Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-24

SCHUYLER cOu1Q get duy CA1AS w u AAAAA'
His meals were brought to him from
the troop kitchen three times day, and
he worked steadily on the MYSTERIOUS.
CAPTAIN Gresham visited the orderly
room several times daily, and noticed
with much satisfaction, that Schuyler's
work was progressing favorably.
Four sets of muster-rolls were re-
ouired-one for the torOp records, one
for regimental headquarters, one Tor
the paymaster, and one for the adult
ant-general's office. 1t was imperative
that the rolls should be clean and accu-
rate, and, as they are written on parch-
| ment, they should last for ages.
Schuyler seemed in every way equal to
the task, and the work went steadily
on. His craving for liquor increased
the longer he was away from it, and he
urged the sentries to get him some
thing to drink, but they sternly drove
him back to his work. The paymaster
was to appear on the thirtieth of April,
and the rolls had to be ready on that
morning.
Captain Gresham went to the order
ly-room on the evening Of the twenty
ninth and found the muster-rolls COM
completed, with the exception of some
tritiing details which could only be
inserted on the following morning.
Schuyler, those are the neatest
muster-rolls I ever saw. Why can't
you let whisky alone? If you only
could I'd make you troop clerk at
once" said the captain.
Captain, can't. I've tried and
tried, but liquor has got such a hold
on me that I can't give it up" and
Schuyler, what with the weakness due
to his unaceustomed abstinence and,
possibly, some recollection of his
wasted life, broke down completely
and began to cry.
The captain looked at him keenly
for moment, then said: Schuyler,
I'm sorry for you,' and went back to
his quarters.
The morning of the thirtieth dawn
ed. The paymaster was due at the
post at ten o'clock. Shortly before
guardmount Sergeant O'Brien took the
morning report-book to Captain Ores
hams quarters for him to sign, as was
his daily custom.
"Those rolls are done, sergeant?"
"Yis, sir, all except one or two
changes to be made" answered the
sergeant.
well, I'm going on officer of the
day, and I'll come over after guard
mount to sign them. After the pay
master comes you can take that guard
off and put Schuyler on duty again"
Guard mount came, Captain Ores
ham reported to the commanding Of
ficer as new officer of the day, and
started for the orderly room.
The sentry was pacing to and fro in
front Of the door, and, as the captain
approached, faced out and came to
present sabre" which the captain
acknowledged by slight motion of the
hand toward his helmet. Sergeant
O'Brien approached at the same time,
and followed the captain into the
room.
A strange sight met their eyes.
Stretched upon the floor, near the
desk, and with the chair lying partly
under him, was the inanimate form of
Private Schuyler. His face, neck and
hands were covered with bright,
reddish fluid.
my Cod Sergeant, what's this?
Has the man cut his throat? He
seems to be dead" exclaimed the cap
tain.
Blood apparently covered every
thing. The precious muster-rolls
were lying upon the desk, drenched
and dripping in apparent gore, and on
the floor was large red pool The
captain went to Schuyler, felt his
pulse, and listened for the beating Of
his heart. He's alive" he said in a
relieved tone, "but what's all this red
stuff? 1t isn't blood" Just at this
moment he got Whit of breath from
Schuyler, whose mouth was open.
"Whisky, by thunder! or something
very like it. Sentry!"
Sir" came through the open door.
HAS this man had anything to
drink"
mo, sir. He was writing there
not half an hour ago. answered the
sentry
"Well, this beats me. Sergeant
what do you make of it?''
Sergeant O'Brien had been pursuing
his Investigations, and his first dis
covery was that a quart bottle of red
ink, which he had drawn that morn
ing for office use, was lying upon it's
side on the desk, empty, except for
some rivulets Of red which still flowed
over the muster-rolls.
well, sir, it's this way. That man
there is drunk, and he got drunk on
red ink. Red ink you know, sir, is
about three-quarters alcohol; he
probably knew it and drunk it up"
and the sergeant picked up the bottle
and contemptuously poured the little
remaining red ink upon the PROSTATE
form.
This explains why the paymaster did
not pay off ''M'' troop that day. There
were no muster-rolls to pay off with.