pleasure
he would not do the boys" out of if he
possibly could. Gordon had promptly
rendered his resignation as regimental
adjutant when his beloved colonel left
the post to report for duty in the army
destined for Cuba, but Lieut.-Col. Can
ker declined to accept it, and fairly told
Gordon that, as he hadn't friend
among the subalterns, there was no one
else to take it. Then, too, the colonel
himself added word OF two and settled
the matter. a., .. :.
A big review had been ordered for
the morning. An entire brigade OF
sturdy volunteers was already forming
and marching out by battalions to their
regimental parades, the men showing
in their easy stride and elastic carriage
the effects Of two months hard drill and
gradually increasing discipline. The
regulars were still out in the park, hid
den by the dense foliage and busy with
their company drills. The adjutant and
clerk were at their papers in the big
office tent, and only the sentries, the
sick and the special duty men remained
about the body of camp. There was nc
one, said Private Noonan to himself, al
he paced the pathway in front Of tn.
colonel's tent, after having scrupulous
ly saluted him on his appearance, ENC
wan fur the ould man to whack at, bar
rim it's me-" but even Canker could
find nothing to "whack at" in this vet
eran soldier who had served in tn,
ranks since the days Of the great wal
and had borne the messages of sucl
men as Sheridan, Thomas and McPher
son when Canker himself was sweating
under his knapsack and musket. Lik
most men, even most OBJECTIONABLE
men, Canker had some redeeming fea
lures, and that was one OF them-h
had been private soldier, and brav
one, too, and was proud oft.
But life had little sunshine in II TO
one of his warped, Unconditional no
ture. There was a profound conviction
In the minds of the company officer
that the mere sight of happiness or con
. tent in the face Of q subordinate wa
more than enough to set Canker's wit
: to work to wipe 1t out. There was n
doubt whatever in the minds of tn
subalterns that the main reason VIII
Squeers was so manifestly "down on
Billy Gray was the almost indestruct
ible expression of good nature, jollit
and enthusiasm that had shown in th
little fellows face ever since he joine
the regiment. 1T we call the old ma
squeers we should dub Billy Mark Tar
ley" said Gordon one day, when tt
lad had laughed off the effect OF an III
usually acrimonious rasping over
trivial error In the guard report bool
Hes no end kind when fellows in
FIX" said Gray. in explanation, "and a
the time he was soaking me was thinl
ing how he stood by Jimmy Carson i
his scrape'-a serious scrape 1t wa
too, for young Carson, detailed to esoo,
certain prisoners to Alcatraz and il
trusted with certain funds to be turne
!. over to the chief quartermaster OF II
I departments, had unaccountably falle
= into deep sleep aboard the train an
awoke to find both funds and prisone,
gone. Explanations were useless. II
q commanding general would listen to Z
excuse; court-martial was ordere
and very worthy young officers mil
tary career seemed about to close und,
q cloud, when "Old Canker" thre
himself into the breach. He had Ion
suspected the sergeant who had a
, companied the party in immedia
command of the little guard. He hate
the commanding general with all b
soul, and how 1t came about no o,
could thoroughly explain, but one ds
Canker turned up with indubitab
proof that the sergeant was the thief
that he WAS bribed to bring about I,
~ s.s--.,