Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-10
CHAPTER III.

A day had dawned on tho Presidi,
Heights as brilliant as Its predecessor
had been dismal. A soft south wine
had kept the fogs OF the Pacific far GU
to sea and cleared the summer sky O.
every wisp of vapor. The sun of early
August shone hot and strong upon the
sandy wastes between the western linn
its of the division camps and the foamy
strand beneath the low bluffs, and beat
upon the canvas homes of the rejoicing
soldiery, stacking cloth and cordage SO
that the trim tent lines had become
broken and jagged, thereby setting the
teeth Of "Old Squeers" on edge as he
gazed grimly from under the brim of his
unsightly felt hat and called for his one
| faithful henchman, the orderly. Even
his adjutant could not condone the regi-
mental commanders Objectionable
traits, for a crustier old villain of q vet
eran lived not in the line of the army.
"Ould Cnnker" the troopers had dubbed
him during the few years he had served
in the cavalry, transplanted from foot
regiment at the time of the reorganiza-
ton, so-called, OF the army in II; but
few years Of mounted duty in Arizona
and later in theeioux country had sick
ened him OF calalry life and he gladly
accepted chaDce to transfer bacle~to
the infantry. Now, 20 years after,
risen by degrees to the grade of lieuten
ant-colonel, he found himself in com,
mand OF famous old regiment of rcgu.
lars, whose colonel had donned the starr
or a general officer of volunteers, and
the pet name-save the mark-of cav
airy days had given place to the unfat.
terlng sobriquet derived from that hor.
ror of boyish rcAders--the ill-fayored
schoolmaster of Dotheboys hall. He
had come to the --teenth with n hale
OF condemnation from the regiment in
which he had served as major and won
MS baleful name, and "the boys" of his
command soon learned to like him even
less than those who had dubbed him
oqueers," because, as they explained
there wasn't any privilege or pleasure
he would not do the boys" out of if he
possibly could. Gordon had promptly
rendered his resignation as regimental
adJutant when his beloved colonel left
the post to report for duty in the army
destined for Cuba, but Lieut.-Col. Can.
ker declined to accept it, and fairly told
Gordon that, as he hadn't a friend
among the subalterns, there was no one
else to take it. Then, too, the colonel
nl1nseit added word or two and settled
the matter.
big review had been ordered TO,
Inc morning. An entire brigade of
sturdy volunteers was already forming
md marching out by battalions to their
'eglmental parades, the men showing
n their easy stride and elastic carriage
he ehects OF two months hard drill and
increasing discipline. The
egulars were still out in the park, hid.
zen by the dense foliage and busy with
nelr company drills. The adjutant and
i re were at their papers in the big
NICE tent, and only the sentries. the
lck and the special duty men remained
bout the body of camp. There was no
me- said Private Noonan to himself. as
e paced the pathway il front of the
'ioneis tent, after having scrupulous.
sa.u1ed him on his appearance: mo
an lur the ould man to whack at. bar.
n ITS me-" but even Canker conld
lo nothing to "whack at" in this vet.
an soldier who had served in Tho
INKS since the days of the great war
10 mad borne the messages of such
en- as Sheridan, Thomas and McPher.
~ "hen Canker himself was sweating
luer MS knapsack and musket. Like
Wv men, even most Objectionable
en- Canker had some redeeminp fea.
res, and that was one of tbem--ba
u oeen a private soldier, and brave
e. 1oo' and was proud of it.
out life had little sunshine in It for
VI ms warped, Unconditional ma
'e. mere was profound conviction
Inc minds of the company officers
~ the mere sight of happiness or con.
. ~ the face of subordinate was
re than enough to set Canker's wits
work TO wipe it out. There was no
~. Whatever in the minds of the
'al'erns that the main reason. wbv
, , was SO manifestly "down on"
y uray was the almost indestruct.
expression Of good nature, iollity
enthusiasm that had shown in the
lie fellows face ever since he Joined
regiment. "If we call the old man
, i. we should dub Billy Mark Tan.
sa'u uordon one day, when the
lao laughed off the effect of an nm.
any acrimonious rasping over a
i !, error in the guard report book
, no end kind when fellows in a
SUD cray, in explanation, "and all
Inn, a ne was soaking me was think-
now ne stood by Jimmy Carson in,
scrape"-a serious scrape it WINS
LOT young Carson, detailed to escort
.n prisoners to Alcatraz and in.
'eo with certain funds to be turned
70 the chief quartermaster of the
rtment' had unaccountablv fallen
oeep sleep aboard the train and
nc 70 md both funds and prisoners
:, Explanations were useless. The
handing general would listen tono
SCI court-martial was ordered
: very worthy young officers mill.
I'D Ieer seemed about to close under
a ~ when odd Canker" threw
81. INTO the breach. He had long
.Cted fha sar~. ASAS