Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-08-17

lHtcllSeuI eyes, anu ldlu his nedu Oh
the shoulder of the trooper.
Drink always made demon of him
for the time being, but when the eff
fects had worn away he was repentant
and sorrowful. He was more especial
ly reRorseful during the 80 days he
usually spent in confinement in charge
of the guard, after the garrison court
martial had finished with him, for then
he could get nothing to drink. On his
discharge at the end of each enlistment
he would take the sum coming to him
from the paymaster on his final state
ments,' usually amounting to several
hundred dollars, repair to the nearest
town and have a royal debauch as long
as his money lasted. A soldier can get
higher pay during that enlistment
called "reenlisted pay"-if he enlists
within 30 days after discharge; but in
every instance he had overstayed the
limit. and now, at the end of 20 years
service, was only drawing $13 month,
the same as the youngest recruit.
He wrote clear, legible hand and
was one of the best clerks in the regi-
ment, but could never be depended
upon, as he was liable to go wild at
time when his services were most
needed. The former troop clerk, who
had held that billet for several years,
was steady man as well rs a compe-
tent clerk. He had been discharged by
expiration of term of service and
had taken his departure for the east,
intending to marry the sweetheart
who had been waiting for him to set
tie down to civil life. The first ser
geant while qualified for the executive
part of handling the troop, was no
clerk, and Capt. Gresham, the troop
commander, was in despair. Forseveral
weeks he had himself made out the
troop returns, quarterly acquisitions
for all kinds of needed supplies and
numberless other official papers. In
week or so the muster-rolls, which had
to be made out carefully six times a
year for the paymaster, would be due.
The captain sent for First, Sergt.
O'Brien. Sergeant" said the captain,
shave you got man in the troop who
is capable of making out muster-rolls?
I have made them out in years past, but
I am not equal to it now"
swell, SIR" said the sergeant, stand
ing TO attention and assuming a re-
Elective air; there's no wan know of
except Private Schuyler, and he is
drunk all the time. He got 60 days and
$40 blind the lasht time he was tried,
and he only came out to-day. If he
would only kape sober enough he could
make them OUT
SIS he good at army papers, SER
geant?"
''Shure he is the finest in the regi-
ment, sir-if he is SOBER" answered the
sergeant.
''Well, he has just got to be sober I'M
til he makes out those rolls. You con-
fine him to the orderly-room, and have
his meals brought to him from the cook
house. Put sentry on the door until
the rolls are all made out and the troop
is mustered on the 3Oth. Mind, now
I shall hold you responsible for
him, and if he gets anything to drink
till this thing is over, I'll have you re-
duced."
The sergeant saluted and turned
away, with very serious face, as
though the task was almost too much
for him. Going into the barracks he
found Private Schuyler engaged in
cleaning his kit. preparatory to going.
on guard the next day.
Schuyler, get your blankets and
come with me-"
"What's the matter, sergeant; are
you going to confne me? l am only
out this morning, and haven't drank
anything YETI said the soldier, de-
spairingly.
mo, won't confine you. Capt. Ores
ham says you've got to make out the
muster-rolls. I'm agoin' to lock you up
in the ordherly-room and put sentry
over you so'you won't get no whisky till
they're DONE" said Sergt. O'Bricn.
Schuyler breathed sigh of relief and
him.
Reaching the orderly-room tbs SER
geant posted guard, with strict orders
to see that no one held any conversa-
ton with Schuyler, and that under no
was he to have any
liquor. These orders were accompanied
with the menace that, in the event Of
any lax discipline, into the guard house
the offending sentry would go.
The plan seemed to work very well.
Thanks to the vigilance of the sentries,
there seemed no possible way in which
Schuyler could get anything to drink.
His meals were brought to him from
the troop kitchen three times a day,
and he worked steadily on the muster
rolls. Capt. Gresham visited the order
ly-room several times daily, and no.
ticed, with much satisfaction, that
Schuyler's work was progressing favor
ably.
Four sets of muster-rolls were re-
quired-one for the troop records, one
for regimental headquarters. one for
the paymaster, and one for the adjutant
generals Office. 1t was imperative that
the rolls should be clean and accurate,
dHu' DIS 'heS sie "litteH vi parchment,
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 something to drink,
but they sternly drove him back to his
work. The paymaster was to appear on
the 3Oth of April, and the rollshad to be
ready on that morning.
Capt. Gresham went to the orderly