The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-07-27

circumstances 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 10 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 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 djutant
generals office. 1t was imperative that
the rolls should be clean and accurate,
and. as they are written on 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
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 rolls had to be
ready ON that morning.
. Capt Gresham went to the orderly
room on the evening of the goth and
found the muster-rolls completed,
with the exception of some trifling de-
tails which could only be inserted on
the following morning
Schuyler, those are the neatest mus
ter-rolls l 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 can't give it up;" and Schuy-
Ter, what with the weakness due to his
unaccustomed abstinence and, possibly,
some recollection of his wasted fife,
broke completely and began to cry.
The captain looked at him keenly for
a moment, then said: schuyler, I'm
sorry for you," and went back to his
quarters.
The morning of the 30th dawned.
The paymaster was due at the post at
ten o'clock. Shortly before guard
mount Sergt. O'Brien took the morn
ing report-book to Capt. Gresham's
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.
We'll, 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, Capt. Gresham
reported to the commanding officer 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 saber," which
the captain acknowledged by slight
motion of the hand toward his helmet
Sergt. 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 God! Sergeant, what's this?
Has the man cut his throat2 He seems
to be dead" exclaimed the captain.
Blood apparently covered everything
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. Hes alive"
he said in 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 YVES writing there not
half an hour ago." answered the sentry.
well, this beats me. Sergeant, what
do you make of it?'
Sergt. O'Brien had been pursuing his
Investigations, and his first discovery
was that quart bottle of red ink,
which he had drawn that morning for
office use, was lying upon its side on
the desk, 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 prob
ably knew 1t and drunk it up" and the
sergeant picked up the bottle and con-
temptuously poured the little remain
ing red ink upon the PROSTATE form.