Willmar tribune., 1900-03-14
CHAPTER ~,

tCopyrieht. 1892 by F. Tennyson Neely.l
CHAPTER ~.
The review that morning had drawn
crowd to the drill grounds that
bafled the efforts of the guards. Car
riages from camps and carriages from
town, carts from the suburbs, eques-
trians from the parks and pedestrians
from everywhere had gradually en-
croached within kicking distance of the
heels of the cavalry escorting the gen.
eral commanding the department, and
that official noted with unerring eye
that the populace was coming up on his
hanks, so to speak, at the moment when
the etiquette Of the service required
that he should be gazing only to his i'm
mediate front and responding to the sa-
lutes of the marching column. Back of
him, ranged in long, single rank, was
drawn up what the newspapers unani-
despite the fact that all were in SOM
ber campaign uniform and several had
never been so rated before. In their
rear, in turn, was the line of mounted
orderlies and farther still the silent
rank Of the escorting troop. Sentries
had been posted to keep the throng at
proper distance, but double their force
could have accomplished nothing
omniscient corporal could not help
them, and after asking one or two stray
officers what they would do about it, the
sentries gave way and the crowd
swarmed in. 1t was just as the head of
the long tramping column came op-
posite the reviewing point, and the
brigade commander and his staff, turn
ing out after saluting, found their al
lotted station on the right of the review
ing party completely taken up by the
mass of eager spectators. A minute or
so was required before the trouble
could be remedied, for just as the Off
GERS and orderlies were endeavoring to
induce the populace to give way - a
thing tn, American always resists with
gay good humor that is peculiarly his
own-a nervous hack driver on the out
skirts backed his bulky trap with unex-
pected force, and penned between it and
the wheels of newly-arrived and much
more presentable equipage fair eques-
trian who shrieked with fright and
clung to her pommel as her excited
"mount" lashed out with his heels and
spokes and felloes. Down went the
hack on its axle point. Out sprang tall
officer from the open carriage, and in a
second, it seemed, transferred the panic
stricken horsewoman from the seismat-
ic saddle to the safety of his own seat,
and the ministrations of the two young
women and the gray-haired civilian
who were the latest arrivals. This done,
and after one quick glance at the lady's
helpless escort, a young officer from the
Preside, he shouldered his way through
the crowd and stood, presently, on its
inner edge, an unperturbed and most
interested spectator. Battalion after
battalion, in heavy marching order, in
the dark blue service dress, with cam
paign hats and leggins, with ranks we'll
closed and long, well-aligned fronts,
with accurate trace Of the guides and
well-judged distance, the great regi-
ments came striding down the gentle
slope, conscious, every officer and man,
of the admiration they commanded.
Armstrong, himself commander of
fine regiment of volunteers in another
brigade, looked upon them with SOL
dier's eye, and looked approvingly.
Then, as the rearmost company passed
the reviewing point and gentlemen with
two stars on each shoulder extended
their congratulations to the reviewed
commander with one, Armstrong also
made his way among the mounted Off
GERS in his calm, deliberate fashion,
needless of threatening heels and
crowding forehands, until he, too, could
say his word of cordial greeting. He
had to wait a few minutes, for the gen.
erar officers were grouped and talking
earnestly. He heard few words and
knew well enough what was meant
that quantities of stores intended for
the soldiers, even dainties contributed
by the Red Cross society, had been
stolen from time to time and spirited
of in the dead of night, and doubtless
sold in town for the benefit of pack
of unknown scoundrels enlisted for no
better purpose. In his own regiment
his system had been so strict that no
loss was discoverable, but in certain
others the deficit was great. Com
plants were loud, and the camp COM
mander, stung possibly by comments
from the city, had urged his officers to
unusual effort, and had promised pun
ishment to the extent of the law on the
guilty parties whenever or wherever
found.
Even as he was exchanging a word
with the brigadier, Armstrong heard
the exclamation: "By Jove-they've
caught another!" for with grim smile
Of qualification the camp commander
had read and turned over to his adju-
tant general brief dispatch just hand
ed him by a mounted orderly who had
galloped fast.
Zone Of your irrerroachables, Arm
strong" said one of the staff, with
something half sneer, half taunt, as he
too read and then passed the paper to
the judge advocate of the division.
Armstrong turned with his usual de-
liberation. There was ever about him
a quiet dignity of manner that was the
delight of his friends and despair of his
foes.
"What is his name p he calmly asked.
"That young fellow at Canker's head
quarters you took so much interest in
. day or so ago." was the reply.