The evening times., 1900-09-29

tho cadets ALWAYS on the alert for some
new scheme for amusement, decided that
they would like to have billiard table,
and accordingly organized billiard Ciup'
A collection was taken up with when 10
purchase a table, and suitable place was
sought in which to set 1t up Untll the
present steam heating apparatus was in
stalled in the cadet barracks, about
twenty-five OF thirty years ago, the neat
ing was by means of furnaces. Ihe base-
rneut of the sixth division OF the par
racks was used for coal bins, the plns
being so arranged that there was larse
one near the centre of the building, "hlen
could only be reached by passing through
one of the others. After considering al
oyailahIe pIaces- this coal bin was finally
selected as being the place least iiaole 70
detection-for il must be remembered the
fable was unauthorized. The table was
hought in New York and sent TO Garfi-
sons. across the river for there was no
West Shore Railroad in those days ohe
cold winter night it was hauied ny team,
~ oven across the river on the ice, ana
nm the hin and was safely slowed away
in the coal bin before morning The taoIe
vas soon set up and became source OF
Great endowment to the cadets. A keS OF
beer was always kept on tap, and lamps
were hung from the ceiling, giving tiie
room a CHEEKY appearance Inc L4eiiilei %
of the club used to gather there at al
hours of the day and night when their
-1raeepca was not REQUIRED elsewhere by
tbair dutieg and sit around smoking
and telling stories while two OF them
PLAYED billiards
The authorities soon became aware mat
there was q billiard table somewhere IN
the barracks for they could near the US
clicking together but they couid NOT nl." m
Il The cadets continued TO enjoy the PRIV
plJ u
,ear Finally one night soon after MD
nioht as two officers were returning from
a ronviyial evening at the mess, thsy Sd"
tr-o oudefs clad in their underelothlng ana
dressing gowns, emerge from TIE h"I "a
saIlvport and disappear down the steps' 10
The areaway in front OF the DaFIachs-
stantIv the thought of the billiard taoie
sosbed through the minds of the TWO or
6cers and they started quietly after the
caf,ets On reaching the basement door,
wav of the sixth division the two cadets
entered, and the officers, arriving mo- .
ment later, saw them climb over PIE oi
coal and enter an open door, through Whleh
came sounds of laughter and conVeTsatloh @
and the clicking of balls, WhiIe the dif was
laden with fragrant tobacco smoke.
Tho h4sfcers paused for moment ala
hold a ,yAfspered consultation. flnaily, oe-
Gliding that they would tell the other ON
GERS of their discovery and nave All Oh
them come down the foLoWinS Aisht anu
eniov the fun of a raid on the club, they
withdrew and went home. Next day All
the officers at the post were informed OF
| the discovery. and it was arranged that the
raid should occur at midnight All might
! have gone we'll. and the officers might have
! had their little fun had it not been that
| there were three cadets the previous nlght
| instead of two The third had forgotten
| his pipe and had gone back for 1t, Whlle
! tbe o+her- two went on and were discovered
/ hv the officers The third coming along
! A moment later saw the officers and quiet
| " followed them. observing all their move
1 ments and listening to their whispered
| conversation When they Withdrew ne
went in and told the members of the cfut
all he had heard and seen. The cadets al
! once realized that it was all up with the
| club hut they determined to have a 1ausr
! at the expense of the officers Accordingly
all arrangements were made before thS
club adjourned that night.
The next night the officers met as ar
ranged and cTept stealthily down the area
way and into the sixth division. Hearlni
| no sound of clicking balls, some became
sceptica1 and concluded the whole thint
| was hoax, but nevertheless they push
ed on and climbed over the pile OF coal
Opening the door, they were greeted witt
| a glow of light but no sound. On enter
| ing they found the room deserted, bu
| t5sere was the billiard table, an almos
| untouched keg of beer, several pounds
| tobacco, some chairs, and lastly not
on the table, addressed TO the ofhcefs o.