The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-11

title In the small space ueVoteo " LAG
Twenty-third ''Ganstock' field battery.
Nevertheless, our caption is the form OF
description generally used by all Gam
gtockers. no matter whether they tndi-
vidually are accustomed to don the famli-
lar artillery blue and scarlet or not.
There are several. reasons for this en-
dearing familiarity, and the present tale
concerns one of them. It has to do with
a days riot service In which no blood
was split; and yet every man In the
battery. from Maj. Morgan down to Pro-
vlsional Trumpeter Simpson, has said
that he would rather go through vigor-
GUS campaign than repeat the expert
ence.
At the time it occurred the field bat
terry was in a poor way. A newly or
ganized athletic club had diverted the
attention of many Of the citizen-soldiers,
and the delay of headquarters In pro-
vtding fresh equipments, after whole
sale condemnation and return Of anti
ouated war gear, had interfered with
proper drilling and cast damper over
discipline in general. But headquarters
has a. way of overlooking such slight
details as these in cases of emergency.
When serious rioting and threatened
destruction of valuable property were
reported from. the Mantonville mines
the dapper military secretary ran his I'M
ger tip down the list of "avaflaoles
which had hung in his Office for years
and muttered:
.Just so The Twentythird Gan
etock, field battery. Good! Only ten
miles away They ought to reach the
spot within three hours after mobflz-
ing. That's considerable better than any
of the rest" And then he proceeded TO
indite an official telegram. ~
The portentous looking envelope could
not have reached the hands Of NAL Nor
gar in better season. The "Gunners OF
Ours were ready modified. In other
words. 1t was the night Of their annual
ball, and the, drill shed was decorated, IL
| Illuminated and thronged with the mem
bers Of the corps, together with their
guests from among the fair women and
non-military males of Ganstock and its
environs.
seWhat in the mischief is the matter
with the chief?'' asked Bombardier Fred
Hooper of a comrade ''He has been tear
ing about the place; asking everybody for
the sergeant major, with a regular no.
pie-for-dinner look on his face"
Dunno My dance with Miss Mer-
sereau," purmured the other as the band
struck up an overture.
But scarcely had the last speaker start
ed toward the cluster of pretty girls at
the further end Of the big apartment
when a passing sergeant grabbed him
by the arm. and whispered something in
his ear.
"Ten Fred" said the non-commissioned
officer aloud and hurried off.
whats the trouble? Caterer fell down
Hon his. agreement and supper fzzle?
1 never took much stock in-that-''
Were ordered out!" cried his COM
rade IN low yet excited tones. Parade in
a few minutes!''. - 7s~@1's = =, 7'-+
Ordered out?'' returned the bombar-
|. der incredu1oUsly. 'fMustsbe a mistake.
Jack, surely Why, We haven't amy am
munitien, carbines or even sidearms-bar
the officers swords. What's the use Of
/ our old-fashioned guns, anyhow? Guess
it's-5ust trick to help 1amuse the"
Excuse me, old chap. I must try to
get a word with Nel-er-I mean-Mfss
T Mersereau." whispered his companion,
blushing a fiery red at the inadyertent
slip of his tongue as he fastened away.
.'sHe seems to believe~it,' n1uttered the
bombardier to himself in some amaze
ment. Looks very much as If he's 60
ing to bid goodby to his lady love- Off
to the wars, etc Guess, I'll have to"
His soliloquy was interrupted by Pro-
lot a+o foil yfy,o
solemnly out to the center of the floor
and raising the long, twisted copper tube
to his lips. With past experience Of the
raspy notes the gathering dance couples
| fell back, leaving the musician generous
amount of space. The feminine as well
as the male civilians looked their aston
ishment at this new departure in social
amusement furnished by their military
| hosts.
Scarcely had the last notes of the
| Assembly" died away before the little
| body of troopers, in full dress uniform,
| hastily eXeuslng themselves from slightly
| indignant partners, gathered in their ac-
| customed ranks. The major then made a
| short speech to them and to the as
sembled company, and was loudly ap-
! plauded at it's close. Fair cheeks flushed
with excitement, while many vagrant
| teardrop fell unnoticed from the lashes
|
| showed a large amount of enthusiasm In
| wishing good luck to the departing SOL
dfers. .s
| Perhaps If the orders had come at a
| less propitious moment the major might
| have tried to inform headquarters of the
| mistake that had been made; but such
a course seemed virtually impossible in
| the present instance The eyes of the
most important part of the whole nation
Ito them, at leasD were directly upon
the field battery.
All was hustle and excitement The
drivers marched away after their horses.
| The stored guns limbers and tumbrils
| were formed upon the floor, So recently
| occupied by the thoughtless dancers. The
| big doors opening to the street were
| swung back and promptly blocked by
| crowds of the curious, outsiders. The
| horses of the corps came Gathering in by
pairs and singly, and were quickly har-
messed and saddled. The trumpet sound
| ed officers, troops and drivers mounted,
while the gunners scrambled to their
| seats.
The fringe. of youth and beauty all
about them, decked In ballroom garb,
cheered Justify or waved small hands
and scented lace squares toward their de-
| parting hosts.
Again the trumpet sounded There
were sharp wsrds of command, and, with
clatter of iron-shod hoofs, jingle of
chains and roll of wheels the gallant
| Twentythird "Ganstock" field battery
passed out through the open doors into
the night, and wheeling abruptly to the
left, took their noisy way along the
| turnpike road. 1t was not until they had
Travelled a mile or more and left the last
few struggling lights of the town behind
them that opportunity for reflection was
given. But, of course. in any event there
was nothing to do but set teeth together
| and keep on.