Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-03
CHATTER 1.

NSOpyTlSHI, 1919, ny r. leullySOl ANCSiyI
CHAPTER 1.
Something unusual was going on at divi-
sion headquarters. The men in the nearest
rogimental camps, regular and volunteer,
were Tined up along the sentry posts and
silently, eagerly watching and waiting. For
a week rumor had been rife that orders for
a move were coming and the brigades hailed
1t with delight. For a month, shivertng at
night in the dripping, drenching fogs drift
ing in from the Pacific, or drilling for hours
each day on the bleak slopes Of the Preside
Heights, they had been praying for some
thing to break the monotony of the routine.
They were enyious of the comrades who had
been shipped to Manila, emulous OF those
who had stormed Santiago, and would have
welcomed with unreasoning enthusiasm any
mandate that bore promise Of change Of
scene-or duty. The afternoon was raw and
chilly; the wet wind blew salt and strong
from the westward sea, and the mist rolled
in, thick and neecy, hiding from view the
familiar landmarks of the neighborhood and
forcing a display of lamplights in the row
Of gaudy saloons across the street that
bounded the camp ground toward the set
ting sun, though that invisible luminary was
still an hour high and afternoon drill only
Just over.
Company after company in their campaign
hats and flannel shirts, in worn blue trout
sers and brown canvas leggings, the men
had come swinging in from the broad drive
ways of the beautiful park to the south and,
as they passed the tents OF the commanding
general, even though they kept their heads
erect and noses to the front, their wary
eyes glanced quickly at the unusual array
of saddled horses, of carriages and Concord
wagons halted along the curbstone, and
noted the number of officers grouped about
the gate. Ponchos and overcoat capes were
much in evidence on every side as the men
broke ranks, scattered to their tents to stow
away their dripping arms and belts, and
then came streaming out to stare, unre-
buked. at headquarters. 1t was still early
in the war days, and among the volunteers
and, indeed, among regiments Of the regu-
lars whose ranks were sprinkled with col
lege men who had rubbed shoulders but a
few months earlier with certain subalterns,
the military line Of demarcation was a
dead letter when "the boys" were out Of
sight and hearing of their seniors, and so 1T
happened that when a young officer came
hurrying down the pathway that led from
the tents of the general to those of the field
officers Of the Tenth California he was
hailed by more than one group Of regulars
along whose lines he passed and, as a rule,
the query took the terse. soldierly form of
whats up, Billy?"
The lieutenant nodded affably to several
of his fellows Of the foot ball field, but his
hand crept out from underneath the shroud-
ing cape, palm down, signalling caution.
"Orders-some kind" he answered In tones
Just loud enough to be heard by those near
est him. Seen the old man anywhere?
The general wants him." and, never hating
for reply, the youngster hurried on.
He was a bright, cherry, brave-eyed lad
of 20, who six months earlier was stumbling
through the sciences at the great univer-
sity on the heights beyond the glorious bay,
never dreaming of deadlier battle than that
In which his pet eleven ~grappled with the
striped team of a rival college. All on a
sudden, to the amaze of the elders of the
great republic, the tenets and traditions of
the past were thrown to the winds and the
Hermit Nation" leaped the seas and flew
at the Strengthens of the Spanish colonies.
Volunteers sprang UP by the hundred
thousand and a reluctant congress accorded
a meagre addition to the regular army.
Many a college athlete Joined the ranks,
while a limited few, gifted with relatives
who had both push and pull" were per-
mitted to pass a not very ~exacting examina-
ton and Join the permanent establishment
as second lieutenants forthwith. Counting
those commissioned in the regular artillery
and infantry, there must have been a dozen
in the thronging camps back of the great
city. and OF these dozen Billy Gray
"Belligerent Billy" as a tutor dubbed him
when the war and Billy broke out together
the latter to the extent of a four-days'
absence from all collegiate duty-was easily
the gem of the lot. One OF the brightest
minds" In his class, he was one of the
LATEST; one of the quickest and most agile
when aroused, he was one OF the torpids as
a rule. One of the kind who should have
'Eone In for honors," as the faculty said,
he came nearer going out for devilment.
The only son of a retired colonel OF the
army who had made California his
home, Billy had spent years in camp
and field ana saddle and knew the west as
he could never hope TO know Haswell. The
only natural soldier Of his class when, sorely
against the will of most, they entered the
student battalion, he promptly won the
highest chevrons that could be given in
the sophomore year, and, almost as promptly,
lost them for ''letes" and absences. When
the varsity was challenged by a neighbor-
ing institute to n competitive drill the
scouts of the former reported that the
crack company of the San Pedros had the
snappiest captain they ever saw, and that,
with far better material to choose from
and more of 1t. the varsity wouldn't stand
a ghost of a show in the eyes of the pro.
fessional judges unless BILLY would brace
up" and take hold" Billy was willing az
Barkis, but the faculty said 1t would put
a premium on laxity to make Billy a
varsity captain, even though the present
incumbents were ready, any OF them, to re-
sign In his favor. "Prex' said no In nc
uncertain terms; the challenge was de-